Kiwi Vs Pak WC 2011 : Something on Pallekele - Muttiah Muralitharan Stadium.

WC is providing lots of knowledge…  had posted one on Hambantota, a coastal city of South Srilanka which had bore the brunt of 2004 tsunami.  This place is aspiring to host 2018 Commonwealth Games.   The Port of Hambantota (also known as the Magampura Port) is a maritime port recently opened in Nov 2010  with the first ceremonial berthing of the naval ship "Jetliner" to use the port facilities.  The stadium is named after President  Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Yesterday there was a match between New Zealand who had lost six times in a row (they had lost 5 matches in Bangaldesh last year) and resurgent Pakistan.  The result was indeed unexpected a 110 run defeat to Pakis.

Ross Taylor who turned 27 wrote history, gifted largely by Pak fielding – dropped when yet to score and at four – returned unbeaten with 131 with 7 sixers  - it was indeed a fairy tale finish.

Before that something on another new stadium – this match was played at Pallekele International Cricket stadium, which is named after the greatest offie Muttiah Muralitharan and is the newest one to Internationals having been opened in Nov 2009.  This lies closer to Kandy, the city of Maha Nuvara in the centre of Lanka, capital of anicent Kings.  This is one the scenic cities and houses the Tooth Relic of Buddha.  The new stadium is about half an hours drive from Kandy.  The stadium is owned by SL Cricket Board.  There is another one at Kandy – the Asgiriya stadium which has hosted Tests – infact their second Test agaist Greg Chappel’s Australian team.  Asgiriya is a privately owned property of Trinity College, Kandy.

The Pallekelle stadium is to host 3 matches.  Other than the yesterday match involving Pak & NZ, on 10/3 Lanka play Zimbabwe and on 14/3 Pak play Zimbabwe. 

NZ are at times extremely dazzling and yesterday was theirs.  Pak chasing 303 could only make 192 despite a later order flourish from Abdul Razzaq who made 62.  Kiwis had served ordinary stuff and after 46 overs,  were 210/6  - Oram had joined LRPL Taylor who had made 76 off 111 balls.  The fiery Shoaib Akhtar cam to bowl.  The first ball was a four over point, second sailed over square for a six, third – a high full toss over midwicket for another 6, then came a wide, no run, 5^th was a four and off the last deliery Taylor brought his 100 with a six.  Akhtar had conceded 28 (4,6,6,Wd,0,4,Wd & 6)

Unbelievable -  48^th was by Abdul Rehman who conceded 15 runs.  Seasoned Abdul Razzaq replaced Akhtar. The  49^th  over was :  4,6,Wd,6,Wd,2,4 & 6 (yes 30 runs off it).  Taylor from 76 off 111 had proceeded to 131 off 124.  Final over was by Abdur Rahman who was hit for two consecutive sixers by Oram who got out to the third ball.   Mills socred 4,2 and 1 off the last 3. A run riot of 92 in last four and Pak had the lost the match by then.

Regards  - S. Sampathkumar