Sri Lanka struggle as India battle back

Defiant batting by India’s tailenders and twin blows by Sehwag left the third and final Test against Sri Lanka...

COLOMBO: Defiant batting by India’s tailenders and twin blows by part-time spinner Virender Sehwag left the third and final Test against Sri Lanka evenly poised. India, chasing Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 425, were reduced to 321 for six in the post-lunch session of the third day, before the last four wickets added 115 runs to take the total to 436.

Sehwag, who scored a century earlier in the day, then dismissed Sri Lanka’s openers to leave the hosts tottering at 45 for two in their second knock, a lead of 34 runs with eight wickets in hand. Sehwag had Tharanga Paranavitana caught behind with his fifth ball and dismissed Tillakaratne Dilshan in his next over, snapped up at short-leg by Murali Vijay.

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was unbeaten at close on 12 while nightwatchman Suraj Randiv was yet to score.

India’s total was bolstered by the eighth-wicket pair of Abhimanyu Mithun and Amit Mishra, who put on 64 runs. The pair came to the crease at the fall of captain MS Dhoni’s wicket in the post-lunch session with India still 75 runs away from Sri Lanka’s total.

Mithun made 46 with the help of five boundaries before he was dismissed by Randiv. Mishra (40) missed his second Test half-century when he holed out in the deep off Randiv, who also removed Ishant Sharma to finish with four for 80.

Sling-arm fast-bowler Lasith Malinga returned with three for 119, while unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis took two for 109.

India, who began the day at 180 for two, were dealt two quick blows as veteran Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed in the first over and century-maker Sehwag in the sixth, both falling to reckless shots. Tendulkar slashed at Malinga and edged an easy catch to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

The world’s leading run-getter scored 41 in a third-wicket stand of 91 with Sehwag. On the other hand, Sehwag, who was on 97 overnight, reached his 21st hundred in the second over by pulling Randiv for his 18th boundary.

But Randiv had the last laugh as Sehwag hit out against a flighted ball and top-edged the skier to Chanaka Welegedara in the covers.

Venkatsai Laxman and Suresh Raina hit half-centuries during a fifth-wicket stand of 105, before Mendis dismissed both batsmen in the space of three overs after lunch.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2010.