August 02, 2008
India have got most things right on a crucial
third day's play of the second test at Galle. The visitors
have gained a healthy lead of 237 with six second innings
wickets in hand on a spinner-friendly wicket. Openers Sehwag
and Gambhir came good for the second time to set the match up
for India. While getting anything over 200 in the fourth
innings on this dry pitch is a big challenge, one cannot say
that the current Indian lead looks anyway secure for the
visitors. Ideally they would be looking to set a target of 400
if they can get a good partnership going between the two
overnight batsmen - Ganguly and Laxman. But then the Sri
Lankans are fighting hard to bowl out the Indians quickly and
if their target is 300 or so, they also have a chance of
winning the Test.
The morning session of the third day was
critical for both sides as it would decide which team would go
on to get the much needed first innings
lead. The overnight unbeaten Jayawardenes - Mahela and
Prasanna survived some anxious moments
and started to get some runs. Just when India thought it was
getting a bit tough to dislodge the pair, came a flighted top
spinner from Bhajji that had a lot of bounce to force a bat
pad off Prasanna Jayawardene (24 from 67 balls). India had to
wait almost an hour to get this break, the next one came
without much efforts though. Experienced Chaminda Vaas played
an irresponsible shot to become Anil Kumble's first victim of
the series. SL were in the dumps at 255 for 7 with the deficit
still being 74. Mahela Jayawardene found a useful partner in
Nuwan Kulasekara and along with him did succeed in getting SL
closer to India's total. Anil Kumble finally produced a
delivery that turned viciously and kicked off to find the edge
of the Sri Lankan Captain. Mahela was dismissed for 86 (from
188 balls with 10 fours) and once he was sent back, it took
just another eight deliveries to wrap up the Sri Lankan first
innings. Kumble finished with a confidence boosting 3 for 81
and he could be the real danger for the home side in the last
innings. Harbhajan toiled his way and at the same time found a
way to success in his 40.3-8-102-6.
The lead that India could earn was just 37
but they would take that on this wearing pitch. Sehwag doesn't
have a good record in second innings, however, he turned it
around this time with a smashing start along with Gautam
Gambhir. The Sri Lankan bowlers were taken to the cleaners and
the lead was rapidly going up. Before the fielding side could
get their act right, Sehwag raced away to a half century and
the lead past a hundred. The hosts were saved from a massive
onslaught when Sehwag played an uppish drive off Vaas that
traveled like a bullet but safely pouched by Dilshan at short
covers. Sehwag blazed his way to 50 from 52 with 6 fours and a
six to put on 90 for the opening wicket. The woefully
out-of-form Rahul Dravid then joined Gambhir to carry the good
work forward. As Dravid started to gain some much needed
confidence, Gambhir kept playing his shots whenever he could
and at Tea, India reached 120 for 1.
The final session has been a big problem for
the batting side in this Test Match. India had that in their
mind and therefore a touch careful in their shot selection. It
needed a magical delivery from Ajantha Mendis to break what
was turning out to be another bad partnership for SL. Gambhir
got bowled while trying to pad up to a delivery that turned
sharply from outside leg and bounced a bit extra to clip his
off stump bail. The left hander had done his job though with a
fabulous 74 which came with 10 boundaries in 149 balls. Sachin
Tendulkar, the next batsman couldn't have asked for a better
situation to bat with India nicely ahead by 181 runs.
Tendulkar came with a positive frame of mind as he played a
lot of sweeps off Murali and Dravid at the other end played
some glorious shots. India were totally dominating now through
this partnership. Fortunately for SL, Chaminda Vaas struck
gold at the right time to suck Tendulkar (31 from 42 balls
with 5 fours) in an expansive drive that was caught at gully.
India were now 200 for 3 in the 55th over and within no time
they slipped to 200 for 4 as Rahul Dravid was given out lbw
after a successful review from Sri Lanka. Dravid was initially
given not out after he had put in a long stride forward to try
and sweep Murali. Mahela Jayawardene then asked the Umpire
Billy Doctrove as to why that was not out and then asked for a
review which turned his favour. Dravid (44 from 92 balls with
6 fours) walked back furiously to the pavilion and while he
was still checking the replays in the dressing room, light was
offered to the Indian batsmen. India got to 200 for 4 in 56.4
overs at stumps on Day 3.
Both Ganguly and Laxman are yet to open
their account and if either of them go onto bat for a couple
of hours then India will be in the driver's seat. The pressure
is now very much on Sri Lanka as the lead is already 237 and
at the same time India will be looking to get as many runs as
possible to provide enough cushion for the spinners.
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