Laxman hits ton as India levels series
Source: Agencies |
August 8, 2010, Sunday
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A LIMPING Vangipurappu Laxman scored a magnificent unbeaten century to guide India to a five-wicket victory in the third and final test against Sri Lanka yesterday, earning the visitors a 1-1 tie in the series.
Utilizing opener Virender Sehwag as a runner due to cramp, the elegant middle-order batsman scored his 17th test hundred to remain unbeaten on 103, scored off 149 balls with 12 fours, in Colombo.
Suresh Raina, who helped in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 87, finished the match off in style shortly before the scheduled tea break by clouting Chanaka Welegedara for six to remain 41 not out as India chased down the 257 needed for victory.
Laxman was also involved in an important fifth-wicket partnership of 109 with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 54 before being dismissed by Suraj Randiv as the off-spinner captured his first five-wicket haul in test cricket.
"That's why he is called 'Very Very Special', captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said in reference to Laxman's initials V V S.
"In this innings it was very important for him to score runs for the team because the team needed it most. The way he batted, he paced his innings really well.
"He was struggling with back spasms. There was pain and pressure. It was a special innings."
In the final-day morning session, Sri Lanka missed a golden opportunity to remove Tendulkar cheaply when he was put down by Tillakaratne Dilshan at forward short-leg with his score on 18.
The prolific batsman and cricket's most-capped test player made Sri Lanka pay for that early lapse by recording his 56th test half-century that included three boundaries.
Sri Lanka's only success of the morning was the wicket of nightwatchman Ishant Sharma, who was caught for four off Randiv after India had resumed on 53-3.
"We had a couple of chances today with Sachin and Suresh Raina," Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara said. "That would have made the match a lot more interesting. But the way they batted was excellent.."
In Birmingham, England, Kevin Pietersen was unbeaten on 78 after escaping two possible dismissals on day two of the second test as England reached 191 for three when rain forced an early tea yesterday.
England, replying to Pakistan's record low of 72, was 119 runs ahead and well placed to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Pietersen, nearing his first century in 23 test innings, was dropped three times and survived a possible dismissal off a dead ball, while Paul Collingwood had six. The only batsman to fall in the afternoon session was Jonathan Trott for 55.
Pietersen, dropped twice on Friday, got another life on his overnight score of 36 off Mohammad Amir. An inside edge on to his pad ballooned towards Umar Amin at gully, who spilled a simple chance.
He received another controversial reprieve when on 41. As pace bowler Mohammad Asif approached his delivery stride, Pietersen started to pull away from his batting stance, but still played a half-hearted stroke and was caught by a diving Salman Butt at mid-off. Pakistan claimed the catch but South African umpire Marais Erasmus signalled dead ball after the catch was taken.
Utilizing opener Virender Sehwag as a runner due to cramp, the elegant middle-order batsman scored his 17th test hundred to remain unbeaten on 103, scored off 149 balls with 12 fours, in Colombo.
Suresh Raina, who helped in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 87, finished the match off in style shortly before the scheduled tea break by clouting Chanaka Welegedara for six to remain 41 not out as India chased down the 257 needed for victory.
Laxman was also involved in an important fifth-wicket partnership of 109 with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 54 before being dismissed by Suraj Randiv as the off-spinner captured his first five-wicket haul in test cricket.
"That's why he is called 'Very Very Special', captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said in reference to Laxman's initials V V S.
"In this innings it was very important for him to score runs for the team because the team needed it most. The way he batted, he paced his innings really well.
"He was struggling with back spasms. There was pain and pressure. It was a special innings."
In the final-day morning session, Sri Lanka missed a golden opportunity to remove Tendulkar cheaply when he was put down by Tillakaratne Dilshan at forward short-leg with his score on 18.
The prolific batsman and cricket's most-capped test player made Sri Lanka pay for that early lapse by recording his 56th test half-century that included three boundaries.
Sri Lanka's only success of the morning was the wicket of nightwatchman Ishant Sharma, who was caught for four off Randiv after India had resumed on 53-3.
"We had a couple of chances today with Sachin and Suresh Raina," Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara said. "That would have made the match a lot more interesting. But the way they batted was excellent.."
In Birmingham, England, Kevin Pietersen was unbeaten on 78 after escaping two possible dismissals on day two of the second test as England reached 191 for three when rain forced an early tea yesterday.
England, replying to Pakistan's record low of 72, was 119 runs ahead and well placed to take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Pietersen, nearing his first century in 23 test innings, was dropped three times and survived a possible dismissal off a dead ball, while Paul Collingwood had six. The only batsman to fall in the afternoon session was Jonathan Trott for 55.
Pietersen, dropped twice on Friday, got another life on his overnight score of 36 off Mohammad Amir. An inside edge on to his pad ballooned towards Umar Amin at gully, who spilled a simple chance.
He received another controversial reprieve when on 41. As pace bowler Mohammad Asif approached his delivery stride, Pietersen started to pull away from his batting stance, but still played a half-hearted stroke and was caught by a diving Salman Butt at mid-off. Pakistan claimed the catch but South African umpire Marais Erasmus signalled dead ball after the catch was taken.
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