India took a firm grip on the second Test, reducing Sri Lanka 123 for 5 at close, on the fourth day of the match at the Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi on Tuesday.
Chasing a huge target of 436 to win the Test, Sri Lanka were sitting pretty at 109 for 1 before Anil Kumble triggered a mini collapse.
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The leg-spinner took the wickets of Marvan Atapattu (67) and Malinga Bandara (0) in a single over. Harbhajan Singh then provided the perfect finish to the day, claiming the wicket of Thilan Samaraweera (0) in the final over before play ended.
Atapattu shared a 79-run second-wicket partnership with Kumara Sangakkara, who scored 33.
Earlier, resuming at their overnight total of 237 for 5, India scored quick runs and declared their innings at 375 for 6.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit a quickfire 51 from 51 deliveries, including five boundaries and two sixes, as India picked quick runs after lunch. Yuvraj Singh gave him good support with an unbeaten 77, inclusive of 10 boundaries. The two batsmen shared an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership of 104 runs in 115 balls to ensure that the bowlers had enough time to bowl out the opposition.
Morning session: (30 overs, 83 runs, 1 wicket)
Resuming on 237 for 5, Yuvraj and Ganguly started off cautiously, and the first ten overs of the morning session produced just 15 runs.
The slow scoring continued, as 16 overs bowled in the first hour of the session produced 29 runs as the score reached 266 for 5.
In the first hour of play both batsmen adopted a defensive approach, waiting patiently for the loose deliveries, which were never offered by the Sri Lankan bowlers who bowled to a set plan and to their field.
Sri Lanka were aware that their only chance of survival lay in forcing a draw, and for that they needed to slow the Indian scoring rate, thereby forcing them to bat that much longer, so that they would have lesser overs to face.
The first boundary of the day came in the 86th over (in the 18th over of the day), when Ganguly played a fine paddle sweep against Muralitharan. It was also India's first boundary after 20.3 overs and clearly underlined how difficult run-making was against the Sri Lankan bowlers.
The first boundary of the day was then followed by the first wicket of day.
Muralitharan struck two balls later, when he broke through Ganguly's defence. The left-hander tried to hit on the off-side but the 'dooosra' from the off-spinner took the inside edge and bowled him for 39. (271-6, 85.5)
He put on 81 runs in 203 balls for the sixth wicket with Yuvraj.
After that steady start, it was now the right time to unleash the dangerous Mahendra Singh Dhoni. It didn't take Dhoni long to get going, as he stepped down to Muralitharan and lofted him over mid-on for a boundary off the second ball he faced. The plan was quite clear that Dhoni would look to attack the bowling, with Yuvraj holding steady at the other end.
Yuvraj hit Muralitharan for two boundaries in the 90th over before taking a single on the off-side to reach his half-century. He hit seven boundaries in the 123 deliveries he faced and was now looking to get on with scoring some quick runs.
Dhoni then produced two consecutive boundaries on either side of the wicket off leg-spinner Bandara in the 97th over. The first boundary was a neat flick over the midwicket fielder, while the next one was exactly on the opposite side, over the cover fielder.
At lunch on day four, India had progressed to a healthy 320 for 6 in 98 overs, for an overall lead of 388 runs.
With Yuvraj looked settled on 56 from 149 balls and Dhoni looking dangerous on 21 from 27 balls, there could well be some fireworks in store in the post-lunch session.
Dhoni could well hold the key to how soon India will declare their second innings. A quickfire knock from the Jharkhand wicketkeeper will offer India the luxury of runs and time in hand. Even Yuvraj is renowned for hitting the ball a long way when needed.
India may look to bat for another hour after lunch and try and set Sri Lanka a target in excess of 450.
Four-and-half sessions could well amount to four sessions in the final analysis if you consider the bad light that affects the play in the closing stages of the day. Hence, India need to ensure that they have enough overs to bowl out Sri Lanka.
For Sri Lanka, their only plan now would be stem the scoring rate and try and keep the Indian batsman in the middle for as long as possible.
Post-lunch session: (117 runs, 1 wicket, 25 overs)
Dhoni began in his customary style after the lunch break, using the long handle to good effect. His first boundary was a lofted shot through the cover region against part-time spinner Dilshan Tillakaratne.
He then lofted Bandara straight down the ground, but Dilhara Fernando, at long-on, failed to hold on to the easy offering in the 101st over of the innings.
Yuvraj then hit Dilshan for two more boundaries in his next over, followed by a six by Dhoni off Bandara, as 37 runs came from five overs after lunch.
It was surprising that Muralitharan was not asked to bowl immediately after lunch. It appeared that there was a problem, as Upul Tharanga took the field in his place.
Dhoni reached his maiden half-century in Tests with a huge six over the midwicket fence off Bandara in the 105th over. He needed 49 balls to reach the landmark; it included five boundaries and two sixes.
India declared on 375 for 6 in 105 overs, setting Sri Lanka a huge target of 436 to win the Test in a possible 143 overs to be bowled, light permitting.
Yuvraj was unbeaten on 77 from 168 balls, inclusive of 10 boundaries, while the rampaging Dhoni had to be content with 51 not out from 51 balls.
They scored 104 runs in 115 balls for the seventh wicket as India scored at a blazing rate after lunch -- 55 runs in seven overs.
The Sri Lankan bowlers did not have much to show. Chaminda Vaas was the most successful bowler with 2 for 65 in 21 overs, while Muralitharan, Fernando and Bandara claimed a wicket each.
The highest run chase in a Test match is 418 for 7 by the West Indies against Australia in May 2003. And the only other time a team has chased in excess of 400 is the 406 for 4 by India in the West Indies in April 1976, a record that stood for nearly two decades.
Sri Lanka 2nd innings:
Irfan Pathan's golden touch once again came to the fore as he missed the outside edge of both the openers by a whisker off three balls in the first over of the innings.
Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu played positively, hitting three boundaries, before he was struck on the shoulder by a bouncer from Ajit Agarkar that stayed low. There was a loud appeal, as Atapattu was hit right in front of the stumps, but it was ruled in the batsman's favour because of the height.
Pathan struck in the seventh over of the innings when he trapped Avishka Gunawardene leg before wicket. The left-hander moved across his stumps and was caught right in front of the wickets for 9. (30-1, 6.2)
Sri Lanka progressed to 53 for 1 in 12 overs, before both the spinners, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, were introduced into the attack.
Kumara Sangakkara scored at a good rate -- 23 in 39 balls with five boundaries -- as Sri Lanka went into the tea break at 62 for 1 after 18 overs. Atapattu looked in control during his unbeaten innings of 28.
India's timely declaration has set up an interesting Test, with both teams having a fair chance. If Sri Lanka apply themselves, they have enough time to chase down the runs, while the same holds for India.
The bowlers have ample time on hand to bowl out the visitors if they get it right.
Post-tea session: (61 runs, 4 wickets, 32.3 overs)
Kumble was unlucky not to pick his first wicket of the innings when his leg before wicket appeal against Atapattu was turned down. The Sri Lankan shouldered arms to a delivery pitched on off-stump but the ball kept going straight and struck him on the pads. Pakistan umpire Nadeem Ghauri however turned down the appeal in the 30th over.
Soon after, he reached his half-century with a single on the leg-side, off Harbhajan. He took 98 deliveries to reach the landmark and struck nine boundaries as Sri Lanka made a strong start in their pursuit of the huge target.
Sangakkara and Atapattu looked comfortable and were rarely troubled by the two Indian spinners. Sri Lanka reached 104 for 1 after 36 overs, with the pitch showing no signs of holding any devil for the batsmen.
Finally, Dravid decided it was time to bring on a pacer since the spinners were proving to be too easy for the two batsmen.
Ajit Agarkar was introduced, and the move paid off as he picked the wicket of Kumara Sangakkara, caught behind for 33. The left-hander was forced to play at a delivery that pitched outside the off-stump and moved away, giving an easy catch to Dhoni. (109-2, 36.5)
Atapattu looked determined to play a long innings as he batted with absolute ease. But in the 46th over his plans were foiled as he was beaten by a full-pitched delivery from Kumble. The Sri Lankan captain, on 67, tried to get to the pitch of the delivery, but the slower one from Kumble deceived him in the flight and he popped a simple catch back to the bowler. (119-3, 45.2)
Night-watchman Malinga Bandara, sent out to play the final few overs of the session, lasted only four balls as he was beaten by a faster one from Kumble that pitched on off-stump and went straight, trapping him leg before wicket. (119-4, 46)
Just when it looked that things couldn't get any worse for the visitors, disaster struck again.
As was the case in their first innings, Sri Lanka lost a wicket in the final over of the day to inch closer to defeat.
Thilan Samaraweera tried to drive at a wide delivery from Harbhajan Singh, but the 'doosra' took the edge and went straight to Dravid, who held a good, low catch at slips. (123-5, 50.3)
Jayawardene, who scored a painstaking 9 from 51 balls, was unbeaten at close of play.
For India, Kumble again worked his Kotla magic as he triggered a mini collapse by claiming two wickets in a single over to register figures of 2 for 34 in 18 overs. The wicket in the final over must have been a real boost for Harbhajan, who could pick just a single wicket in the first innings.
It finished off a perfect day for the hosts, starting with the first two sessions where they scored runs as planned, and then in the final session, they managed to pick up a few wickets before the close.
Sri Lanka require another 313 runs and with just five wickets in hand, the only thing of interest now would be to see as to how long they can survive against Kumble and Harbhajan.
Incidentally, the highest fourth innings score successfully chased in India is 276, by the West Indies at Delhi in 1987-88.
With the two spinners in top form we could well witness an early finish tomorrow.
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