ISSN: 1391 - 0531
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Vol. 41 - No 27
Sports

Tharanga cracks first tour ‘ton’

Shares massive 190 run opening stand with Jaysuriya

Upul Tharanga
Upul Tharanga

Sri Lanka’s rising star Upul Tharanga cracked the first century in their tour of New Zealand as Sri Lanka ended the third day of their four day match against the Otago Volts at a commanding 240 for 2 in 57 overs at the Dunedin University Oval here today.

Tharanga scored 108 in his 164 ball stay at the crease and hit thirteen fours during his 201 minute stay. Thranga also shared a massive 190 run stand with his senior partner Sanath Jayasuriya who scored 85 runs with a six and sixteen fours, before he was run out.Earlier the Otago batsman A.J. Redmond became the third home team batsman to complete a half century before he was trapped leg before by Dilhara Fernando for 53. After the departure of Redmond none of the other batsmen were impressive as they slid from their over night total of 140 for 2 to 276 all out.

Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya

The Lankans who made an imposing 413 runs in their first innings did well to restrict the home team for 276 runs in their first with their medium pace attack sharing the exploits.

The most impressive among the Lankan bowlers was new comer Akalanka Ganegama who finished with figures of 2 for 50 in 16.5 overs. However Lankan experienced pair of Dilhara Fernando and Lasith Malinga were rather wayward and went for 84 and 67 runs each and also shared 17 noballs between them.

At the end of day the Lankan captain and vice captain combination of Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara were at the crease at 16 and 19 respectively.

Sri Lanka now has an overall lead of 377 runs with a day to spare.

This is the only side game that the Lankans will have prior to their first Test against New Zealand which take place from 7th to 11th at the Jade Stadium in Christchurch. The second Test will begin in Wellington on the 15th of January.

 
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Copyright 2006 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka.