Sport - Cricket

Game evenly poised: Zaheer

Colombo: Having striven to dismiss him all day, Zaheer Khan complimented Kumar

Sangakkara for an undefeated 107 that allowed Sri Lanka to edge past India on the second day of the third Test here at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.

“It was an important innings that he played today,” said Zaheer, who has dismissed Sangakkara twice this tour. “From their point of view, they needed someone to hang in there and continue batting, and that’s exactly what he did.”

Sangakkara was recuperating in an ice bath as these kind words were being spoken, and it was his coach Trevor Bayliss who handled the post-day press conference.

“He held our innings together all day long,” said Bayliss. “The concentration he showed in batting for long periods of time is what makes him world-class.” Both Zaheer and Bayliss said the wicket was excellent for “tough” Test match cricket. “The batsmen will have to concentrate hard for their runs and the bowlers will have to bowl the right line and length and bend their back,” said Zaheer.

How did the left-armer approach bowling on this strip? “Just run in, give your best, be patient, and wait for batsmen to make mistakes.”

While Zaheer spoke vaguely of decisions that “went here and there” (perhaps referring to the Thilan Samaraweera leg-before that was settled on referral), Bayliss welcomed the system, saying leg-before decisions should be part of it.

“Everyone says the game is a batsman’s game,” said Bayliss. “The review system might be a little bit of a comeback for the bowlers. There will be more outs than not outs. All the bowlers should be pretty happy that the review system is in place.”

Bayliss praised Chaminda Vaas’s efforts as night-watchman, calling the left-hander “one of the best watchers of the ball in our team”. The Sri Lanka coach said that both sides could win the match, a thought echoed by Zaheer.

“The game is evenly poised,” said Zaheer. “We need to get them out early. The first session is crucial.”

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