Plays of the day: India v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test match, Day Four
The fourth day of the third Test match between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and Sri Lanka at the P Sara Stadium ended with the game tantalizingly poised.
Send the curator to SSC:
For four days, the third Test has ebbed and flowed. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 has been on top on occasions, while on others, India has looked like favourites. At one stage on the fourth day, it looked like the Indians were going home triumphant with much to spare, and about a secondvlater, it seemed like the Sri Lankans could actually go on to win the game.
All of it was possible because of the even battle between the bat and the ball, which has allowed its fair share of runs to be scored at the loss of 33 wickets.
All said and done, the pitch has kept everyone interested: the batsmen, bowlers and the spectators, both in the ground and in front of the television. What would it take to get the curator from the PSS to start managing the ground at the SSC as well?
The Mendis magic (with the bat):
The last time India was in Sri Lanka to play a Test series, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajantha-c42419 Mendis had wrecked the Indians with his magic, and allowed his side to win the series 2-1. This time around, his bowling has been ordinary, but the batting in the 4th test seemed to compensate for all that. Coming to the crease with the Sri Lankans at 125/8, he went on to smash a 78 at the number ten position. This was not only his highest ever score in Tests, but also in first class cricket, and was worth its weight in gold.
This allowed the Sri Lankans to set a target of 257 for a win for India, instead of the 140-150 they would have probably got to had the tail not wagged.
Incidentally, his partnership of 118 runs for the tenth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera was the highest for Sri Lanka for that wicket. It was also the highest score by an individual for Sri Lanka at number ten, and the highest ever by a number ten batsman against India.
Was Vijay out?
That is a question that is difficult to answer. However, if one were to ask the batsman himself, he would probably say that he was hard done by the umpire, whereas the Sri Lankan side would have no qualms in saying that the batsman was out.
Suraj Randiv was the bowler and he spun the ball viciously across Vijay, who edged it towards the leg-slip. The ball seemed to be going into the hands of the fielder, Mahela Jayawardene, but the cameras weren’t quick enough to catch its flight to the fielder’s hands. Jayawardene immediately claimed the catch, Vijay stood his ground and the umpires had no option but to call for the third umpire.
However, with the cameras having not followed the ball into the hands, the third umpire failed to make a conclusive inference and handed it back to the on-field umpire, Simon Taufel. Rather surprisingly, Taufel declared the batsman out, something that seemed to have pleased none in the Indian dressing room.
While one isn’t sure whether Vijay was out or not, this isn’t the last to be heard from this controversy.
Last innings for Dravid in Sri Lanka?
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid had had a below-par series in Sri Lanka till before this innings, and one thought that the situation was tailor-made for him to not only get back to form but also help India win the game. Unfortunately, he was bowled in a ridiculous manner, but he was anything but laughing about his dismissal. There were a few murmurs about whether this was the last time he will play a Test match.
The more acceptable question is whether this was the last time he will bat in a Test in Sri Lanka. However, given the frequency at which the two sides play matches, he may still have a chance for a last hurrah.
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