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Anchorman Atapattu puts Sri Lanka on top
Updated: Thursday February 22, 2001 10:26 AM
GALLE, Sri Lanka (Reuters) -- Marvan Atapattu played the perfect anchor role with an unbeaten 85 as Sri Lanka built the foundations of a match-winning total against England on the opening day of the first test Thursday. With Kumar Sangakkara (58) and Aravinda de Silva (56 not out) as his main allies, Atapattu guided Sri Lanka to 221 for two at the close. After his side won the toss on a slow, dusty pitch expected to turn significantly as the match progresses, Atapattu put on 92 for the second wicket with Sangakkara and added 111 in an unbroken third wicket stand with de Silva. Atapattu, showing great concentration and resolve, has faced 286 balls and hit eight fours while Sangakkara stroked his runs off 125 deliveries and the veteran de Silva emerged from a quiet start to hit six fours and one six in 120 balls. England's bowlers persevered but were rewarded only with a wicket in each of the first two sessions, Darren Gough removing Sanath Jayasuriya for 14 and off-spinner Robert Croft dismissing Sangakkara, both to catches by Craig White. The touring team had two other chances, both involving de Silva, which did not go their way. He edged a ball from Gough that went hard and fast to second slip where Graham Thorpe was unable to cling on to it. De Silva was 20 at that moment, and on 47 he narrowly survived a run out at the non-striker's end after the third umpire had looked at a slow motion television replay. Atapattu survived a confident appeal on 13 for a catch by Graeme Hick close in off a delivery from left-arm spinner Ashley Giles that appeared to go off bat and pad, but otherwise had few problems. England should be aware Atapattu is a man with an appetite for big scores. He has played five three-figure innings in tests and three of them have been double hundreds. Sri Lanka progressed effectively after suffering an early blow when Gough dispatched captain Jayasuriya for 14 in his new ball burst. Jayasuriya made a characteristically forthright start by stroking three fours. Two of his boundaries were square cuts but when he tried another back foot forcing shot he edged to second gully where White dived to his right to hold the catch. Sangakkara, timing the ball well and using his feet to the spinners, reached his half-century in 90 balls but then had his threatening innings cut short. Midway through the second session, Sangakkara came down the pitch to drive Croft, who was bowling round the wicket to the left-hander, but this time the wicketkeeper-batsman hit him straight to White at cover. Left-hander Sangakkara faced 125 balls and hit five fours in his third half-century in seven tests. Sri Lanka, 110 for two at the stage, consolidated steadily through the second half of the day as Atapattu stood firm and de Silva blossomed, sweeping the spinners productively, off-driving fluently and pulling the pace bowling of White vigorously. More of the same Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore promised England more of the same Friday. "The big plus for us is that we only lost two wickets," he said. "We should forge ahead tomorrow and build up a sizeable total. We have eight wickets in the dressing room and two batsmen with their eye in." Whatmore, however, said he had been impressed with England's ability to keep the run-rate down and its refusal to buckle in the hot and humid conditions. "We were made to work hard," he said. "I have seen sides come here and lose it completely. The line goes, the length goes. The England team did very well." Disciplined approach England coach Duncan Fletcher praised his team for its discipline, saying Nasser Hussain's men had done well to restrict the home side in sweltering conditions and with little luck. "Our bowlers had to keep their discipline and they did a good job," he said. "We always new it was going to be hard. "It was probably one of the hottest, most humid days we have played in and it's a flat wicket not offering much to the bowlers." Fletcher added that a couple of half-chances had gone begging, adding: "We mustn't lose our nerve, we must be patient. "It will be vital to get a couple of wickets early tomorrow." He added that England had won in Pakistan late last year despite the home side ending the first day of the deciding third test in Karachi on 292 for three.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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