Related Links : Sri Lanka in India 2009/10 | Scorecard of Day 4 | Live Scorecard and Commentary
India have seen through the afternoon session on Day 4 without losing any wickets and have also taken off 77 runs out of a deficit of 334. Virender Sehwag has been lucky to have survived three chances – a couple of edges that were put down by the keeper and a run out in the 16 overs of batting before Tea. Sehwag has batted responsibily through most part of that period and is on 47 from 61 balls with 6 fours. Gautam Gambhir at the other end has been very solid with his shot selection and is on 28 from 37 balls with 3 fours.
Sri Lanka continued with its strange tactics even after Lunch. The pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Prasanna Jayawardene created a new world record for the highest partnership for the sixth wicket beating the previous one which was of 346 runs between Jack Fingleton and Don Bradman for Australia way back in 1936-37. Amit Mishra finally got a wicket for his leg breaks when Mahela Jayawardene stepped out and missed one to get bowled in the 194th over. Mahela had to settle with a score of 275 from 435 balls with 27 fours and a six.
The Lankans still did not declare even when Mahela got out at a score of 726 for 6! Instead it was another normal style of batting from Prasanna Jayawardene and Dammika Prasad. Eventually the innings was declared in the 203rd over when Prasad slog swept Harbhajan Singh into the hands of deep mid wicket. Prasanna Jayawardene remained unbeaten on 154 from 314 balls with 11 fours. Sri Lanka declared their innings at a score of 760 for 7 in 202.4 overs. The Indians were kept on the field for 843 minutes to be precise!
India are now trailing behind Sri Lanka by 257 runs and have 28 overs to bat out in the final session today. Sehwag is still lucky to be there after getting two outside edge – one of them was a no-ball but the other one coming off Prasad would have meant his end had the keeper taken a diving catch. He also was lucky not to get run out as Murali missed the stumps with a direct throw when Sehwag was only mid way through the pitch.