Thilan century the highlight, Sehwag unbeaten on 97

Sri Lanka 425, India 180 for 2 on day two:

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

The Indian batsmen livened up the day after a drab batting effort by the Lankan batsmen to post 180 for 2 wickets in reply to the home team’s total of 425 on day two of the final Test at the P.Sara Stadium, here today.

After Thilan Samaraweera made his 12th Test century, the Indian batsmen, especially opener Virender Sehwag played aggressively and showed the Lankan batsmen as he smashed and exemplary and exciting unbeaten 97 in 87 balls with17 fours. With him at the wicket was Sachin Tendulkar on 40.

Earlier India lost Murali Vijay for 14 and Rahul Dravid for 23. Towards the closing stages of the day, one was surprised to see Malinga bowling to a defensive field that had a deep cover, a deep third man, a deep fine leg and a deep square leg when an attacking field was the need.

Mathews dropped a caught and bowled off Sehwag when the batsman was on 52 and the total 98. That miss could prove costly.

Painful first session

It was a painful first session of cricket when Sri Lanka continued their innings from their overnight score of 293 for 4. In the two hours before lunch only 76 runs were scored. The first hour produced 37 runs and the second 39.

Considering that they dominated the first day, the batsmen who continued - Thilan Samaraweera who was unbeaten on 65 and Angelo Mathews 26 should have made it their business to try and get on top of the bowling and move the score along. Accepted that the Indian bowlers, especially spinners Prayan Ojha left arm leg spin and Amrit Misra right arm leg spin did not allow them much freedom to launch out. But had they used their feet and moved up to the pitch of the ball, the story could have been different.

Pace, bounce and spin

The wicket played true and it was once again helpful to both the batsmen and bowlers. There was pace, bounce and spin, but very slow spin at that. Ojha was the more difficult to negotiate, bowling a teasing line and length. He had the splendid figures of 13-6-19-2 going to lunch.

Misra on the other hand gave the ball more air and invited the batsmen to have a go at him. But Samaraweera and Mathews were tentative and did not show any enterprise or determination to dominate him.

With their partnership worth 89, Matthews was ruled LBW to Ojha playing across the line for 45 with 6 fours. Matthews would have had more runs had he played his usual aggressive game instead of getting bogged down.

Prasanna Jayawardena joined Samaraweera who was nearing his century and made 9 adding 29 for the sixth wicket and then Jayawardena also played across the line and was LBW at 359.

Samaraweera century

Suraj Randiv who made his Test debut at the SSC but did not get to bat, joined Samaraweera and saw him to his century. Samaraweera on 99 pushed a ball to leg and scampered for a single.

The fielder on the leg side attempting to throw down the wicket and run out Samaraweera saw the throw hit the wicket and race to the boundary which was 5 over throws. That gave Samaraweera his 12th Test hundred which took him 293 minutes which included 10 fours and a five.

Sri Lanka went to lunch on 396 for 6 with Samaraweera on 104 and Randiv on 2. After lunch the Lankans added a further 56 runs losing 4 wickets to be all out for 425. The four batsmen out were Randiv for 8, Lasith Malinga for 4, Ajantha Mendis for 3 and Chanaka Welagedera for 4.

Well compiled 137 no

Thilan Samarawee ra remained unbeaten on a well compiled 137 which had 12 fours, one six and a five. Samaraweera during his innings cut out all the frills and instead did not look for runs, but took it when it came.

It was inexplicable the approach of all the Sri Lankan batsmen. It was obvious that they were more concerned on sitting on their one-nil lead in the series by occupying the crease for as long as possible and not looking to pocket another victory.

By not looking for runs, but showing keenness to stay put at the wicket, they made the Indian bowlers, especially the figures of Sharma 3 for 72 in 23 overs and Ojha 4 for 115 in 46 overs look menacing and respectable. Although going for over a 100 runs, leg spinner Misra bowled teasingly and his 1 for 140 does not tell the true story.

New ball burst

Indian openers Murali Vijay 6 and Virender Sehwag 21 comfortably played out the new ball burst of Lasith Malinga and Chanaka Welagedera to take tea at 28 without loss.