India batsmen take control of deciding test
November 21, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
NAGPUR: Half-centuries from each of India’s top-order batsmen gave the hosts control of the third and final test after their bowlers had dismissed New Zealand for 193 on the second day on Sunday.
At the close, India had reached 292 for two for a lead of 99 runs, with the experienced duo of Rahul Dravid (69) and Sachin Tendulkar (57) at the crease.
Dravid, with his 60th fifty in tests, and Tendulkar, who needed 43 more for his 50th test hundred, have already added 100 runs for the unbroken third-wicket partnership.
Virender Sehwag (74) and Gautam Gambhir (78) combined for a quickfire opening stand of 113 after paceman Ishant Sharma and spinner Pragyan Ojha picked up the final three New Zealand wickets in the morning.
Sehwag flayed the New Zealand bowlers and brought up a run-a-ball half-century — his 26th in tests, with 12 boundaries and a six before
India trounces Australia in first Test
VVS Laxman battled severe back pain to single-handedly take India to a memorable victory over Australia with a gritty unbeaten 73 in a nail-biting first Test on Tuesday.
Laxman, who reserved his best for the Australians, played almost a lone hand in India’s run chase of 216 as his experienced colleagues fell to poor shot selection and umpiring error as he guided India to one of its most memorable Test victories. Sachin Tendulkar was the second highest Indian scorer with 38 while young Ishant Sharma contributed an invaluable 31 in the Test which went down the wire. With the victory today, India took an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series and retained the Border Gavaskar Trophy with their seventh highest run chase in history. The two sides now move to Bangalore for the second and final Test starting in Bangalore from October 9. Laxman, who used runners in both of India’s innings, and Ishant shared an 81-run stand for the ninth wicket from 131 balls and that ensured India achieve what looked impossible when they were looking down the barrel at 124 for eight at one stage.
However, with Ishant given a debatable leg before decision by umpire Ian Gould, it was a tense last 15 minutes for the Indian supporters at the PCA Stadium before Laxman and Pragyan Ojha (five not out) took India to the magic score of 216. India sealed victory with two leg byes got by Pragyan Ojha off Johnson to the wild celebrations at the dressing room and the stands.
Laxman faced just 79 balls for his unbeaten 73 which he made with the help of eight fours while Ishant consumed 92 balls for his 31. It was indeed a ‘Very Very Special’ knock from a man who who was not even being able to walk properly for the last two days due to back spasms. Each and every of those 73 runs he scored has worth its weight in gold. Laxman batted only in the manner he is capable of. The backfoot punches through the cover, the short-arm pulls, extra second he takes while hitting those silken boundaries, those supple wrists and egging the Ishant Sharmas and Pragyan Ojhas to run the singles and twos was worth a sight. But for Ishant, Laxman would not have completed the magnificent win. Having bowled 14 no-balls, being down with a hamstring injury, Ishant may have scored the most significant 31 runs in his career. When some of the top-order batsman lacked stomach for fight, Ishant concentrated like a saint to give Laxman the necessary support that he needed to pull off a Herculean act.
Sri Lanka give fitting reply to India through Dilshan ton
Tillakaratne Dilshan spanked his 10th Test hundred to provide the necessary impetus for Sri Lanka in reply to India’s 426. Sri Lanka ended Day 2 at an impressive 275 for 3 with former Skipper Mahela Jayawardene (36) and Samaraweera (45) defying the Indian bowling comfortably.
The visitors wrapped up the Indian innings in the first session by taking the last four wickets for 41 runs in just under 15 overs. Rahul Dravid, the hero of Day 1 couldn’t add a single run to his overnight score of 177 as he was comprehensively bowled by an inducker from left armer Chanaka Welegedera. Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan then managed to steer India past the 400-run mark. Both these useful lower bats couldn’t last long enough to trouble the Lankans and India had to settle with a first innings total of 426.
The Lankan openers – Dilshan and Paranavitana saw through the testing period before lunch and after the break batted confidently. India had to work very hard to get its first wicket which came through a brilliant diving catch from MS Dhoni. Paranavitana (35) was the man to be dismissed off an outswinger from Ishant Sharma in the 17th over having put 74 on the board with Dilshan. That was the only success for India in the afternoon session as Dilshan and Sangakkara took charge to consolidate Sri Lanka to 155 for 1 at Tea.
The final session saw Dilshan bring up his 10th hundred and India was in serious trouble as the attacking right hander was looking to plunder the bowling further. However, Zaheer Khan got rid of Dilshan at the right time and also removed Kumar Sangakkara in quick succession. Dilshan (112 from 133 balls with 12 fours) got out miscuing a pull while Sangakkara (31) hooked one to fine leg. Sri Lanka were now under pressure at 194 for 3. The tails were up for the Indian bowlers but the experienced duo of Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera eased through the tricky situation to take SL to safety at stumps. Sri Lanka have finished the day at 275 for 3 in 70 overs with a healthy run rate of 3.92.
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Sri Lanka give fitting reply to India through Dilshan ton was first posted on November 17, 2009 at 8:53 pm.
