New Zealand lose openers in pursuit of 494

Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 2nd Test, SSC, 4th day

August 29, 2009

Tea New Zealand 234 and 78 for 2 (Flynn 22*, Taylor 20*) need another 416 runs to beat Sri Lanka 416 and 311 for 5 decl (Sangakkara 109, Jayawardene 96)

	Mahela Jayawardene fell just four runs short of what would have been his 10th century at the SSC

Having set New Zealand 494 to win or, more realistically, over four-and-a-half sessions to bat out a draw, Sri Lanka dutifully nipped out two wickets before tea. Kumar Sangakkara was perhaps a bit generous on New Zealand, holding back Rangana Herath until the 15th over, for his introduction aborted another stop-start innings from Martin Guptill. With Muttiah Muralitharan turning his arm over shortly before tea on a pitch starting to show signs of wear, and Ross Taylor and Daniel Flynn showing an eagerness to cut, a tense final session is in store.

Dammika Prasad, who wasn't at his best in the first innings, maintained a tight line this time. Thrown the new ball after one over of spin from Tharanga Paranavitana, his six overs went for just 16 and he snapped an obdurate 48-minute opening stand, knocking over offstump after Tim McIntosh's fatal decision to shoulder arms. Thilan Thushara got some late movement to test Flynn but it was Herath's entry that drew a second wicket. Coming over the stumps he spun the first ball and Prasanna Jayawardene made no mistake with Guptill's loose prod. Taylor and Flynn counter-attacked briefly, sweeping, cutting and slogging spin for fours, but remained under pressure.

New Zealand's almost hopeless position owed significantly to another morning of remorseless accumulation, when Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene further deflated their spirits. Sangakkara put in his first century of the series, and sixth at the SSC, extending his stand for the third wicket with his good mate to 173. Sangakkara's lack of runs in Galle had hardly told on Sri Lanka because of Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera. But rarely does a home series roll by when Sangakkara doesn't score a century, and today he duly weighed in. Having done the hard work yesterday, he ticked along today.

It was an innings that sported an array of strokes - a full-throttle swivel-pull off Daniel Vettori; three scorching drives off Jesse Ryder, completing his follow-through while on his knees, bat flourishing and a straight drive off Iain O'Brien. Typically, the drives off the front foot were methodical. In fact, that flowing bent-knee drive past cover has become as customary for Sangakkara as the nudge of the hips for one. Sangakkara was cheered though the nineties by local fans and when he forced Jeetan Patel off back foot to deep cover, after just over three-and-a-half hours at the crease, he punched the air as the crowd clapped in delight.

There was another large innings panning out at the other end as well. Jayawardene was again in his element on a pitch and against an attack which would have reminded him of his Premier League days. He skipped down and lofted Patel for six on the third ball of the day and repeated the shot off Vettori for four, then settled as he eased past fifty. Though he hit a number of trademark drives off the seam bowlers, front foot right to the pitch and head low as he caressed the ball through the covers, Jayawardene was overall cautious.

Jayawardene at the SSC since 2006 374 v South Africa, July 2006 127 v Bangladesh, June 2007 195 v England, December 2007 136 v India, July 2008 79 and 2 v Pakistan, July 2009 92 and 96 v New Zealand, August 2009

To the spinners, on a wearing track, Jayawardene's preferred shots were off the back foot, going right back to hit the ball on top of the bounce either behind point or to square leg. He played several such shots off Vettori and Patel. There were a few wristy flicks and delicate dabs from a man who has averaged 79. 58 with 2467 runs in his 22 Tests at the SSC.

Sangakkara advanced and edged Patel to slip for 109 - with Sri Lanka's lead on 444 - to bring Samaraweera to the middle. Sri Lanka had pushed back the declaration before lunch to allow Jayawardene reach his tenth Test ton at the SSC but it wasn't to be. After the break, O'Brien, for the second time in the match, dismissed Jayawardene in the nineties. The new ball was taken shortly after lunch and Vettori swiftly dismissed Samaraweera lbw for 25, then looked on as Taylor spilled a catch off Chamara Kapugedera. But a few moments later a far more significant catch was taken by Taylor at slip, as Jayawardene stabbed at O'Brien.