The monthly column in which Chuck Ran answers all your questions on all things indoor cricket. Why Chuck Ran you ask?...Why not???
Victoryless Vittory by Chuck (Senior Member) Aug 31, 2009
It was a gritty performance by BlackCaps skipper Vittory on the last day of the last Test against Sri Lanka. BlackCaps almost squared the series as Sri Lankans (in and outside SSC boundaries) had their hearts in their mouths as they closed in unforeseen victory.
It was straight forward end of day 3 that the series will easily be 2 – 0 to Sri Lanka and people were hoping to see a quick-fire declaration early on Day 4. However, it wasn’t the case and all credit should goto Sri Lankan skipper (taking a little bit more time) and also Mahela (for giving us hope to see a record breaking performance). However, it was Mahela’s unlucky 90s game at SSC as he couldn’t break Don Bradman’s ‘most centuries at a single venue’ record, failing to get to 3 figures but coming so close to it twice. It was seen such as Don saying ‘not tonight boy, maybe some other time’. However, he now leads the list of most runs at a single venue.
I expected Mahela to start a new consecutive centuries run at SSC and he almost did. It wasn’t so unlucky when he received the Man of the Match award overtaking brilliant performances by Rangana Herath and Kumar Sangakkara.
BlackCaps have been losing matches as well as weight in their current tour. Ryder was reported to have lost 4 kilos of his body weight even though he didn’t look any athletic (on the field) as he ever been before; He was worse in fact. However, Ryder and Taylor looked to be in good form for their most worshiped version of Cricket - T20s (for short cameos). Being T20 world runner-ups Sri Lanka must be the favorites to win T20s even though BlackCaps want to show their colors, especially for Indian IPL bosses, so they can grab good contracts (hence good money) next time.