India Falter After Good Start

GALLE

India wasted a good start to finish the opening day of the first Test matchagainst Sri Lanka at 163 for five in their first innings here today.

A fine 79-run opening stand had given the tourists a good platform toconsolidate but the Indians lost too many wickets towards the end of the day tosquander the initiative.

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya did not have any hesitation in puttingin India to bat on a lush green wicket that promised help to the seamers. Itseemed an ideal situation for the Sri Lankans, who went into the match with fourmedium-pacers hoping to capitalise on the conditions.

But Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagopan Ramesh batted with tremendous grit anddetermination and kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay till the middle of thesecond session.

However, once Ramesh was out for 42 in the 41st over to Muralitharan, Indianslost wickets at regular intervals and did not have any partnership going.

India lost four wickets in the final session of play after being in acomfortable position at 95 for one at tea.

Muralitharan gave his side vital wickets of Ramesh and Rahul Dravid, out for12, while Dilhara Fernando dismissed Kaif and Hemang Badani in successive oversat the fag end of the day to bring Sri Lanka back into the game.

Captain Sourav Ganguly, 10, and Samir Dighe, 2, were battling it out in themiddle when the stumps were drawn for the day.

The Indians started very slowly concentrating on not losing any earlywickets. The first five overs produced just one run.

Sri Lanka, keen to capitalise on the seamer-friendly conditions, set a veryattacking field with three slips and two gullies ready to pounce on any edge thebatsmen produced. Chaminda Vaas had four slips in place and at one time therewere nine players in catching positions.

Das and Ramesh were however very cautious and aware of their task. They stuckto their wickets doggedly and frustrated their opponents by defensive play inthe rain-interrupted morning session which forced play to be halted for about 40minutes.

Ramesh survived a scare when he seemed to have edged a Ruchira Pereradelivery to wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara, preferred over Romesh Kaluwitharanafor this match.

However, there was just a half-hearted appeal from the fielders and umpireAsoka de Silva gave the benefit of doubt to the batsman who was on three at thattime with the total reading six.

India had scored just 16 runs in the 20 overs of the opening session but theimportant thing was they didn't lose any wickets.

The second session saw a more positive approach from Das and Ramesh who hadboth settled down by then. Runs started coming more easily and there was betterunderstanding between the two in running between the wickets.

Muthiah Muralitharan troubled the batsmen right from his first over, gettinga lot of turn and bounce from the pitch which should offer hope for the Indians.As the pitch wears down over the next couple of days, it would becomeincreasingly difficult for the batsmen and the Indians can hope to exploit theconditions when Sri Lanka bat in the fourth innings.

Muralitharan provided the first wicket in the 41st over when he invitedRamesh to drive a flighted delivery. Ramesh took the bait and went on thefront-foot but was unable to reach to the pitch of the ball. He tried to checkhis shot at the last minute but only managed to give a simple catch toJayasuriya at point. His 129-ball knock contained two fours.

Mohammad Kaif, surprisingly sent ahead of Rahul Dravid, gave Das goodcompany. For a man playing only his second Test, Kaif looked a picture of calmand poise as he took his time to settle down. He avoided anything remotelyoutside the off-stump, realising the key was to stay at the wicket for as longas possible.

However, Das, who had concentrated hard all this time, got out in a veryuncharacteristic fashion, edging an outgoing delivery from Vaas to be caught byJayasuriya in first slip. His 40 came off 169 balls and had just one four. Indialost their second wicket at 105.

Dravid could not stay for long and was back in the pavillion after makingjust 12 runs. He stepped out to drive Muralitharan but missed the line. The ballrose high after touching his bat and pads and Russel Arnold took a good divingcatch at silly point.

India were three down for 124 and with about 15 overs remaining for the day,the Indians were expected to take it easy and not lose any further wickets.

But that was not to be, and Kaif and Hemang Badani were dismissed by Fernandoin quick succession.

Kaif, who impressed with his shot selection and timing, opened up towards thelatter half of his innings and played some attractive drives. But he was totallybeaten by a sharply incoming delivery and was clean bowled after making 37, thatcame off 144 balls and included two boundaries.

Badani played in a one-day mould and paid the price. He went for swipeagainst a widish delivery and edged it to the wicketkeeper to bring his inningsto an inglorious end. He made just six runs.

Sourav Ganguly, who came at the fall of Dravid, was slightly tentative in thestart. He was foxed by Muralitharan on a couple of occasions but was slowlygetting better with his timing and placement.

The final two sessions were extended to compensate for the loss of ten oversin the morning but there were still five overs to be bowled for the day whenplay was called off for the day.

PTI