KitSports » Dammika Prasad

Rangana rips through Windies batting line up ..

kit-sports editor — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 01:42:58 +0000

Rangana Herath with his twenty third five wicket haul ( 6 for 68) and the eighth at Galle proved the West Indies bogey man as he has done on previous occasions against other teams made the visitors plunge headlong towards disaster at the end of the third day’s play in the first Test at Galle yesterday.

The Windies in reply to the Sri Lankan first innings score of 484 , were all out for 251 and were made to follow on trailing by 233 runs. At stumps they were 67 for 2 with Herath and debutant Milinda Siriwardena taking the wickets of openers Kraigg Breathwaite and Shai Hope respectively. The West Indies still need 166 runs to escape from an innings defeat. Darren Bravo the top scorer in the first innings with 50 is unbeaten on 20 and with him is left hander Devendran Bishoo.
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Sri Lanka’s hero Rangana Herath who took 6 for 68 in action at Galle yesterday.

West Indies in their first innings with 285 runs adrift to make Sri Lanka bat for the second time started off tentatively with Herath who took two wickets on the previous day starting with a maiden to Marlon Samuels. Nuwan Pradeep bowling from the Rampart end also bowled a maiden over. Darren Bravo looked edgy facing Pradeep and got one past through the slip cordon for 4. But in Herath’s second over Marlon Samuels whom the Windies depended on stepped out and drove Herath straight for 4, but two deliveries later Samuels going for a pull shot off a short delivery which kept low played on off his pads which was sufficient enough to dislodge the bail.

z_p20-Rangana-02.jpgJermaine Blakwood the talented right hander playing in his tenth Test match joined Darren Bravo and brought some order to the West Indian batting. Tharindu Kaushal who replaced Herath was treated harshly by left-hander Bravo , Tharindu Kaushal after being barred of bowling the ‘doosra’ doesn’t look the same bowler which he was , his tendency to bowl quicker at times has made him lose control and Bravo despatched him to the midwicket boundary for a four and a six consecutively to take the Windies past the century mark. The rattled off spinner now had to be aware of his front foot in addition to his arm as he over stepped thrice in the over.

Blackwood and Bravo added 41 runs for the fourth wicket, Dammika Prasad struck when Blackwood edged one into the slips to give Milinda Siriwardena his first Test catch.

Mathews kept his pace-spin going with Prasad and Pradeep from one end Herath and Kaushal from the other end. Kashal was replaced by Milind Siriwardena giving the left armer his first bowl in a Test match. Siriwardene after bowling four overs without much success for ten runs was replaced by Herath once again and Herath obliged his skipper in the second ball just ten minutes before lunch, Darren Bravo going for a big drive on the off ended up with a thick inside edge and Dinesh Chandimal took a spectacular catch at mid-wicket. Bravo had faced 107 deliveries and had eight fours and a six in his 50.

Jason Holder no rabbit with the bat with a Test hundred and a couple of fifties the skipper and his former captain Ramdin had to perform something extra ordinary to restore the innings. Holder after striking four boundaries in his 19 adding 33 runs with Ramdin was caught by Perera, Jerome Taylor added a further 46 with Kemmar Roache for the eighth wicket when Taylor snicked one to Mathews in the slips off Tharindu Kaushal. When Taylor was dismissed the Windies still needed 68 runs to avert the follow-on. Mathews opted for the second new ball at 245 for 8 with Roache and Devendra Bishoo trying desperately to avert the follow. But Herath sharing the new ball with Prasad took the two wickets. Roach who faced eighty deliveries for his 22 fighting doggedly was stumped by Kusal Janith and Shanon Gabriel both fell to Herath who completed another five wicket haul 6 for 68.

Sri Lanka will walk into their first Test

kit-sports editor — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 00:48:01 +0000

Sri Lanka will walk into their first Test in 15 years without Kumar Sangakkara or Mahela Jayawardene in their team at the third and final Test match starting from today at Pallekele.
The match will be the decider of the series, as the two teams have tied the series 1-1 so far even though both those matches were interrupted several times due to rain which will also be the case in Pallekele too.
“This is the first match without those two (Kumar and Mahela), and sometimes it’ll be hard but we have to get on with it and play our natural game. We are going for the win even though we may lose the series by attempting so,” said Lahiru Thirimanne the Vice Captain of the side.
Upul Tharanga has been brought in to replace Sangakkara who isn’t available for this mach due to his contract with Surrey, and Thirimanne predicted that Tharanga will straightaway walk into the number three position. “It (Tharanga at number 3) will be the long term choice. Hopefully Tharanga will perform and establish his position,” said Thirimanne.
Thirimanne also reckoned that Pallekale traditionally will assist fast bowlers hence they would prefer to go with three fast bowlers and one spinner, even though the home team’s young fast bowling prospect Dushmantha Chameera is suffering from injury.
“Chameera is suffering from a side strain and he is 50-50 at the moment, He will have to undergo a fitness test tomorrow.”
The leader of the attack, Rangana Herath may be given a rest in the third Test as the home team may go with young Tharindu Kaushal who was busy at training yesterday while Rangana Herath took the day off. Herath was out of touch during last two matches taking 2 wickets for 218 runs.
Also there is a possibility of bringing back Kusal Perera to number seven instead of Kithuruwan Vithanage who hasn’t done much to justify his place from the last two Tests.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will do two obvious changes as Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz are set to miss the second Test with opener Shan Masood who was in good form during Pakistan ‘A’ series set to take the guard along with Ahmed Shehzad.
Hafeez has been granted an Indian Visa after early rejection and will leave the country today to his bowling Test in Chennai after being reported for a suspect bowling action during the first Test in Galle.
Sri Lanka Squad : Angelo Mathews (Captain), Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Jehan Mubarak, Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Dammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal
Pakistan squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali (vc), Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil.
“Sri Lanka will be without two of their big players for the first time from a long time and there won’t be a better opportunity for us to win the series,” said visiting skipper Misbah ul-Haq who made his intentions clear before the deciding Test.
Misbah also said that they too will be keen to go with three fast bowlers. He added that leg spinner Yasir Shah who has been threatening Sri Lanka right throughout the series is someone who could be effective at any venue. Pakistan’s most experienced player, Younis Khan has not clicked during the series as he usually does in Sri Lanka.
“No worries, he is a kind of player who could really score big runs from nowhere. From these sort of players, a big innings is always around the corner and that could be today (Friday),” said Misbah.
Either team who will win the series will occupy the number three position of the ranking which will be another reason for the two teams to go for the kill. Pakistan and Sri Lanka remain at number 6 and 7 respectively at the ranking with points 97 and 96 respectively.

Sri Lanka looking to square series

kit-sports editor — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 02:38:24 +0000

A monumental 117 by Azhar Ali may not be sufficient to deprive a probable Sri Lankan victory against Pakistan at the P. Sara Oval as they are in pursuit of 153 runs to win and square the three Test series. The Pakistanis were dismissed for 329 in their second innings at the stroke of tea on the fourth day of the second Test yesterday.

Play was called off before Sri Lanka began their run chase around 4.00 pm due to rain with Sri Lanka needing 153 runs to win. Play is scheduled to commence at 9.45 am today.

Spearheaded by an inspired spell of medium pace bowling by Dammika Prasad who took 4 for 92 in the second innings and 3 wickets in the first innings and also striking an useful 35 runs while batting has contributed immensely towards the success of the team in the on going Test.

The early morning conditions helped the fast bowlers Dammika Prasad and Angelo Mathews. Skipper Mathews bowled just five overs and got the wicket of Mohammed Hafeez on the third day before bad light stopped play. When play began at 9.45 am in the morning , conditions looked ideal for the medium pacemen. Both Mathews and Prasad exploited the conditions well and Pakistan’s overnight unbeaten pair Younis Khan (23 n.o) and Azhar Ali (64 n.o) started their grind and batted cautiously playing and missing at times. Mathews came back into the attack in the morning. He bowled a short spell and brought in Herath and Kaushal for a while seeking an early break through, but neither Herath nor Kaushal were able to make much of an impact. So, Mathews had to go back to his pacemen which Dammika Prasad in particular obliged.

The former Pakistan captain Younis Khan, playing in his hundredth Test and Azhar Ali drove, cut and glanced. Dammika Prasad was the pick of the Lankan bowlers backed up by skipper Angelo Mathews who were relying on movement rather than pace in favourable conditions. After Younis Khan and Azhar Ali added 73 runs for the third wicket, Mathews got one to move and Younis edged for Chandimal to take a regulation catch behind the stumps.

Younis’ 40 runs had cost him 107 minutes facing 67 deliveries and had four boundaries. Skipper Misbah -Ul- Haq walked in, may be thinking of a revival. He needed a good innings to save his side after his disastrous run out in the first innings.

Mishbah after facing 49 deliveries for 22 runs was trapped lbw off Prasad who was troubling the batsmen time and again with his occasional bouncer and change of pace.

Azhar Ali who came at number three, was batting skillfully at one end, although the situation demanded some care he neither neglected his opportunities to score. Azhar being dropped once at 68 by Kumar Sangakkara off Prasad in the fourth over of the morning in the slips, capitalised on the lapse and batted on remorselessly to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowlers.

He has been carrying the burden of the Pakistan innings. Azhar Ali was undisturbed by either spin or speed and equally competent and was powerful off the back or front foot. His 100 came in 448 minutes facing 266 deliveries with five fours.

Whie Azhar was performing his heroics trying to build a substantial total for the bowlers to bowl at, wicket started tumbling at regular intervals. Ashad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah and Zulfiquar Babar all fell cheaply.

Azhar Ali who lost his concentration may be for the first time in the match left his creae and was stumped to give Rangana Herath his first wicket in the match.

Sri Lanka gain comfortable lead

kit-sports editor — Sat, 27 Jun 2015 01:50:28 +0000

Pakistan brought the match within a reasonable range fighting back conceding a 166 run first innings lead with only one wicket intact on the second day of the second Test played at the P.Sara Stadium. When rain stopped play with still four overs to be bowled Sri Lanka were 304 for 9 in 118.2 overs with a first innings lead of 166.

Sri Lanka who were 70 for 1 overnight in their first innings in reply to Pakistan’s 138 yesterday were aiming high but their wings were clipped by a depleted Pakistan bowling attack who were minus their main strike bowler Riyaz Wahab who had a hairline fracture and most probably will be out of the series. The first Test hero for the visitors Yasir Shah who took seven wickets at Galle, hit back with his spin to take 5 for 95 yesterday

When play began , Sangakkara and Kaushal Silva the overnight unbeaten pair gave every indication of putting up a big score. The second wicket pair added 55 runs when Sangakkara stepped out and hoisted Zulfiquar Babar towards long on , but the shot lacked the power to beat the fielder Ashad Shafiq who accepted the skier. Lahiru Thirimanne who walked in needing a good score against his name did not last long. In a short stay at the wicket. He perished, caught at short and the Lankans dreams of obtaining a substantial first innings lead seemed to be receding

With Sri Lanka losing early wickets, opener and the first Test centurion Kaushal Silva provided the backbone of the Sri Lankan innings. Joined by skipper Angelo Mathews at 119 for 3 ,Silva batted sensibly and was working himself gradually towards his second hundred. At lunch Sri Lanka were 147 for 3 with Kaushal Silva 64 n.o and Angelo Mathews 11 n.o

Soon after lunch Kaushal Silva after adding 16 runs to his individual score was run out due to lack of communication with skipper Angelo Mathews who did not respond. Silva was approaching a well made hundred but it was not to be. The opener batted for 335 minutes and had faced 218 deliveries with 10 fours. By that time Silva and Mathews had added 72 runs . Silva’s innings was beyond praise as it was he who provided the driving force when the side needed runs. Dinesh Chandimal and Kithuruwan Vithanage who were badly in need of a good score were out for poor shots. Finally it was left to paceman Dammika Prasad who struck a useful 35 with Tharindu Kaushal striking 18 off 44 deliveri

Kaushal, Prasad put Lanka on top

kit-sports editor — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 06:38:31 +0000

Tharindu Kaushal-(5 for 42) and Dammika Prasad (3 for 43) held sway as they restricted Pakistan to 138 to put Sri Lanka in a strong position on the first day of the Second Test at the P.Sara Oval in Colombo.

Sri Lanka in Reply were 70 for 1 off 32 overs at close. Opener Kaushal Silva was unbeaten on 21 and Kumar Sangakkara was 18 n.o

Sri Lanka made two changes, bringing in off spinner Tharindu Kaushal for injured Dilruwan Perera and replaced Nuwan Pradeep with Dushmantha Chameera who made his Test debut.

Pakistan stuck to their same Galle victorious combination. The conditions seemed to be helping pace and Dhammika Prasad struck early. In the first ball of his second over, Prasad forced Ahamed Sheshad to edge one into the slips and Kumar Sangakkara accepted it gleefully. The Pakiatanis were unable to get on top of the bowling with both Prasad and Chameera bowling well. Prasad struck a crucial blow once again when he had Azar Ali playing forward to a moving ball and snicked one and stood his ground referring the decision to the third umpire.

The snick was so imperceptible even the third umpire Australian Paul Reiffell took some time to give the final judgment which went in favour of Prasad. Dhammika Prasad took both the wickets that fell in the morning session as skipper Mathews, Chameera and Prasad bowled 23 overs in tandem during the morning session. At lunch, the visitors facing 23 0vers were 70 for 2 with Mohammed Hafeez 31 n.o and Younis Khan 2 n.o.

Soon after lunch Sri Lanka’s fortunes were on the rise. Tharindu Kaushal playing only in his second Test and the first at home after making an horrendous debut in Christchurch, New Zealand on Boxing Day, got off to a capital start. He just bowled the last over before lunch and soon after lunch Tharindu Kaushal had already shattered the main Pakistan batting. Dhammika Prasad took his third wicket sending back Younis Khan, caught off his glove by Chandimal. This opened the “gates” for a sensational Pakistan batting collapse. Both Prasad who gave the early impetus and Tharindu Kaushal produced spells of exceptionally good pace and spin bowling at the right time for the side and by doing so ripped the middle order of Pakistan batting. At lunch the visitors were 70 for 2 in 23 overs with Kaushal just beginning to bowl, Tharindu Kaushal’s off spin was preferred to the seasoned left arm spin of Rangana Herath who never bowled in the innings.

In just 9.5 overs, Kaushal demolished Pakistan batting as they lost their last eight wickets for 65 runs in 119 balls during the post lunch debacle. While Tharindu Kaushal bowled Mohammed Hafeez in his fourth over after lunch while shaping well, he also struck grievous blows to send back first Test heroes Ashad Shafiq Sarfraz Ahmed Riyaz Wahab and Yasir Shah in quick succession.