Lankan tail enders give fresh hopes to Murali
The first Test Match of the three match Test Series being played at Gallewhich was heading towards a listless draw at the end of second dyas play thanks to rains has suddenly generated lot of interest and the credit for that should go to Sri Lankan tailenders Rangana Herath and Lasith Malinga. Lankan tail enders Herath and Malinga have not only brought life into the Test match with their aggressive batting but also kindled Sri Lankans hopes of a win and the prospects of Muthiah Muralidharan crossing the 800 wicket mark in Test Matches.
What was commendable about Herath and Malinga was the fact that though being tail enders they anticipated and even exceeded the expectations of their skipper Kumar Sangakkara. The Sri Lankan skipper would have best expected his batsmen to get a mammoth total just to play safe in the Test match as he is well aware of the might of Indian batting in case Sri Lankans fail to get close to what is a mamooth total. Sangakkara's worst fears came true withthe fall of Mahela Jayawardene's wicket at 322 who was the last of their specialist batsmen and Sri Lankans were inching towards a in between total. However Herath and Malinga aided by a listless Indian attack not only got the total Sangakkara wanted but got them at such a fast clip that Sri Lanka are now in control of the match. The duos assault on the Indian bowlers helped the Sri Lankan cause as the Lankans amassed 264 in just 56 overs at 4.71 runs per over on the third day.
The Sri Lankans duos assault also meant that Murali who had almost lost all hopes of crossing the 800 wicket mark after the second play was washed out now gets a crack at the Indian batsmen possibly for a second time too in the match if things go as per plan. If India fails to avoid the follow on then obviously Murali will get a second crack at Indian batsmen and even if India manage to avert the follow on Sangakkara in all probability will declare the Sri Lankan second innings to ensure that Muraligets a chance to have a go at the 800 wicket mark even if the match is headed towards a draw. Sangakkara infact may even open the bowling with Murali if there are very few overs left in the match.
Muralidharan still has a possibility of reaching the 800 wicket in first innings itself but that looks remote as he has take the remaining 7 wickets left in the Indian innings which is difficult though not impossible. With the dangerous Sehwag, classy Laxman still at the crease and Dhoni and Yuvraj to follow, Indians may even surpass the Sri Lankan total and declare the innings to ensure Indians draw the match and deny Murali his 800th wicket.
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