The ascendency of India as an economic world power

India is struggling to avoid follow-on in the first test of the three-test series at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club stadium. Sri Lanka declared their first innings after putting 600 runs on the board losing only 6 wickets. Indian batsmen failed to hold on the early momentum given by the openers as India still needs 242 runs with four wickets left to send Sri Lanka to bat in the second innings, by which India can avoid a seemingly defeat in the first test. At the end of the third day, India reached at 159 losing 6 top order batsmen. The only recognized batsman still batting is VVS Laxman on 19 along with Captain Anil Kumble batting on 1.

From the very beginning of the day, Sri Lankan batsmen tried to score quickly. Samaraweera got out off Zaheer Khan after scoring an excellent innings of 127 runs. However, Dilshan was resolute an aggressive from the beginning of the day. The batsmen scored his first century in three years in style and remained not out at 125 when Jayawardene declared the first innings. Dilshan got necessary supports from wicketkeeper batsman Jayawardene who scored 30 off 70 balls. In the end, Chaminda Vaas chipped in a quick-fire 22 off just 32.

Among Indian batsmen, opener Gambhir was the highest scorer with 39 runs. Sehwag started his innings confidently, but fell to Kulasekera for 25 runs. Dravid was fooled off a leg-break from Mendis for 14 just before Muralitharan came on. After Dravid’s dismissal, Sachin and Sourav tried to build the innings, but that was of no use as both of them fell to Muralitharan for 27 and 23 runs respectively. India got the last blow when wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik became the fourth dismissal of Muralitharan.

Related article:

Cricinfo