Cricket: Laxman�s century guides India to series levelling victory

Mangalore Today

COLOMBO, August 7, 2010: VVS Laxman’s fluent century guided India to a convincing five-wicket victory to level the three match series 1-1 on Day 5 of the third and final Test, at the P Sara Oval, in Colombo, on Saturday.

India’s batsmen negotiated the conditions quite superbly on the final day to cruise to 258 for five in 68.3 overs on a pitch offering a lot of assistance to the spinners.

Laxman, struggling with a back injury, finished unbeaten on a splendid innings of 103 from 149 balls, having hit 12 boundaries. He batted with a runner for most part of his innings, but his batting against the spinners was quite magical as he used his wristy shots to good effect.

Suresh Raina also made an impact as he hit a brisk 41 from 45 balls, ending the match in style with a huge six over long-on. The two batsmen shared an unbroken stand of 87 runs in 102 balls for the sixth wicket to carry their team home.

Sachin Tendulkar, who was dropped on 18 at short leg off Randiv, scored a patient 54 before he was caught down the legside off Randiv. The veteran, who hit three boundaries from 122 balls, added 109 runs in 30 overs for the fifth wicket with Laxman to bring India back in the contest.

Off-spinner Suraj Randiv was Sri Lanka’s hero with the ball, claiming all the five Indian wickets to fall, for magnificent figures of five for 82 in 29 overs to claim nine wickets in the match.

Half-centuries from Thilan Samaraweera and Ajantha Mendis; had helped Sri Lanka to post a fighting 267 in their second innings.

Ajantha Mendis, who hit his maiden fifty in Tests, played a vital knock of 78 from 157 balls before he was caught in the covers off Amit Mishra. Samaraweera, who hit a century in the first innings, again came to the team’s rescue. He scored 83 from 138 balls, putting on 118 for the ninth wicket with Mendis to register Sri Lanka’s best ninth-wicket partnership in Tests and helping them comeback after they were reeling 87 for seven at one stage.

All the three Indian spinners -- Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra and Virender Sehwag made most of the conditions, claiming three wickets each. Ojha was the pick of the bowlers, taking three for 89 in 89, to follow up on the four for 115 he took in the first innings. Part-timer Sehwag made an important contribution with the ball, claiming three for 51 to go with his quickfire century (109) with the bat, while Mishra took three for 47.

Sri Lanka had won the first Test by 10 wickets, while the second ended in a high-scoring, dull draw.

Courtesy: Sifynews