http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, 3rd Test, Day 4 Review: Sri Lanka on Top in Colombo
An engrossing day of Test cricket, which was full of ebb and flows, ends with the hosts Sri Lanka on top with a day to go in the third and final Test match of the series against India.
The Indians were the ones who started brilliantly, but by the time stumps were drawn for the day, the hosts had clawed their way back in the game after being on the mat and staring at a humiliating defeat in the first session of the day.
The hosts had slumped to 87/7 (second innings) in the opening session of the day; a lead of just 76 runs and a defeat imminent.
Yet in a fairytale comeback, the Sri Lankan tail wagged manfully, with spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajantha-c42419 Mendis narrowly missing out on being the top scorer in the innings (that honour goes to Thilan Samaraweera with 83 runs).
The right hander scored a brilliant 78 runs studded with 10 fours and one six, and turned the match upside down in a ninth wicket stand of 118 runs with Thilan Samaraweera.
Samaraweera also got good support from Lasith Malinga (15 off 37 balls), adding 38 runs for the eighth wicket, at a time when every run was worth its weight in gold.
However, the wind was truly knocked out of the Indian sails by the effort between Mendis and Samaraweera.
The duo mixed caution with aggression as the Indian captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni looked totally bereft of ideas, going to one bowler after another in a bid to break the stubborn resistance, but to no avail.
The duo batted throughout the post lunch session, before being separated after tea when Samaraweera edged a delivery form medium pacer Abhimanyu Mithun into the hands of a relieved Indian captain with the Sri Lankan total at 243 runs.
Samaraweera’s knock came off 139 balls and included 6 boundaries, and together with Mendis, he took the lead well past the (expected) mark of 200 runs.
Even after his departure, the Indian misery continued, as Mendis chanced his arms adding 24 more runs with last man Welegedara.
Mendis’ 78 run vigil ended when he drove a ball from Amit Mishra into the hands of Suresh Raina at covers.
The spinner struck 10 fours and one six in what was his maiden Test half century.
The Indians were clearly jolted by the rearguard action by the Sri Lankan tail, and the opening batsmen looked weary as they strode out for a tricky 256 run chase on a track that was offering sharp turn to the spinners besides unevenness in bounce.
The visitors were dealt a heavy blow when their most successful batsman of the series, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429, fell in only the second over of the innings for a duck.
The right hander edged off-spinner Randiv into the hands of an elated Mahela Jayawardene in the slips.
The Indians looked shaky in the chase, and the Sri Lankans cashed in big time by going through the Indian wall http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid, who inside edged a ball from Randiv onto the stumps after making only 7 runs.
It only became worse for the Indians, as before the close of play, they lost opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Murali-Vijay-c78035 (27 runs off 53 balls, including 3 boundaries), who had batted with purpose before edging Randiv into the hands of the ever reliable Jayawardene in the slips.
The off-spinner Randiv capped off a remarkable day for the hosts, who fought back from the dead to stamp their authority on one of the most absorbing days of Test cricket in recent times.
The Indians have an uphill task as they look to score 203 more runs on a wearing wicket on the final day with seven wickets intact.
Their task is cut out, yet they have the highest run getter in Test cricket history, Sachin Tendulkar, on the crease, besides some serious batting talent with the likes of Suresh Raina, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 to follow.
Whatever the outcome may be, the series is set for a gripping finale on the final day. May the best team win.
Tags: