RESULT
2nd Test, Colombo (PSS), August 04 - 08, 2006, South Africa tour of Sri Lanka
361 & 311
(T:352) 321 & 352/9

Sri Lanka won by 1 wicket

Player Of The Match
123
mahela-jayawardene
Player Of The Series
22 wkts
muthiah-muralidaran
New
SL 2nd Innings
Full commentary

What a Test match it turned out to be - Sri Lanka win by one wicket in dramatic fashion. For the record this is the 6th highest successful run chase in the history of Test cricket. It was a stunning knock from the Sri Lankan captain. Mahela's 123 was the back-bone of the Sri Lankan innings in a game where fortunes fluctuated widely. He was supported well by Prasanna Jayawardene and Farveez Maharoof. South African bowlers did put up a fighting effort but they lacked penetration when they needed wickets badly.

Boje and Hall kept up the pressure till the end and it came down to the last wicket. In the end the injury sustained by Makhaya Ntini proved to be the thin line between victory and defeat . We hope you have enjoyed the coverage. Don't forget to check out the Bulletin by S Rajesh. To relive the pulsating chain of events all you have to do is click - go for it. That's it from me Sajan Nair - Cheers.

113.3
1
Boje to Malinga, 1 run

there it is! Malinga keeps his cool and Sri Lanka win by one wicket - full and on the stumps, driven straight back down the track to the long-on region

113.2
1
Boje to Maharoof, 1 run

again tossed up on the middle and leg stump line, Maharoof gets well forward and drives it hard into the ground and the ball bounces over the bowler - that's the single they were looking for - scores are level

113.1
Boje to Maharoof, no run

tossed up outside the leg stump and Maharoof is beaten on the sweep, Boucher whips off the bails but Maharoof was never in trouble

end of over 1132 runs • 2 wickets
SL: 350/9CRR: 3.09 
Farveez Maharoof28 (116b 2x4)
Andrew Hall 25-3-75-3
Nicky Boje 39-11-109-4

Malinga is the last man in - Two runs to win - one for a tie.

Boje to continue - Maharoof on strike - three men around the bat catching - tension mounts.

112.6
W
Hall to Murali, OUT

bowled'm! good length delivery on the middle and off stump line, that's the line to Murali - huge swing of the bat and he misses the target by miles, ball crashes into the woodwork - Sri Lanka nine down. It's all happening here!

Muthiah Muralidaran b Hall 2 (5b 0x4 0x6 6m) SR: 40
112.5
2
Hall to Murali, 2 runs

and finally he makes contact! fuller length delivery outside the off stump, this time Murali goes at it with a straight bat and the ball flies through the gap between mid-off and cover, two runs added to the total - they need two more to win, one for a tie - what is it going to be?!

112.4
Hall to Murali, no run

full and on the pads, Murali is late and the ball hits him on the pad

112.3
Hall to Murali, no run

again again - good length delivery outside the off stump, Murali swings across and once again the ball zips past the outside edge.

112.2
Hall to Murali, no run

good length delivery outside the off stump, Murali as usual makes room and swings hard but fails to make contact - missed it by miles

Murali walks in ahead of Malinga.

112.1
W
Hall to Vaas, OUT

this is not over yet! fuller length delivery outside the off stump, inviting Vaas to go for the drive and he falls right into the trap - thick edge and the ball flies away towards the slip cordon, de Villiers at third slip drives across full length to his left and takes it inches away from the ground - that's an amazing one handed effort, could this be the turning point?

Chaminda Vaas c de Villiers b Hall 4 (20b 0x4 0x6 24m) SR: 20
end of over 1122 runs
SL: 348/7CRR: 3.10 
Farveez Maharoof28 (116b 2x4)
Chaminda Vaas4 (19b)
Nicky Boje 39-11-109-4
Andrew Hall 24-3-73-1

Crowded off side field in place.

111.6
Boje to Maharoof, no run

turning across from outside the leg stump, Maharoof goes done on one knee and sweeps hard but fails to make contact, ball clips the pad and pops up straight to the fielder at first slip

111.5
1
Boje to Vaas, 1 run

forced away off the back-foot to the point region, another brick added

111.4
Boje to Vaas, no run

turning in from close to the off stump line, defended on the back-foot

111.3
Boje to Vaas, no run

what was that - reared off a good length and Vaas gets hit on the body

111.2
1
Boje to Maharoof, 1 run

turning across, Maharoof pushes forward to defend, ball clips the outside edge and rolls away well wide of the fielder at first slip, lucky run

111.1
Boje to Maharoof, no run

on the middle and leg stump line, defended on the front-foot

end of over 111Maiden
SL: 346/7CRR: 3.11 
Chaminda Vaas3 (16b)
Farveez Maharoof27 (113b 2x4)
Andrew Hall 24-3-73-1
Nicky Boje 38-11-107-4
110.6
Hall to Vaas, no run
110.5
Hall to Vaas, no run

another ripper outside the off stump, once again Vaas is beaten on the forward prod - this is fantastic bowling from Hall

110.4
Hall to Vaas, no run

lovely delivery outside the off stump, Vaas is sucked forward and beaten all ends up

110.3
Hall to Vaas, no run

turned away off the back-foot to the midwicket region

110.2
Hall to Vaas, no run

good length delivery, close to the off stump line, drive off the front-foot to the cover region

110.1
Hall to Vaas, no run

good length delivery, pitched outside the off stump and angling across the left-hander, Vaas leaves it through to the keeper

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