Sangakkara, Dilshan ensure Lanka reach 257; Munaf takes four wickets

Rajkot, Feb 11 (UNI) A brilliant sixth one-day century by wicket-keeper batsman Kumara Sangakkara and his 108-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Tilakratne Dilshan (56) took Sri Lanka to a respectable score of 257 for eight wickets, after a top order collapse, in the second one-dayer against India at the Madhavrao Scindia cricket ground here today.

Put into bat, the Lankans were in all sorts of trouble as the Indian new ball bowlers Munaf Patel and S Sreesanth exploited the early morning moisture in the wicket to leave the visitors gasping at 58 for four.

The Lankans started confidently with Upul Tharanga glancing Sreesanth for a boundary to fine leg and then in the third over of the innings, Sanath Jayasuriya opened up to hit a huge six over point boundary of Munaf Patel. However, the lanky bowler got his revenge in the same over when a beautiful ball just on the off stump had Jayasuriya prodding at it, only to get an edge through to keeper Mahendra Dhoni. Jayasuriya made nine and Lanka were 16 for one.

Tharanga was the next to go on 12, playing away from his body to a delivery from Sreesanth but only managed to edge it straight to Sachin Tendulkar.

Marvan Atapattu also got out early on 15 with the score on 53 for three when a ball from Munaf Patel jagged back to rap the batsman on the pads in front of the stumps. Five runs later, the Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene was also back in the pavilion being caught by Mahendra Dhoni of Sreesanth for just 4. Jayawardene got a huge edge to second slip fielder where Ganguly fumbled and the ball came of his chest and fell nicely for Dhoni to take the rebound.

Dilshan then joined Sangakkara and the two slowly but surely began to rebuild the innings. Dilshan, who was slow in getting off the mark, stamped his mark on the game with his timing and placement as the two milked the Indian bowlers in the middle overs with Sangakkara reaching his 50 first with a square cut of Kumble. He reached his 50 in 79 balls with eight fours and one six.

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