Hussain breaks Murali myth, hits century

Hussain breaks Murali myth, hits century
Reuters

KANDY, March 8: Nasser Hussain rediscovered his form with a century on Thursday, taking the attack to the Sri Lankan spinners in the second Test as umpiring controversy again overshadowed the series.

Hussain made 109 and put on 167 for the third wicket with Graham Thorpe (59) as the touring team ended the second day on 249 for five in reply to the home side’s first innings of 297.

England had complained bitterly about the umpiring during their first-Test defeat but all the luck went their way on Thursday.

Hussain was twice reprieved by home umpire B.C. Cooray after appearing to fall to Muttiah Muralitharan shortly after making his half-century. Graeme Hick was also given the benefit of the doubt after appearing to offer a simple return catch to the off-spinner and then being rapped on his pads while rooted in his crease. The tension was defused, though, when Muralitharan bowled a lunging Hussain and then trapped Hick, still on nought, leg before shortly before the close.

Muralitharan was left shaking his head in disbelief as one decision after another went against him.

England, tottering on 37 for two after losing their openers cheaply, had counter-attacked superbly, Hussain and Thorpe dancing down the wicket and unleashing a series of straight lofted drives.

They put on 50 in 10 overs and transformed the mood of the innings with their fresh approach until Hussain’s first lucky escape. The England captain, following a wretched run of form last year, had reached 53 with the score on 162 for two when he appeared to be caught brilliantly at silly point by Mahela Jayawardene. The umpire, though, was unmoved and again shook his head in a near-replica situation off Muralitharan’s bowling shortly afterwards.

Hussain, however, was in sparkling form for much of his five-hour innings, scoring 66 of his runs in boundaries including three sixes, one of which sailed out of the ground. He pointed to the pavilion, in thanks for his team mates’ support in recent months, as he reached three figures, his first century since the third Test against South Africa 15 months ago.

Michael Atherton was the first Englishman back in the pavilion, falling lbw to a fine inswinger from left-arm pace bowler Chaminda Vaas. Trescothick, after a string of powerful shots during his 23, threw away his wicket to off-spinner Kumar Dharmasena.

Scoreboard
SRI LANKA: (Ist innings) 297
ENGLAND: (Ist innings) M Atherton lbw Vaas 7, M Trescothick c Sangakkara b Dharmasena 23, N Hussain b Muralitharan 109, G Thorpe c Dilshan b Jayasuriya 59, A Stewart not out 16, G Hick lbw Muralitharan 0, C White not out 6; Extras (b-16 lb-9 nb-4) 29. Total (for five wickets) 249
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-37, 3-204, 4-232, 5-236
Bowling: Vaas 19-7-29-1, Zoysa 5-1-20-0, Muralitharan 36-11-85-2 (nb-4), Dharmasena 23-4-54-1, Jayasuriya 15-5-36-1