Match Highlights of Sri Lanka Vs India, Day 3 of 2nd Test at SSC, Colombo (July 28)

India have fought back immensely well on the third day’s play to finishon a well placed at 382 for 4. Sachin Tendulkar, the most experienced man has led them through and has got a young Raina as company to put on perhaps what could be a match saving partnership of 141 for the unbroken 5^th wicket. Their partnership has lasted around 37 overs so far.

Sachin Tendulkar is onto 108 (from 181 balls with 14 fours and a six) which is his 48^th test hundred while debutant Suresh Raina is on 66 (from 133 balls with 8 fours) and is feeling at home at this highest level.

India have brought the deficit down to 260 and most importantly are just 61 runs away from avoiding the folow on while having six wickets in hand. This match could most probably be a draw should India be able to bat well for another two sessions tomorrow.

The third day’s play saw the tourists add up 287 runs in 90 overs for the loss of four wickets. The visitors started superbly through the overnight opening pair of Sehwag and Vijay. They took their partnership and the team total past 150 before a rush of blood saw Sehwag get stumped out on 99 (from 101 balls with 15 fours) off debutant off spinner Suraj Randiv. Sri Lanka got two more wickets before lunch with Murali Vijay (58 from 124 balls with 8 fours) and Rahul Dravid (3). Vijay got out lbw after moving back to a fullish ball from Mendis while Dravid was lbw to a sharp turner from Randiv that pinned him back in the crease.

After lunch, Sachin got a partnership going with Laxman which was broken by a Mendis googly in the 71^st over. A well set Laxman got dismissed for 29 (from 98 balls) after adding 68 runs for the fourth wicket. After that wicket, Tendulkar got great support from Raina to rescue India towards a safer position. Sachin was lucky to be dropped by Prasanna Jayawardene in an attempted upper cut. He also got away with a few uppish shots that fell short of the fielders.

For Sri Lanka, Suraj Randiv bowled superbly by flighting the ball and getting it to jump and turn. He used the top spinner to go past the outside edge of Sehwag and it was a big turning off break to break through the defences of Dravid.