da apostaganha： Andrew Miller presents the plays of the second day from the third Test between Sri Lanka and England at Galle
da 888： Andrew Miller at Galle19-Dec-2007
Mahela Jayawardene proved the single biggest threat to England’s bid for a series-levelling victory © AFP
Batsman of the day
Unbeaten on 51 overnight, nobody doubted what he had in mind.Mahela Jayawardene was the single biggest threat to England’s bid fora series-levelling victory, and he lay down in their path with thedetermination and immovability of a protesting monk. After spankingsix boundaries in a relatively brisk start to his innings, he addedjust three more en route to his hundred – and two of those wereinvoluntary. England batsmen haven’t yet passed three figures once thisseries, Jayawardene’s now done it in back-to-back innings. It’s one ofmany reasons why Sri Lanka deserve the series win that is now verymuch in their grasp.Agenda-setter of the day
It was a screamer, but such opportunities cannot afford to besquandered, especially in such oppressive environments at Galle. RyanSidebottom was bowling his fourth ball of the morning and TillakaratneDilshan had not added to his overnight seven when he slashed at a wideone and sent a flying edge into the gully. Alistair Cook leapt but withoutconviction and the moment – and the momentum – was lost. Ironically,their best gully fieldsman is Paul Collingwood, but England havesuch a paucity of specialist close catchers, he’s been pressed intoservice at second slip instead. Which is where he dropped a sitteryesterday off Upul Tharanga.Drop(s) of the day
All things considered, it was a desperate day in the field forEngland and poor Matt Prior was right in the thick of things. Firsthe allowed a low chance from Jayawardene to slip unchallenged belowhis right mitt, and then, ten overs later, he launched himself infront of first slip and tipped an edge from Dilshanonto Ian Bell’s ankles. That second spill was the fourth opportunityhe’s missed off Sidebottom in six Tests, and all of them havecome when diving to his right …Non-catch of the day
It’s a different story when Prior takes off to his left, however. He’sbeen flawless in that direction all series with three excellentcatches at Kandy and Colombo as well as this outstanding take.Dilshan gloved a lifter from Matthew Hoggard down the leg side and Englandwent up in unison, but umpire Harper was unmoved. Not for the firsttime this series, replays showed he had made a bad misjudgement. Theball took a big deflection off the knuckles, and Prior – not for thefirst time either – was livid. He realised there and then he’d beenrobbed of his chance for tabloid redemption.Misjudgment of the day
Dilshan had been out of the Test team since July buttoday he batted with such aggression and intent that a fifth Testcentury was his for the taking. In the end it wasn’t to be, but atleast he’ll have earned some brownie points in the manner of hisdismissal. With tea approaching, his captain Jayawardene was on 99 andlooking edgy for the first time in the match. When he jabbed RaviBopara down into the crease, Dilshan hurtled down the wicket lookingfor the landmark single. Cook swooped at gully and, in England’s onlydecent piece of fielding all day, broke the wicket with Dilshan’s batstill crossing the line. The decision was so marginal and took such along time to be given, that Dilshan left the field clutching a bottleof water – which can’t happen very often.Wicket of the day
Bopara’s Test-bowling credentials haven’t been adequately examined inhis short career to date, but at least he’s now up and running in theaverages after a timely breakthrough on the stroke of tea. Three ballsafter Dilshan’s demise, Prasanna Jayawardene – a pesky presence in thefirst two Tests – prodded at an off-stump delivery and this time Priorheld on low to his right. It was a fillip for a side that had been drifting aimlessly allafternoon, but England soon reverted to type
