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| December 3, 2003 | Wednesday | Shawwal 8, 1424 |
Giles strikes on rain-hit opening day
GALLE (Sri Lanka), Dec 2: Spinner Ashley Giles struck three crucial blows to help England restrict Sri Lanka to 138-4 on a rain-curtailed opening day of the first cricket Test here on Tuesday.
The left-arm spinner took 3-13 off 10 tight overs as the hosts faltered after making a solid start on a day when 30 overs were lost due to rain and bad light at Galle International Stadium.
Kumar Sangakkara (39) and Thilan Samaraweera (one) were at the crease at the close.
Giles picked up the wickets of opener Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene and captain Hashan Tillekeratne as Sri Lanka slipped from 76 for no loss to 132-4.
The spinner, pressed into the attack only after lunch, got into the act straightaway as he dismissed Jayasuriya just when the left-handed batsman had looked set to play a big knock.
Jayasuriya was caught bad-pad by debutant Paul Collingwood at forward short-leg after scoring 48 with the help of eight fours. The former skipper prodded forward tentatively to a delivery that spun and bounced more than he expected.
Marvan Atapattu was caught behind down the leg-side while trying to pull seamer Andrew Flintoff and then Giles came back to take two more wickets in quick succession.
Jayawardene was caught at silly-point and Tillekeratne was caught behind attempting to cut. Both the wickets fell at 132.
Giles bowled four maiden overs in his second five-over spell and took two wickets.
The Sri Lankan middle-order batsmen failed to capitalise on a steady start given by Jayasuriya and Atapattu, who put on 76 for the opening wicket after the hosts had elected to bat.
The match started 30 minutes late due to a soggy outfield.
Sharp showers midway through the afternoon session and poor light in the closing stages restricted the game to just 60 overs.
A one-day series between the two teams was also affected by rain as two of the three matches were washed out at Colombo.
England, who have won both of their previous Test series against Sri Lanka, suffered a setback when former skipper Nasser Hussain pulled out because of a viral infection.
Collingwood got a chance to make his Test debut after playing 42 one-dayers.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
M.S. Atapattu c Read b Flintoff 29
S.T. Jayasuriya c C’wood b Giles 48
K.C. Sangakkara not out 39
D.P.M. Jayawardene c C’wood b Giles 17
H.P. Tillekeratne C Read b Giles 0
T.T. Samaraweera not out 1
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-1, NB-1) 4
TOTAL (for four wkts, 60 overs) 138
FALL OF WKTS: 1-76, 2-88, 3-132, 4-132.
TO BAT: U.U. Chandana, H.D.P.K. Dharmasena, D. Fernando, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas. M. Muralitharan.
BOWLING: Hoggard 12-3-32-0; Johnson 12-4-33-0 (1w); Flintoff 10-3-16-1; Collingwood 2-0-9-0 (1nb); Batty 14-4-33-0; Giles 10-4-13-3.
ENGLAND: M.E. Trescothick, M.P. Vaughan, M.A. Butcher, G.P. Thorpe, P.D. Collingwood, A. Flintoff, C.M.W. Read, G.J. Batty, A.F. Giles, R.L. Johnson, M.J. Hoggard.
UMPIRES: D.J. Harper (Australia) and S. Venkataraghavan (India).
TV UMPIRE: M.G. Silva (Sri Lanka).
MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).—AFP/Reuters
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