On another day of fluctuating fortunes, Sri Lanka gained a decisive advantage to leave India facing a stiff task in their attempt to level the series. Thilan Samaraweera, supported in a spirited fightback by Ajantha Mendis, revived Sri Lanka's chances on a crumbling pitch by helping set a challenging target of 257. And Suraj Randiv backed that up with three breakthroughs, including Virender Sehwag, to complete the turnaround after India had dominated the first session.
The pressure on India grew with the fluent progress of the Sri Lankan innings despite a clutter of early wickets. Rarely did Samaraweera or Mendis offer a chance, adapting well to the turn and bounce with solid defence and a steady flow of singles. Just as he had in the first innings, Samaraweera played the ball late and with skilful use of the wrists worked the ball around. There were the timely improvisations as well, as he swept, slog-swept, charged out of the crease to find the boundary and soon enough, as the field spread out, showed plenty of confidence in Mendis by rotating the strike.
Samaraweera's solidity and patience almost ruled out the possibility of a wicket at one end. It must rank as one of his finest knocks, in conditions far tougher than what he faced in several of his grinding centuries. His vigil ended when he tried to pull a short ball fine, gloving a catch to MS Dhoni, but only after the scales had tilted.
Mendis took the lead once Samaraweera fell, adding more valuable runs to the lead as the seamers struggled with their lengths amid defensive fields. Ishant didn't bowl a single yorker in his spell and consistently bowled short with two slips and three men behind square in the deep on the off side. Mendis slashed a couple of boundaries and when Ishant pitched on a length, lofted him straight and over extra cover. Mishra finally dislodged Mendis when he drove him straight to an alert Suresh Raina at extra cover to end the innings.
India lost 3 wickets as Sehwag,Murali Vijay And Dravid for 53. In the end, a battling Sachin Tendulkar was left carrying India's hopes.
India 2nd Innings
Murali Vijay:c Mahela Jayawardene b Suraj Randiv :27(53)
Virender Sehwag:c Mahela Jayawardene b Suraj Randiv :0(3)
Rahul Dravid:b Suraj Randiv :7(22)
Sachin Tendulkar:Batting :11(22)
Ishant Sharma:Batting :2(10)
Srilanka bowling
Lasith Malinga:6-1-16-0(2.66)
Suraj Randiv:9-2-20-3(2.22)
Angelo Mathews:2-0-5-0(2.5)
Chanaka Welegedara:1-0-8-0(8)
Batting:Runs(Balls)
Bowling:overs-maidens-runs-wickets(Economy)
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