Galle pitch could produce a stalemate

Rex Clementine
in Galle

West Indian legend Courtney Walsh featured in 132 Tests in a career spanning 17 years that started with Lloyd and ended with Lara. Despite that many games, he never made a half-century in Test match cricket and was the ideal last man averaging 7.54 with the bat. Even he would have fancied a half-century on this Galle pitch.

Ireland had been blown away on a typical Galle surface as the first Test ended inside three days but for the second Test they found a flat deck and it looked as if the Southern Expressway had been extended up to Galle Stadium.

Sri Lanka found success in the first over of the day as Vishwa Fernando cleaned up Lorcan Tucker bowling him through the gate. But from thereon, it was a toil.

Paul Stirling, who had retired after suffering from cramps on day one, then came onto bat and continued to entertain playing some lovely shots. His maiden Test hundred came in Sanath Jayasuriya fashion as he upper cut Asitha Fernando for six. Well, not quite Jayasuriyasque as the feet weren’t in the air.

In his next over, Asitha nicely set Stirling up tempting him to go for the hook but couldn’t clear fine-leg. His 103 came off 181 deliveries with nine fours and four sixes.

Dhananjaya took another terrific diving catch at slip to dismiss Curtis Campher, the other centurion. He had reached his hundred pulling Asitha for four and more importantly, did a superb job with the tail to take Ireland’s total close to 500 after the top order had fired.

There were signs of things to come as Dhananjaya was setting up the field and Dimuth Karunaratne was happy to play second fiddle. It’s been a tough rise to the top for Dhananjaya and the day he will be announced as the next Test captain should be a moment to celebrate.

You also wonder which school will take the credit for producing him for Dhananjaya has attended four schools – Athulathmudali MV, Richmond, Mahanama and Debarawewa Central.

Prabath Jayasuriya finished with a five-wicket haul, his sixth in seven Tests. He now needs two more wickets to become the quickest spinner in the world to complete 50 Test wickets.

Sri Lanka’s openers enjoyed the flat deck and scored at a rapid pace reaching 81 for no loss in 18.1 overs before the rain came down. A total of 15.5 overs were lost on day two.