Match Abandoned Due To Rain
It was a typical tough scramble of a contest that is expected on a turning track in Sri Lanka. Kumar Sangakkara led from the front with a responsible, and skillful, knock to push Sri Lanka to 110 for 3 by the half-way mark.The most significant moment of the innings came when Mahela Jayawardene was run out in the 16th over. Until then, Jayawardene had added 44 runs with his captain and they looked in great touch and control. If Sangakkara tried to punch through the line, Jayawardene looked to caress through the covers; if Sangakkara dabbed to the off, Mahela nudged to the leg, and both ran the singles well. The run-rate wasn't too high but Sri Lanka looked to be in control as the track was increasingly showing signs of aiding turn and bounce.
Perhaps, anything over 260 would be defendable, and it appeared as if Sangakkara and Jayawardene were batting with that knowledge in their mind. They thrived on quick singles and ironically, it led to Jayawardene's dismissal. He hesitated after tapping to point and that allowed Steve Smith to fire in a direct hit at the non-striker's end to catch him short of the crease. Sri Lanka were 75 for 3 at that stage and the pressure escalated on Sangakkara, but he continued on with his serene style.
Sangakkara's class stood out right from the moment he walked out to the middle after Tillakaratne Dilshan combusted early, slashing Shaun Tait to second slip in the second over. Even as Upul Tharanga struggled for timing and looked to be hurried by the pace, Sangakkara seemed to have time to play the ball late. He punched Brett Lee to the straight boundary, laced him through the covers and whipped through midwicket to collect 12 runs from the third over. He then square drove Shane Watson to the boundary, but the shot of the day was a classy on-the-up caressed punch off Mitchell Johnson to the straight boundary in the 12th over. Along with Thillan Samaraweera, he ensured there would be no further damage.
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