da 888： Andrew Miller provides the plays of the second day between Sri Lanka and England at Kandy
Andrew Miller in Kandy02-Dec-2007
Ian Bell played magnificently before falling for 83 © AFP
Shot of the day
Ian Bell’s response to Dilhara Fernando’s first ball of the morning.It was full and straight, and Bell creamed it straight back down theground, past the non-striker’s off stump by a whisker, and all the wayto the rope. Last night Matthew Hoggard has spoken of England’s desireto hit the ground running in this match. With one shot, Bell showedthat England were determined to live up to that promise on a dailybasis.Catch of the day
Chamara Silva’s outstanding snaffle at short midwicket. Bell had beenbatting with determination and poise, but his desire to remainpositive in the face of Muttiah Muralitharan’s onslaught eventually proved hisundoing. It needed a massively alert fielder to take advantage of hismiscued drive, however, as the ball squirted in the air off a thickinside-edge and Silva at full stretch to his left ended an excellentinnings and carried Murali ever closer to destiny.Stonewaller of the day
The free-flowing Michael Vaughan is not used to being entrenched whilebatting… except, of course, when he’s playing a Test in Kandy. Threeyears ago, Vaughan led England’s rearguard on this ground with aseven-and-a-half hour 105. Today, he dug in with the determination ofa captain with four days in which to capitalise on an outstandingfirst-innings bowling effort. Muralitharan kept him pinned down at thepress-box end of the ground, and by the time he was dismissed (much tohis chagrin) for 37, he had occupied the crease for a furthertwo-and-a-half hours.Over of the day
There was only one bowler who mattered today. A feverish crowd chantedand drummed in appreciation, and Murali did not disappoint, as hereeled his way towards the world record with a mesmeric performance.The zenith came in his 18th over of the day – six deliveries, everyone a live hand-grenade. Paul Collingwood fenced a ripper inches shortof a sprawling silly point; Ravi Bopara turned one tentatively off histoes and into the hands of short leg, but replays showed he’d justmanaged to jab it into the turf first. But Murali’s eyes weretwinkling with anticipation, and sure enough, Bopara’s maiden Testinnings ended with a leg-side strangle next ball.Anticlimax of the day
Kandy hasn’t known such heights of reverence and worship since theBuddha’s tooth was last paraded through town. The world record was athis mercy, as Ryan Sidebottom took guard in preparation for the ordealhe was about to face. Six deliveries were negotiated but none of themcomfortably, but then the weather closed in from the surroundinghills, and the quest had to be put on hold for another 24 hours.