http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429, Hit Back Hard
Led by a brilliant all-round performance by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Delhi-c780 dasher Virender Sehwag, the Indians have hit back strongly on day three of the third and final test against Sri Lanka being played at the P Sara Oval, Colombo.
The hosts ended day three in a spot of bother, as they lost both their openers, Tharanga Paranavitana (16) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (13), with the total at 45, and an overall lead of just 34 runs with 8 wickets standing in their second innings.
The Sri Lankans were given a double jolt by Sehwag, who extracted sharp turn with his off-spinners just before the close of play to nip out the openers and leave the match tantalizingly poised with two full days remaining.
The third day’s play was engrossing from the outset, as the two teams fought like cat and mouse in a bid to outgun each other.
The Indians resumed from their overnight score of 180/2 with Tendulkar and Sehwag at the crease. The two were dismissed in quick succession; the Little Master (41) was the first one to go: he went in the first over to Lasith Malinga, edging an outgoing delivery into the hands of wicketkeeper Jayawardene.
Sehwag completed his 21st ton (109) and was dismissed after striking 19 fours in his 105 ball innings; his dismissal was a tame one as he lobbed a gentle catch to mid-off, with off-spinner Randiv the successful bowler.
Suresh Raina and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 than steadied the ship with a solid partnership for the fifth wicket, adding 105 runs to take the visitors closer to the Sri Lankan first innings total of 425.
Laxman was the first one to go steering a ball into the hands of Mahela Jayawardene in the slips of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajantha-c42419 Mendis.
Laxman scored 56 runs off 97 balls, striking 7 fours. Raina completed his half century capping off a remarkable performance in the first two Tests of his career following his debut ton in the second test played at Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
The left-hander was dismissed for 62, as he offered a simple catch to Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara stationed at mid-wicket off the bowling of spinner Ajantha Mendis.
India received a real jolt when skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 edged an attempted pull shot into the hands of wicketkeeper Jayawardene after making just 15 runs.
Dhoni was the third victim of Lasith Malinga. The Indians were then helped by a resolute eighth wicket stand between bowlers Amit Mishra (40) and Mithun (46); the two added 65 runs in their partnership taking their team within striking distance of the Sri Lankan total.
The Indian innings was eventually folded at 436, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566 (8) was given out controversially off the bowling of Randiv, when the ball appeared to miss the bat and gloves before looping in the hands of short leg Tharanga Paranavitana.
With the Sri Lankans a meagre 34 runs ahead, the last two days are set to provide absorbing cricket. The Indians have theirs noses ahead and would hope to run through the solid middle-order of the hosts on the fourth day to set up an opportunity of squaring the series.
The hosts, on the other hand, would be slightly jittery at the start of day four and if they lose a couple of early wickets, their situation could deplete further. Whatever transpires, the cricket is expected to be of the highest quality tomorrow at the P Sara Oval.
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