Tendulkar India's Savior During Second Test
An inspired performance from Indian batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, enabled India to save itself from an eminent follow-on. Tendulkar made his 48th Test century as he steered India to safety. He developed two great partnerships with Laxman and Raina and saved India from the clutches of a successive defeat. Other players seen in the limelight during the match were the Sri Lankan spinners who performed relatively better than their Indian counterparts. At the end of the 3rd day, India was trailing by 260 runs as they made 382 for 4 with Tendulkar and Raina unbeaten at 108 and 66 respectively.
The conditions on the third day of the second Test were in the favour of the batsmen but the Sri Lankans clearly impressed with their variation in pace and length, unlike the Indian bowlers on the first two days. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 looked shaky in the start, as the hosts troubled them with the vast variety of their bowling.
Tendulkar was dropped by wicketkeeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Prasanna-Jayawardene-c82537 on 29, off the bowling of Fernanado. Having been dropped once, Tendulkar batted with his typical confidence as he steered India towards safety. Tendulkar adapted well to the conditions as he dominated the spinners through his famous cuts and drives. Suraj Randiv, who had taken two wickets up till now, was struck for 8 boundaries by ‘Little Master’.
Tendulkar made full use of his feet as he played the ball late on an extremely slow track. He patiently culminated runs to complete his century. This was his 48th Test century, an incredible landmark. Raina lacked confidence initially as he made his debut. He was extremely uncertain against the spinners, who bowled him around-the-wicket line, but gradually gained confidence. With the passage of time, he started playing comfortably and at one stage he struck consecutive boundaries to Parsad. He went on to complete his maiden half-century and was unbeaten at the close of the day.
Earlier, Virender Sehwag missed his century by one run when he was stumped on the bowling of Randiv. Sehwag was Randiv’s first wicket in Test cricket. Later, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 showed no disappointment regarding his missed chance of scoring a century. Talking to reporters after the close of the play, Indian opener said, “I am disappointed. Not because I was out on 99, but because today's day could have been very good for us if we were one or two down.” He further added, “We had a great opportunity to post a big total. But thanks to Sachin we are back in a good situation. If we play well tomorrow then we can avoid the follow-on and also bat the whole day. I knew somebody will make a big one. I was expecting from VVS and Sachin to complete the hundreds, unfortunately Laxman got out.”
Later, Mendis trapped http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 but a solid and unbeaten stand by Tendulkar and Raina, brought the game back to an even position. Unless some extraordinary performance is displayed by the Sri Lankan bowlers, this Test is destined to a draw.
Meanwhile, debutant Randiv was cherishing his first Test wicket. He said, “Sehwag was on 99 at that time. I thought he might go for a big shot and I thought of bowling a doosra at him. It worked and I got his wicket. When you get a player of his calibre it's a big thing. It's a privilege. I just came onto bowl and I thought he will do something different. Our bowlers hadn't given him any easy runs at that stage.”
At this stage, this Test is evenly poised and most probably heading for a draw. But India has produced determined displays in the SSC unlike their previous performance in Galle. Now all cricket fans are impatiently waiting for the fourth day.
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