Srilanka v India- 3rd Test match Day 3 - Review
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 crept ahead of Srilanka ripping both their openers back to the pavilion at stumps on the third day of the last test match at Colombo.
It was the unorthodox off break bowling of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 that did the trick for his team as India managed to get rid of dangerous looking Srilankan openers Paranavitana and Tillekeratne Dilshan before the end of the day’s play. Sehwag’s damage gave India a certain competitive advantage in the game as the match drives towards a thrilling end.
The game was evenly balanced after both teams were able to get a first innings score in the same bracket. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 introduced the teams spinners early in the innings, bringing Ojha in to the attack, which essentially made the Srilankan openers struggle.
Paranavitana was the first blow for Srilanka as he edged the ball to Dhoni of Sehwag, mis queuing the ball completely. Dilshan was lucky enough to survive a tough leg before a wicket shout by Ojha but could not hold his place for long as he gave his wicket off with a simple catch to Murli Vijay at forward short leg, off the same bowler. Skipper Sangakara was at the middle with night-watchman Randiv, who was yet to open his account in International cricket.
Earlier in the day, blasting Virender Sehwag eased away to his 21st Test hundered in style. Hard hitting Sehwag hit 19 superb boundaries and scored atleast a run a ball on the way to this milestone. But unfortunately for the team, his innings could not last long and he left the pitch soon after Sachin Tendulkar’s dismissal at the start of the day. Tendulkar, who was deceived by a splendid out swinging delivery by Lasith Malinga could not add much to his overnight score and became a dupe of disappointment for Indian fans.
V.V.S. Laxman and left handed Suresh Raina added momentum to the Indian innings by making valuable contribution with the bat. Both put on a great display of batting and showed effective resistance against Srilanka’s pace and spin attack, helping India escape from a bad start to the third day’s play. Raina kept a smooth attack going and kept punishing the opposing team over their poor deliveries, whereas Laxman on the other end took charge against the spinners. Raina played more intelligently by pulling and sweeping the off spinners and driving well against the Srilankan seamers, particularly after lunch.
Raina was soon in the midst of trouble as he faced the 6 foot long Suraj Randiv (who has replaced the all time legendary http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Muttiah-Muralitharan-c78157), but got lucky and escpaed. The duo however were not lucky for long enough and couldn't scamper away from the technical Ajentha Mendis who got the ball angling in to Laxman who mis-executed the ball which sent it straight to Jayawardena. Raina followed Laxman and got out in a somewhat similar fashion to Mendis (who took two for 109).
Late tail enders continued to disturb the scorers for the second time in two test matches by making valuable contributions with the bat, as India gained an 11 run lead over an enthusiastic Srilankan side just after tea. Mithun and Amit Mishra solidified India’s innings by staying at the wicket and playing like proper batsmen. Both of them gave the Indian innings growth and adding jubilation to the squad.
Amit Mishra who came into the side as a full time spinner did not do well with the ball in the first day but made his mark in the team with some impressive batting. The right handed 20 year old Abhimanyu Mithun teamed up greatly with the tailender Mishra and helped his side go beyond Srilanka’s total. Both batsmen fell short of their first ever fifty in test cricket but lost their wickerts to the right arm Suraj Randiv who got four for 80 in his debut test match.
It would be interesting to see the tactics that Srilanka’s batsmen would implement in tomorrow’s game. Would they eye a defensive play and try to save the game or will it be Dhoni’s men who would chase the target to level the series up.
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