PSS Colombo, Sri Lanka: As expected the pitch has forced a result on the teams. Only rain can stop the inevitable. The match is open for both the teams, although SL hold an edge, due to the batting of Mendis (with Samaraweera) and bowling of Randiv.
Pre-Lunch Session
This became the most productive session for Indian bowlers in 3 test matches. They grabbed 5 more wickets putting SL in complete danger of being bowled out around a low score of 100 runs. Ojha took 3 and Mishra took 2 wickets. Samaraweera in the company of Malinga returned for a quick lunch. They must have had a lot of thoughts to fill the brain.
Post-Lunch Session
SL fought back. Malinga was the only casualty of the session with Sehwag grabbing his 3rd wicket of the inning and joining Ishant as the most successful bowler with 7 wickets in the series. Samaraweera played as if he was still continuing from the first inning century. Mendis had all reasons to be praised, as he scored his first half-century of the tests. India still needed 2 wickets. SL lead was increasing dangerously.
Post-Tea Session
Finally after a record breaking 118 run partnership, Samaraweera gifted his wicket to Mithun. Still the danger-man Mendis kept sending the ball to the rope. Finally his resistance was ended by Mishra. But not before he has done enough damage. From hopeless situation, SL was now in controlling position. India needed 257 runs to win. Sehwag was the key.
Sangakkara made the attacking right move in 2nd over. Randiv came and swallowed Sehwag for the third time. With Sehwag gone, India’s chances over the last few years, have always looked bleak. The star-studded team has suddenly become more reliant on Sehwag in Test matches than any other player. Sehwag holds the key for India. He is gone on 0. Dravid failed again, completing the last inning of his worse series ever where his average was the lowest in a Test-playing nation during a Test-series.
Dravid could score just 95 runs in 5 innings of 3 test. Murali Vijay is yet to mature. He too perished. Scoring 99 runs in 3 innings of 2 Tests, is not a sign of good future promise. Vijay just failed to grab the opportunity again. With Night-watchman Ishant as partner, Tendulkar took India to bed on 53/3. Still 204 runs more to score in this do-or-die match for India. 7 wickets more to go. Plenty of overs remaining in the complete day. Will India sail through!! Will SL Bowlers prove the strong Indian batting a pack of cards again!!
Many thoughts, just one advice. Wait for answers on field. Catch some sleep to enjoy the last day of the match with refreshed eyes.
Scorecard
SL 2nd Innings
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Paranavitana c †Dhoni b Sehwag 16
Dilshan c Vijay b Sehwag 13
Sangakkara* c Raina b Ojha 28
Randiv lbw b Ojha 6
Mahela c Dravid b Ojha 5
Samaraweera c †Dhoni b Mithun 83
Mathews c Tendulkar b Mishra 5
HAPW Jayawardene†lbw b Mishra 0
Malinga lbw b Sehwag 15
Mendis c Raina b Mishra 78
Welegedara not out 4
Extras (lb 4, w 4, nb 6) 14
Total (85.2 overs) 267 (3.12 runs per over)
Fall of wickets
1-32 (Paranavitana, 9.5 ov), 2-39 (Dilshan, 11.6 ov), 3-63 (Randiv, 20.5 ov), 4-77 (DPMD Jayawardene, 26.5 ov), 5-78 (Sangakkara, 28.3 ov), 6-87 (Mathews, 31.1 ov), 7-87 (HAPW Jayawardene, 31.2 ov), 8-125 (Malinga, 42.2 ov), 9-243 (Samaraweera, 80.6 ov), 10-267 (Mendis, 85.2 ov)
Bowlers
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Mishra 47/3
Sehwag 51/3
Pragyan 89/3
Mithun 22/1
Ishant 54/0
Ind 2nd Innings (Target 257 runs)
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Vijay c Mahela b Randiv 27
Sehwag c Mahela b Randiv 0
Dravid b Randiv 7
Tendulkar not out 11
Ishant not out 2
Extras (lb 4, nb 2) 6
Total (3 wickets; 18 overs) 53 (2.94 runs per over)
Fall of wickets
1-10 (Sehwag, 1.5 ov), 2-27 (Dravid, 9.1 ov), 3-49 (Vijay, 15.2 ov)
Bowlers
Randiv 20/3
Test Statistics
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1. Mendis scored his first half-century in a test inning, scoring 78 runs.
2. Mendis scored 78 and that is the highest by a number 10 batsman against India.
3. Mendis and Samaraweera scored record 118 runs for 9th wicket. This is the recorfd partnership for SL against any country and also a record in Ind Vs SL matches.
4. Randiv has taken the wicket of Sehwag 3 out of 3 times now.
5. Last 3 wickets of SL added 180 runs.
6. Sangakkara became the fastest to reach 8000 runs, in 151 innings.
7. Malinga became the 3rd SL bowler, after Murali and Vaas, to take 100 test wickets.
8. Sehwag completed his 21st century.
9. Amit Mishra and Abhimanyu Mithun scored their highest total in a test innings.
10. Abhimanyu Mithun completed 100 runs only in his 4th innings.
11. Sehwag became the second fastest to reach 7000 runs in Test Matches after Wally Hammond, in terms of innings. This is his 134th innings.
12. Sehwag shares the record for fastest 7000 runs in Number of Test Matches now with Wally Hammond. He is playing his 79th Test match.
13. With his score of 99, he missed his 5th consecutive test century. Now, he can score 5 century in 6 test matches tomorrow. He already has 20 century to his name.
14. Samaraweera scored his 12th century.
15. Pragyan Ojha claimed career best figure of 115/4 in his 6th test.
16. Sangakkara reached 7913 runs in his 151 innings. He scored his 32nd half-century.
17. Mahela scored his 35th half-century.
Special Fact of Test
13. Tendulkar became the highest capped player in Test history. Playing his 169th test, he surpassed Steve Waugh’s record.
14. Laxman and Raina added 105 runs for 5th wicket
Venue: P Sara Oval, Colombo
Toss: Sangakkara
Teams
Sri Lanka
Paranavitana, Dilshan, Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Samaraweera, Mathews, Jaya HAPW Jayawardene†, S Randiv, SL Malinga, UWMBCA Welegedara, BAW Mendis
India
V Sehwag, M Vijay, R Dravid, SR Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, SK Raina, MS Dhoni*†, A Mishra, A Mithun, I Sharma, PP Ojha
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