Over to you Cardiff

Throughout the last couple of weeks, Ashes fever has been everywhere. Its the buzz word on all the blogs and the general cricketing world. Not too many knew that Pakistan were in Sri Lanka for a 3 test series.

And probably not many know that SL has pulled off one of the greatest test wins in recent times. If not ever. Why should it. India is not playing. And its not an Ashes test. So no one really gives a fart. Its not even Cricinfos main headline.

But Pakistan and Sri Lanka have put together an amazing test match. 12 wickets fell on day 1. 300+ runs were scored. There were exceptional bowling and batting. Neither side were ever in front until day 3 when a young bowler took care of two of the finest batsmen in world cricket. The game then magically unfolded so that only one team could win it. Which was Pakistan.

Of course knowing Pakistan like we all do, meant that it wasn’t quite over. They needed 97 runs to win with 8 wickets in hand with 2 days to go. It was as if Pakistan forgot how to bat overnight and Sri Lanka discovered something magical in the pitch.

Forget Herath. Which is not easy. Thilan Thushara bowled one of the most enthralling spells I have ever seen from a Sri Lankan fast bowler. Given the situation. Given the state of the pitch and ball, what he did was incredible. He hit a perfect length nearly every ball. He hit the seam and moved it both ways at will.

Misbah, Malik, Akmal had absolutely no clue what was happening. The bastard put on this show for nearly an hour, unchanged. Its safe to say it would have turned on even the most ardent of 2020 fans.

Herath flew in from England. Didn’T get a bowl for 47 overs in the first innings. Didn’t bowl till the last over of the 3rd day and on the 4th day he came out there with a vengeance. Why Sangakkara went with Herath instead of Mendis today is probably a mystery to everyone but it worked. Herath bowled as well as I have ever seen him. He spun it, bounced it and was all over Pakistan.

This was the equivalent of Adelaide 06. But not many will remember it that way because apart from the Sri Lankans and Pakistani’s the outside world had no idea what was going on in Galle.

It was like enjoying an underground band do its best work, While everyone waits for the pop bands to take over tomorrow.

So over to you Cardiff, see if you can top this.

9 Comments

  1. insideEdge said:

    Thushara bowled like a taller and pacier Chaminda Vaas. Throughout the game, and for the first time in his test career, he had a great seam position. Injury aside I doubt we’ll see Vaas again.

    Herath was brilliant. If Murali is fit for the next test there is a good argument for Splendid being rested. Alternatively he can replace Warnapura as opener! Everyone overlooks the 60 balls he faced as the first ever Nightwatchman Opener and a valiant 20 in the first innings.

    July 7, 2009
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  2. Sachintha said:

    WOW that was some juicy spell from Thushara. Sexy as it gets. But it is unfortunate the opposition was not Aus, Indian or England for world to notice. I think for all the hype, we’ll end up watching a boring Ashes game yet everyone will talk about it while the real gem goes unnoticed.

    July 7, 2009
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  3. insideEdge said:

    In terms of Cardiff expect Phil Hughes to be a massive flop.

    If Warnapura was Aussie he’d get a game.

    If TM Dilshan was Aussie he’d be in the team as a specialist spinner.

    If Dilhara was Aussie he’d be known as “Wally”

    July 8, 2009
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  4. Krish said:

    Damiths, your guys won this round. But the Pakistan team will be back with a vengeance!

    July 8, 2009
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  5. Q said:

    Well said Damith.. It sure was great advertisement for test cricket.. and it surely deserves more coverage and recognition..

    But I disagree on one part.. u say that no team was ahead till day 3.. I differ on this.. I think Pakistan was ahead from the moment the test began.. Pakistan always looked like winning it and Sri Lanka never looked to be in a good position.. till this morning when Lanka turned it around magnificently..

    July 8, 2009
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  6. Now it’s up to Lankan cricket to make something of this win.

    July 8, 2009
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  7. Kumar said:

    Damith,

    Not true that the world ignored this test series. In my office in Hyderabad, all the cricket fans discussed only this test match for the last 3-4 days, especially Mohd Yusuf’s grand come back, Mendis’ failure, and we were all thoroughly surprised at the magic Thushara and Herath wove on Day 4.It came out of the blue..

    True, the newspapers in India did not cover it as much as they would cover the Ashes from today, but there was live telecast and people lapped it up.

    Great win for SL, and I wish the three major sub-continent teams start playing 5 test series among each other.

    July 8, 2009
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  8. i remember before the match started i had been threatening about slow and low dead end pitches.

    it was actually quite a nice one, and served up some great cricket. it also showed that t20 can paper up differences in class, while test cricket cruelly exposes even the smallest fissure.

    akmal’s drop of jayawardene, the run outs of both akmal and yousuf, the plucky resistance by the sri lankan tail, the paltry first innings lead all were rather forgettable instances in the grand scheme of things until you account for them right at the end. it would’ve been the greatest victory ever if it hadn’t involved pakistan.

    July 8, 2009
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