Current Affairs

News
India gain slight upper hand

Colombo: India’s middle and late order batsmen came up with gritty contributions as the visitors eked out a slender 11-run first innings lead and scalped two quick Sri Lankan wickets to gain a slight upper hand in the third and final cricket Test here Thursday. VVS Laxman (56), Suresh Raina (62), Abhimanyu Mithun (46) and Amit Mishra (40) were the notable performers as India folded up for 436 in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 425. India then returned to remove both the Sri Lankan openers Thilakaratne Dilshan (13) and Tharanga Paranavitana (16) to leave the hosts at 45 for two in 16 overs. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara (12) and night watchman Suraj Randiv were at the crease at close of play on the third day. Earlier, India lost Virender Sehwag (109) and Sachin Tendulkar (41) in the pre-lunch session but it was the dogged resistence from their tailenders that was largely responsible for the first innings lead. With two days left for the match at the P Sara Oval expected to aid the bowlers, the match appears to be heading for a thrilling finish. India, trailing the three-match series 0-1, desperately need to win the match to level the series but have the disadvantage of having to bat last on the wearing track. Earlier resuming at 180 for two, India consolidated their position with Sehwag completed his century in style with a four off pacer Lasith Malinga before being dismissed after nine runs. Sehwag, who consumed 105 balls in his knock of 109 with the help of 19 fours, fell to Malinga caught by Suraj Randiv at mid-off. However, the visitors suffered the first blow when Sachin Tendulkar was out for 41 in the first over of the day. Tendulkar, who became the most-capped Test cricketer in the match, flashed his bat on an away going delivery off Malinga without much foot movement to be easily taken behind the stumps by Prasanna Jayawardene. Laxman and Raina then took some time to settle down on a sporting P Sara Oval pitch before steadying the visitors’ innings to 282 for four at lunch. Laxman pulled an Ajantha Mendis delivery past the square leg and followed it by sweeping the same bowler to the backward square leg boundary in that over. As Raina gained in confidence, he drove carrom bowler Mendis for yet another boundary before giving Suraj Randiv the same treatment later on. Raina was though fortunate that a Randiv flighted ball spun from around the off stump but it dropped well short of point fielder.

                                                                                                               
Back
Created by SaasVaap Techies pvt ltd