Laxman Steers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to Emphatic Win
The Indians bounced back magnificently to win the third and final test against the Sri Lankans at the P.Sara Oval in Colombo. Their win was scripted by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, to guide his team home from a tricky situation.
The Indians were in the woods when they had lost their night watchman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566 in the morning session of the fifth and final day, which left them tottering at 62/4 195 runs away from the victory target of 257 runs.
The Hyderabadi joined Indian mainstay Sachin Tendulkar and resolutely went about his task taking some quick singles and two besides dispatching the loose balls through the gaps for fours.
The Sri Lankans allowed a chance to go, when Dilshan dropped a difficult chance at short leg of Randiv with Tendulkar on 18 and the score reading 67/4.
The drop chance eased the Indian nerves giving a real opportunity to the two classy right handers of taking control of the situation.
Tendulkar held one end together as Laxman masterfully negotiated the threat of the Sri Lankan spinners led by Suraj Randiv who kept plugging away from one end as Kumar Sangakkara searched for bowlers who could bring his team back in the hunt.
However the two veterans were not willing to let go of the opportunity as they occupied the crease and kept the score board ticking.
The field was set in and out which meant large spaces were available for ticking along, and the Indian duo took full advantage of the situation.
Tendulkar reached his half century off 106 balls striking three fours in the process, Laxman also reached his fifty soon afterwards with the help of four boundaries.
The required runs were brought quickly under the 100 mark when Lasith Malinga conceded 13 runs in one over soon after the tea interval.
The right arm slinger was going for the broke and was all over the place searching for yorkers of bouncers.
The Indians were jolted when Randiv captured his 5th wicket of the innings to send Sachin Tendulkar packing.
Bowling round the wicket Randiv succeeded in forcing Tendulkar to guide the ball into the hands of wicket keeper Prasana Jayawardene who held onto a difficult chance down the leg side.
Tendulkar scored 54 runs adding 109 priceless runs with Laxman, in what turned out to be a match winning partnership.
The master blaster was replaced by a jittery Suresh Raina who flashed hard on the third ball of his innings and the ball flew past Jayawardene who leaped in the air but failed to hold onto the chance.
After the reprieve Raina took over the role of the aggressor, striking the ball with great force as the sublime Laxman moved towards a majestic hundred.
The ton duly came with the Indians on the brink of a famous series levelling win, Laxman arrived at the landmark with the help of 12 fours facing 149 balls in all.
Raina then steered the visitors’ home, with a lofted six over widish long on sparking celebrations in the Indian camp.
VVS Laxman was declared man of the match, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 was named man of the series.
The win must have restored the confidence of the Indian team, which was given a severe hit on day four by the partnership between Samaraweera and Mendis that threatened to take the game away from the visitors when the two added more than 118 runs for the ninth wicket rescuing their team from a precarious 125 for 8.
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