Feature

Harper gets hit, again

Plays of the Day for the second day of the second Test at the SSC

A rare moment when Harbhajan Singh has something to smile about  •  Live Images

A rare moment when Harbhajan Singh has something to smile about  •  Live Images

Great partnership, part I
During the course of their 193-run stand, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene overtook the combination of Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting to become the second-most prolific partnership between non-openers. By the time they were separated, they took their tally to 4798, behind only the 5993 that the Sachin Tendulkar-Rahul Dravid combination has added, in 42 more innings and at an average which is 12 runs lesser.
Great partnership, part II
That great minds think alike was manifested when Sangakkara and Jayawardene thought of running on the same part of the pitch in the 111th over. They ran into each other, but a major collision was avoided. Not sure if the Indians had any energy left to laugh at it, though.
Harper and his body parts
During Sri Lanka's chase in the first Test, Daryl Harper copped one smack on the chest when he couldn't get out of the way of a pull from Tillakaratne Dilshan. During the second Test, he was spotted showing his badly bruised chest to a Sri Lankan batsman. It wasn't a pretty sight. Today, a throw from M Vijay got the umpire on the back side. Spare us the details this time, Daryl.
Dhoni gets Jayawardene, finally
India needed something out of the ordinary to unsettle Jayawardene and get his wicket. That had not happened until MS Dhoni lobbed a throw back to the bowler, and managed to hit Jayawardene, softly, on his head. That did the trick, and soon Jayawardene lobbed one to midwicket. That also earned the Indian fielders a mercy declaration.
Harbhajan gets a wicket
Stop the press. That Jayawardene wicket was also Harbhajan's first of the series, in 449 deliveries spread over three innings.
The SSC stats dossier
Jayawardene extended his own record for most runs at a venue, taking his tally at the SSC to 2641 runs at 82.53. He also broke Sir Don Bradman's record of nine centuries at the MCG the most at a venue - with his 10th at the SSC. Sangakkara who made 219, took his tally to 1822 at 72.88, also scoring his seventh century here. Thilan Samaraweera was not to be left behind; by virtue of staying unbeaten, he took his average here to 81.93, and the runs-tally to 1229 in just 14 Tests.
Welcome to Test cricket, son
If you are a spinner on debut, you don't want to be bowling your first delivery to Virender Sehwag, who has scant respect for the breed. Suraj Randiv's first act in Test cricket was to be cut away for a four, first ball, and then go for another four through the off side in the same over. As soon as he put a fielder deep on the off side, Sehwag dropped it into the off side and took another single.

Sidharth Monga is a staff writer at Cricinfo