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July 30, 2010

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Sri Lanka test heads for draw

SACHIN Tendulkar scored his fifth double-century in test cricket to help India reach 669-9 at stumps on day four yesterday, as the second test against Sri Lanka headed toward a high-scoring draw.

Tendulkar shared 256 runs for the fifth wicket with Suresh Raina, who scored a debut century in India's reply to Sri Lanka's first innings score of 642-4 declared.

The 37-year-old Tendulker is the most prolific run getter in both test and limited overs cricket.

With a 27-run first innings lead for India and just a day's play remaining, the match is heading to a draw at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

"I don't count the runs that I am scoring. It's nice to be scoring runs and I am enjoying as much being in the middle as in the past," Tendulkar said. He said Raina, who made his test debut after playing 98 one-day matches, has disproved critics who doubted his qualities as a test player.

"He showed tremendous character," Tendulkar said. "He was solid in defense and played some magnificent shots.

"I thought this particular innings was terrific because when he got in to bat it was a tricky time. At that time a big partnership was needed and both of us were able to do something special."

India was vulnerably placed on 241-4 on Wednesday needing 200 more runs to avoid the follow-on when Tendulkar and Raina paired together.

Tendulkar made Sri Lanka pay for a dropped catch by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene off seamer Dilhara Fernando when he was 29 runs, scoring his sixth test century for 2010. Offspin bowler Tillakaratne Dilshan took two wickets in the third over after tea yesterday having Tendulkar caught by wicketkeeper Jayawardene for 203 runs and Harbhajan Singh caught by Kumar Sangakkara without scoring.

But the pitch at SSC continues to favor batting with even tailender Abhimanyu Mithun batted unthreatened until he scored 41 and got out to a loose shot.

Five centuries have been scored during the four days with Kumar Sangakkara (219) and Tendulkar scoring double hundreds, besides Mahela Jayawardene's 174, Tharanga Paranavitana's 100 and Raina's 120.

Five half-centuries were also scored.

Tendulkar said the pitch was tough for the bowlers.

"It's a tough track to bowl on," he said. "It's a batting paradise."




 

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