VVS Laxman, (nicknamed Very Very Special Laxman) stroked a painstaking century to guide India to a comfortable five wickets against Sri Lanka in the third and final test concluded at P. Sara Oval, yesterday.
Randiv claimed his first fifer |
The tourists leveled the series one all, minutes before tea on the fifth and final day. Initially master craftsman, Sachin Tendulkar, possibly playing his final test innings in Sri Lanka, made the best use of a dropped catch to put India on course for a win with a 109 runs ally with Laxman. Later, Suresh Raina smashed 41 off 45 balls and seal the issue with a huge six over mid wicket and show that India is still the number one test team in the world.
Sri Lanka skipper, Kumar Sangakkara, was a disappointed man over few chances that went a begging but admitted the fact that the chances spilled were crucial in the latter tests. "We would have liked to get close to 300 but the situation we were in, it was a great effort to get 250 plus"
"We batted pretty negatively, especially in the first 18 overs where we had to see off the day. And the next morning, again, I thought in the first session if the top order could have bat till lunch, the ball would have softer and we would have scored lot more runs"
"Unfortunately, we played some poor strokes, and I think batting in the second innings by the seven batsmen, except for Thilan, was probably the main cause for us getting only 250" the skipper said.
Tendulkar was dropped on 18, by Tillakaratne Dilshan, at forward short leg, when India was 190 runs away from the target with only six wickets in hand. Bowler Suraj Randiv was already air borne to celebrate his five wickets haul but landed in disbelief to realise that the catch had been dropped by the best fielder in the Sri Lanka, who was stationed at an unusual position.
VVS Laxman was in full cry yesterday.(Pix by Ranjith Perera) |
Sri Lankan tactics were questionable, if not negative, which cost them a possible test and a series win against India.
Having played the innings of his life, so far in his career, Ajantha Mendis was not given the ball until the 35th over of the innings and Lasith Malinga was warming up for 13 overs before sending down his slingers.
Despite being selected as the all rounder, Angelo Matthews was not given the ball, in the whole day yesterday. Instead, Chanaka Welagedera was sending down his erratic Left arm seamers for six overs without success.
Suraj Randiv, bowled round the wicket to claim his best figures in two match career, was not given a slip and the Indian batsmen scored many runs in that area.
However, Sri Lanka captain praised his new found off spinner who claimed all five wickets in the Indian second innings.
"I think his greatest asset is his confidence and self belief. He's quite an attacking bowler and he's got to have that because bowlers like that usually go for a few more runs""He's got great bounce. He'll have to improve his control a bit more to make sure that he keeps building pressure with more dot balls as well as wicket taking balls. Once he gets that balance right, I think he'll be even better than we see him now" said Sangakkara.
Laxman was given a runner on 60 due to a side strain and the fifth wicket pair lost the momentum. As a result, Sachin Tendulkar was brilliantly caught by the stumper to gift the first five wicket haul to Randiv. Yet, the next man came was more dangerous.
Suresh Raina, also playing his second test after scoring a century on debut, showed his maturity as a seasoned cricketer by hitting hard to dispatch the ball lightning fast to the boundary as it reduced the pressure on Laxman. The left hander, possessing an array of strokes, scored 41 off 45 balls with five hits to the rope, while sailing one over that advertised coloured boundary line.
Despite suffering from a back spasm, Laxman took the game by its scruff and was in total control after lunch. His 203 minutes stay in the crease saw the ball finding every possible gap in the field to speed to the boundary for 12 times.
"That's why he's called very very special. he has always come up with innings that have a huge bearing on the game" the Indian skipper, M.S. Dhoni summed up Test series.
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