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INDIA – SRILANKA – THIRD TEST

Replying to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 393, the 31-year-old Sehwag set the Brabourne stadium on fire by plundering runs at will to post a record score of 443 for one at close of second day’s play.

Sehwag notched up his 17th Test ton, his sixth 200 plus total,and laid the platform for India to push for victory which would take them to the number one position in the ICC Test rankings. Even though cricket is unpredictaable – Sehwag has set his eyes on the third triple century which will another feather in his cap. Sunil Gavaskar, who was in the commentators box, jokingly asked his colleague – is this a net practice or a Test match? A great compliment to Sehwag.

Rahul David (62) was giving Sehwag adequate support stumps. The day clearly belonged to India  as they took the remaining two Sri Lankan wickets early, and had taken a lead of 50 runs by the end of the day, scoring more than 400 runs in a day.

Sehwag also broke his record of most individual runs scored in a day by scoring 284.

Virendra Sehwag

Virendra Sehwag

The crowd at the Brabourne stadium were treated to some authentic exhibition of strokeplay as Sehwag smashed as many as 40 boundaries and seven sixes during his 284.

The Indians will now look for a sizeable first innings lead and put the Srilankans under pressure in the second innings when the track is expected to assist the spinners on days 4 and 5.

Resuming at their overnight 366 for eight, Sri Lanka added 13 runs before losing Angelo Mathews who was run out on 99, his highest Test score, when going for a second run with Muttiah Muralitharan.

Mathews, who batted beautifully and saved his team from a difficult 188 for four with Tillakaratne Dilshan, was beaten by a superb throw from Sachin Tendulkar to wicketkeeper Dhoni.

It was a sorrowful departure for the 22-year-old Mathews to have joined the short list of cricketers from his country caught one short of 100, which would have been his maiden century. Mathews’ struck 15 fours, including two this morning, while facing 132 balls.

Last man Chanaka Welegedara struck two fours before he was trapped leg before by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha. Ojha finished with 3 for 101, playing a good supporting role to Harbhajan who claimed 4 for 112.

Sehwag and Vijay negotiated the initial overs from the Sri Lanka medium pacers with utmost convenience.

Vijay flicked Welegedara  off his pads for his first four while Sehwag drove Kulasekara for his first boundary.

The Delhi dasher clobbered the visiting bowlers in his typical fashion to race to his hundred off only 101 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes.

Vijay gave perfect support to his partner Sehwag while also playing some superb drives before departing for 87. Vijay struck 10 fours and a six in his 121-ball knock, tried to sweep a Rangana Herath delivery, missed it and was plumb lbw.

Sehwag was in superb form as fours and sixes flew from his bat. He drove used the reverse sweep on two occasions to demoralise the visiting attack.

The openers gave a good start to the innings and Vijai got out after scoring 87 runs when the total score read 221-1.

 

Ravi Matah