Cricket

Sri Lanka vs India, 3rd Test: Review

India could not have asked for a better beginning on day one of the third test match at Colombo when they won the toss on a placid wicket with a chance to fight the Lankan spinners and put up a huge total. And they started off well again with Sehwag and Gambhir putting up 51 in no time. But then Sehwag left and it opened the flood gates.

New boy Dhammika Prasad and Ajantha Mendis then ran through the batting line up to dismiss the Indians for a paltry 249. The ‘Fab Four’ put up only 76 runs out of the total which was swelled by Gambhir’s 72 and Zaheer-Ishant partnership of 51.

In reply India did well to strike regular blows but Kumar Sangakkara came up with a fantastic ton, his first of the series to propel Sri Lanka to 396, a lead of 147. After this there was only one way the test match could go and that was in favour of the home team.

And they soon proved it as India were tottering at 5 for 131 in their second innings too. Only half centuries from Dravid and Laxman delayed the inevitable and they were able to put up 121 as the target in the fourth innings. Sri Lanka though were able to haul it up in no time and registered a second consecutive home series win on India.

Man of the match was Kumar Sangakkara and man of the series was Ajantha Mendis. The five match ODI series starts on August 18th.

Tags: 3rd test, ajantha mendis, Dhammika Prasad, gautam gambhir, Idea Cup 2008, India, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rahul Dravid, review, sri lanka, virender sehwag, VVS Laxman