Jayasuriya brightens the mood on gloomy second day

The second test of the final test match was for the most part a gloomy occasion. Heavy monsoon clouds sulked over the ground all day. However they were unable to dampen the spirits of Sanath Jayasuriya, who responded to a frustrating morning for Sri Lanka with a dazzling half-century.

Nevertheless it was Nico Boje who had the last laugh. Introduced into the attack as twilight started to settle in, he stalled a Sri Lankan innings that was fast over coming the South Africans first innings score of 279. Taking three wickets crucial wickets in an unbroken ten over spell he ended a second wicket partnership of 103 with Russel Arnold and restricted Sri Lanka to 138 for 4 at the close.

The game had progressed slowly in the morning. Sharp showers interrupted play as the South African lower order, marshaled by an unusually restrained Klusner, clawed their side back into the game. Having been reduced to 117 for 6 on the first day the lower order added 162 priceless runs for the last four wickets.

Then, when Sri Lanka finally dismissed the South Africans, the pace quickened. Sanath Jayasuriya, undeterred by the early loss Marvan Attapattu (10), once again defied a technique that would have many of yesteryears more classical technicians turning in their graves, with a blistering 85

His bottom hand gripped tightly around the shoulder of the bat, the top hand a mere passenger for most his shots, and with that arch like back-swing, he carved the fast bowlers around a damp Sinhalese Sports Club outfield. Racing to his fifty off just 46 balls he hit 14 boundaries in all, each one of them a tribute to his remarkable eye.

However for not the first time in the series the Sri Lankans were guilty of letting South Africa off the hook. Having established their dominance it was thrown away as quickly as it had been established.

Russel Arnold had compiled a composed 28 before he danced down he track to Boje, was beaten in the flight, and was brilliantly caught by a diving Lance Klusner at mid on. Aravinda de Silva (2) shimmied down the wicket in Boje's next over, tried to work the ball to leg, completely missed and was smartly stumped by Mark Boucher.

The run rate then slowed dramatically as only five runs were added in the next seven overs. Fatally, Sanath Jayasuriya attempted a sweep and the ball lobbed up to Gary Kirsten at short fine leg to leave Sri Lanka on 135 for 4. Sri Lanka had lost three wickets for just 13 runs and the game had swung once more back onto an even keel.

In the morning session South Africa had resumed on 194 for 7 and the frustrated the Sri Lankans as Nico Boje (21) and Lance Klusner (95*) extended their eighth wicket partnership to 54 runs. Sanath Jayasuriya mixed the bowling around, using Vaas, Murali, himself and Arnold, before taking the new ball in the 82nd over.

The decision paid immediate dividends as Nico Boje was caught behind. Indeed he could have finished the innings off then and their as Lance Klusner was fortunate to survive an LBW appeal from Chaminda Vaas when on 72.

South Africa though were not finished and Paul Adams tenaciously supported his partner in a 24 run stand. Forced to brave a barrage of short deliveries from Vaas, who attacked from around the wicket, he even had the audacity to loft the bowler over mid-off.

When the Sri Lankans returned to the field after the luncheon interval they dropped the field deep for Klusner, forcing him to pick up singles and crawl to his century. When Muttiah Muralitharan trapped Adams LBW he said afterwards that he wanted to make a dash for the landmark but he had timed the dash too late: Mornantau Hayward tamely top edging a full toss to short fine leg in Chandana's second over of the day.

Lance Klusner, a man famed for his aggressive exploits, had batted in an uncharacteristically studious fashion for over fours hours and 175 balls, but was cruelly left unbeaten on 95.

For the umpteenth time in the series the day finishes with the match evenly poised. The next session always appears to be the crucial one and fortunes continue to sway. The winning team will now surely be the one with the steeliest minds.

J