Live ScoreBoard Sri Lanka v India ,2nd Test Match at Galle, Live telecast, Online Scoreboard : First Day Highlights
July 31, 2008
Opener Virender Sehwag’s 15th Test century steered India to 214 for four at the close of the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka yesterday.
The visitors made a flying start as they reached lunch on 151 for nought but Sri Lanka fought back well late in the day after rain had washed out the afternoon session.
Spinner Ajantha Mendis and seamer Chaminda Vaas claimed two wickets apiece as India lost four for 11 at one stage. Sehwag finished unbeaten on 128 with VVS Laxman 13 not out.
“It was important to get a good start,” said Sehwag. “A score of 350 to 400 will be good on this track.
“Losing four wickets in quick succession happens in Test cricket but all the batsmen got out to good balls and you can’t blame anyone.”
Sehwag’s explosive innings, spanning 122 deliveries and including 19 fours and two sixes, was ably supported by 56 from Gautam Gambhir.
The pair put on 167 for the first wicket after India won the toss.
Rahul Dravid departed in unusual circumstances as it is felt the ball, having hit the fieldsman’s helmet meant he wasn’t out. But typical of the gentleman he is, Dravid walked, as did Sachin Tendulkar, trapped lbw by the left-ram swing of Chaminda Vaas six balls later after a sumptuous off-drive that showed he was in form.
When Sourav Ganguly edged the last ball of the same over to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, all the hard repair work that Sehwag had performed to rescue India’s batting from the mental bruising induced by the innings and 239-run defeat at the SSC on July 26, had all but been undone.
He went to his three-figure score with two glorious strokes off Vaas: the first being a drive for the second six of his innings over long on while a straight drive three balls later left the Sri Lankans who was in command.
While the threat of the M Factor in Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan hovered menacingly close, Sehwag’s brilliance displayed the sort of fight that others need to apply in a must-win match for the tourists.
There was some intelligent strokeplay from Sehwag. His run-making efforts showed who was in charge of the situation and it was neither Mendis nor Murali, although Vaas did offer a challenge when bowling late in the day from the Fort end.
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