Durban, (AFP): Thilan Samaraweera and new cap Dinesh Chandimal shared a century partnership as Sri Lanka made a strong recovery on the first day of the second Test match at Kingsmead on Monday. Sri Lanka finished the day on 289 for seven, with Samaraweera (86 not out) and Chandimal (58) adding 111 for the sixth wicket after Marchant de Lange, South Africa’s new fast bowler, had ripped out three of Sri Lanka’s leading batsmen.

De Lange took another wicket in the last over of the day when he had Thisara Perera caught at short leg to finish with four for 60 in his first day in Test cricket. De Lange, 21, who received a late call-up after Vernon Philander was ruled out by a knee injury, had Sri Lanka in trouble at 162 for five on a good batting pitch after dismissing Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews.
But De Lange’s efforts on a hot, humid day were stymied by Samaraweera and Chandimal. Samaraweera made a bright start but scored only 23 runs between lunch and tea as he settled into an anchor role. He made his 86 runs off 218 balls with ten fours.

Samaraweera was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Imran Tahir when he was on 50 but gained a reprieve when Tahir was no-balled. He also survived a stumping chance to Mark Boucher off Tahir when he had 63. Chandimal, 22, justified the decision of the tour selectors to pick him as wicketkeeper ahead of Kaushal Silva because of his superior batting skills.

Strong on the cut, he was not afraid to go for his shots in an 86-ball innings which included seven fours. Chandimal was also handed a reprieve when De Lange failed to pull down a leaping catch at mid-on off Tahir when he had 25. But the second new ball was Chandimal’s undoing as he flashed wildly at a short, lifting delivery from Morne Morkel to be caught behind by Boucher.

Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene became the ninth batsman and first Sri Lankan to reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket when he opened his scoring with a single. The 34-year-old made 31 before he was bowled by Morkel.

The tall, strongly-built De Lange had opening batsman Paranavitana caught behind by Boucher for 12 with his 12th ball in Test cricket. He followed up two balls into his next over when Sangakkara was caught behind for nought.

In mid-afternoon De Lange ended a promising fifth-wicket stand of 45 between Samaraweera and Mathews when he held a sharp, right-handed return catch to dismiss Mathews for 30. Before Philander’s injury, De Lange was due to be released to play for the Titans franchise in a domestic first-class match.

De Lange was brought into the attack after six overs and immediately impressed with his ability to generate pace and lift. He drew Paranavitana into a drive against a full length delivery after sending down several short balls, then forced Sangakkara into a hurried jab against a fast ball just outside his off stump.

Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan backed up his decision to bat first on an even-paced pitch with some aggressive strokes at the start of the innings but was forced to become more circumspect after losing his first two partners. He made 47 off 69 balls with six fours before hitting a full toss from Tahir to Morkel at fine leg.

Melbourne, Dec.22 (ANI): It is a measure of Sachin Tendulkar’s greatness that he produces his best performances when pitted against the best opposition, and in this case, it will be Australia.

Tendulkar has made more runs per innings (60.60) against Australia than against any other major Test team, and the Aussies have been the leading Test team through much of his 22-year Test career, reports The Age.

Tendulkar first played in Australia in 1991, as an 18-year-old, three years into his career, and compiled 148 not out in his third Test of the tour at the SCG in January 1992.

The Little Master plundered the bowling of first-game leg-spinner Shane Warne (1-150) and co. in a 196-run partnership with Ravi Shastri (206).

In nine knocks in that series, Sachin made less than 40 seven times. But the two tons (he added 114 in a 300-run loss in the fifth Test at then-bouncy Perth) showcased his quality, and ability to adapt to varied conditions.

The Sydney pitch in those days turned sharply, and Australia often played two spinners for the only time in series. And Perth was still a fast, bouncy surface that favoured pace men.

Totally different batting techniques were required at the two venues, and Tendulkar mastered both. His balanced, efficient style, reliant on timing, rather than extensive footwork, meant he played the ball late, and could cope with movement.

The pattern established in that first series against Australia has continued throughout Sachin’s career – either get him out cheaply (he has been out for less than 20 in 41% of his innings, a relatively high figure for such a great player) – or suffer major consequences.

Once Tendulkar is on top of the bowling, he is insatiable, not easily satisfied by reaching three figures, and almost impossible to dismiss.

Of the 10 centuries, he has scored against the Aussies in 29 Tests, he end up not out in four of them, and most became monstrous epics: 148*, 114, 155*, 177, 116, 126, 241*, 154*, 153, 109, 214.

However, given his stellar record down under, it would be a foolhardy fan to bet against the Little Master plundering the Aussies yet again. (ANI)
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Canberra, (IANS): India’s young middle-order batsman Virat Kohli and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin were impressive while opening batsman Ed Cowan strengthened his case for a call-up to Australia’s Test with a century for Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI on the second day of the three-day practice game at the Manuka Oval on Tuesday.

Kohli, who was unbeaten on 55 overnight, converted his half-century to 132 before left-arm spinner Jon Holland triggered a lower-order collapse to limit the Indians to 269. Holland finished with figures of 6 for 70.
Cowan then strengthened his case for a call-up to Australia’s Test squad by scoring his fourth consecutive first-class ton. Cowan’s 109 off 154 balls here came after two centuries in the Sheffield Shield and one for Australia A against the touring New Zealanders.

Riding on Cowan’s fine innings, Chairman’s XI were well placed to take a first-innings lead, but Ashwin struck thrice to reduce them to seven for 214 at stumps. Chairman’s XI still trailed the visitors by 55 runs. Ashwin finished the day with figures of four for 52.

The spotlight, however, was on India’s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who couldn’t take part in the first practice game. Zaheer failed to impress and went wicketless in his 10 overs giving away 41 runs. The left-arm pacer is working his way to an international comeback after an ankle surgery.

Chairman XI captain and Test opener David Warner was bowled by Abhimanyu Mithun for just two runs. Cowan then single-handedly stuck into the Indian attack. Besides Warner, two other Australia batsmen also failed to make the most of the opportunity. Usman Khawaja made 25 off 49 balls and Phillip Hughes managed 20 off 29.

Courtesy:-http://cricket.yahoo.com/news/kohli-ashwin-shine-india-warm-game-113251782.html;_ylt=AqLm7XGbLqZ3HkESotvYUYN_H6N4;_ylu=X3oDMTN0cGgxdTFxBG1pdANIb21lIFBhZ2UgSnVtYm90cm9uBHBrZwNkNjU5NTBjZi1iMGRiLTM4ODgtODcyNy0xYWEyMTRmMjBhYTkEcG9zAzIEc2VjA2p1bWJvdHJvbgR2ZXIDMTViZjY2NWEtMmIwYy0xMWUxLWI3NTctZmJmZDgxMWUwM2Q1;_ylg=X3oDMTFvY3JuM2o0BGludGwDaW4EbGFuZwNlbi1pbgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3