ID :
136610
Sun, 08/08/2010 - 11:53
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https://oananews.org//node/136610
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Laxman, Tendulkar steer India to series-levelling win over SL
T V Sriram
Colombo, Aug 7 (PTI) Veteran VVS Laxman cracked a
fighting unbeaten 103 as India relied on their experienced
batsmen to pull off a five-wicket win in the third and final
cricket Test against Sri Lanka to level the series 1-1 here
Saturday.
Laxman defied cramps and anchored the innings brilliantly
to notch up his 16th Test hundred, while Sachin Tendulkar (54)
and Suresh Raina (41 not out) were the other notable
contributors as the visitors overhauled a target of 257 about
10 minutes before the tea break.
Raina clobbered Chanaka Welegedara for a six to hand Sri
Lanka there first defeat at P Sara Oval Stadium since August
1994, triggering scenes of celebration in the Indian dressing
room.
Chasing 257 on a rather difficult fifth day track, the
Indians recovered from early blows suffered yesterday with a
109-run partnership between Laxman and Tendulkar that laid the
foundation of the win.
But on the flipside, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men could not
break the 17-year-old jinx of not winning a series in the
island nation.
Resuming the chase from yesterday's 53 for three, India
lost night-watchman Ishant Sharma (4) early in the morning.
Ishant was caught at short mid-wicket by Kumar Sangakkara
off Suraj Randiv in the morning. Randiv ripped in a flighted
loopy delivery around off and middle stump, leaving Ishant
bemused who looked shaky right from the start.
Tendulkar and Laxman then took it upon themselves to
steady the ship and steer a successful chase.
Tendulkar was the more cautious of the two veteran
right-handers taking 106 deliveries to reach his 55th Test
half century.
He didn't celebrate much on reaching the milestone but
the Indian dressing room was up in applause for another of the
iconic batsman's match-winning contributions.
Tendulkar had his share of luck in the early in the
innings when he was dropped by Tillakaratne Dilshan at short
leg while trying to push a Randiv turner.
The ball had gone off the bat and pad to the right of
short-leg and Tendulkar, who was on just 18, heaved a huge
sigh of relief when Dilshan spilled the opportunity.
The Indian right-hander attacked Randiv thereafter by
charging down the track and driving a shot past the bowler for
a boundary.
Laxman, on his part, leaned forward to an Ajantha Mendis
delivery from the middle stump and turned it on to the
boundary, marking the 50-run partnership between the two which
came in 92 balls. MORE PTI
Colombo, Aug 7 (PTI) Veteran VVS Laxman cracked a
fighting unbeaten 103 as India relied on their experienced
batsmen to pull off a five-wicket win in the third and final
cricket Test against Sri Lanka to level the series 1-1 here
Saturday.
Laxman defied cramps and anchored the innings brilliantly
to notch up his 16th Test hundred, while Sachin Tendulkar (54)
and Suresh Raina (41 not out) were the other notable
contributors as the visitors overhauled a target of 257 about
10 minutes before the tea break.
Raina clobbered Chanaka Welegedara for a six to hand Sri
Lanka there first defeat at P Sara Oval Stadium since August
1994, triggering scenes of celebration in the Indian dressing
room.
Chasing 257 on a rather difficult fifth day track, the
Indians recovered from early blows suffered yesterday with a
109-run partnership between Laxman and Tendulkar that laid the
foundation of the win.
But on the flipside, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men could not
break the 17-year-old jinx of not winning a series in the
island nation.
Resuming the chase from yesterday's 53 for three, India
lost night-watchman Ishant Sharma (4) early in the morning.
Ishant was caught at short mid-wicket by Kumar Sangakkara
off Suraj Randiv in the morning. Randiv ripped in a flighted
loopy delivery around off and middle stump, leaving Ishant
bemused who looked shaky right from the start.
Tendulkar and Laxman then took it upon themselves to
steady the ship and steer a successful chase.
Tendulkar was the more cautious of the two veteran
right-handers taking 106 deliveries to reach his 55th Test
half century.
He didn't celebrate much on reaching the milestone but
the Indian dressing room was up in applause for another of the
iconic batsman's match-winning contributions.
Tendulkar had his share of luck in the early in the
innings when he was dropped by Tillakaratne Dilshan at short
leg while trying to push a Randiv turner.
The ball had gone off the bat and pad to the right of
short-leg and Tendulkar, who was on just 18, heaved a huge
sigh of relief when Dilshan spilled the opportunity.
The Indian right-hander attacked Randiv thereafter by
charging down the track and driving a shot past the bowler for
a boundary.
Laxman, on his part, leaned forward to an Ajantha Mendis
delivery from the middle stump and turned it on to the
boundary, marking the 50-run partnership between the two which
came in 92 balls. MORE PTI
