The ascendency of India as an economic world power

Sri Lanka pulled off one of their best test match victories defeating India by an innings and 239 runs on the fourth day of the first test. The match was overly dominated by Sri Lankan batsmen and their two spinners. After starting the day with requiring 242 runs to avoid follow-on with four wickets left at hand, Indian batsmen could never win any momentum needed to bring them back in the match. India’s first innings reached at 223 runs thanks to the half century by VVS Laxman.

Sri Lanka was still ahead of the visiting side by 377 runs which provided Jayawardene enough ground to send India bat in their second innings. Knowing the ultimate target of saving the test match, Indian openers were expected to bring a solid start, but the collapse started when Sehwag fell to Muralitharan being trapped in a controversial LBW under review system. India sent Laxman in that situation hoping that he would be able to show some resistant, but that change was of no use as Laxman went out for 21. Gambhir looked pretty confident until he was around the wicket, but a Muralitharan delivery lured him to come down the wicket, and eventually got stamped for 43, highest score in India’s second innings. The rest of the batsmen just accelerated Sri Lanka’s enthralling victory as India got all out for 138 runs, showing a humiliating batting performance.

Muralitharan picked up 6 wickets, while Mendis got 4 in the second innings. Among India’s 20 wickets fell in two innings, 19 went to the hat of spin-duo Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis- thus proving the dominance of Sri Lankan spinners in the match.

Related article:

Cricinfo