India depending on Gambhir to save game

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: November 20, 2009

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Ahmedabad: Gautam Gambhir put in a gritty batting performance on the fourth day of the first test against Sri Lanka to keep Sri Lanka at bay after the islanders declared their second innings at a mammoth 760 for 7 leading India by 334 runs.

Mahela Jayawardene and Prasanna Jayawardene carried on their record partnership on the fourth day. Sri Lanka began the day at 591 for 5 and continued to make the Indian bowlers run ragged on a hot day with both Jayawardene’s reaching milestones. Mahela completed his 250 while Prasanna went on to make 154 not out. The pair added a record 351 runs for the sixth wicket breaking a 72 year old record of Sir Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton who had added 346 runs against England at Melbourne in 1937.

The Sri Lankans’ stand was broken after Mahela (275) was dismissed by Amit Mishra while trying to loft the leg-spinner over cover only to have his stumps rattled. Before going back to the pavilion, Mahela also completed 9000 runs in Test cricket to become the ninth highest run-getter in the format.

Trailing by 334 runs in the first innings and more than a day to bat to save the test match, India started off positively with the openers adding 81 in just 17 overs. The Sri Lankan new ball bowlers failed to get the kind of swing they got in the first innings and the Indian openers made full use of that.

Till the time Sehwag was at the crease, it didn’t seem like India was playing for a draw with the scoring rate being almost 5 an over. Sehwag, though, was leading a charmed life having been dropped thrice. He went on to make 51 before falling to another over-ambitious shot of Rangana Herath and holding out to Matthews at mid-on.

Rahul Dravid, on the back of the brilliant 177 in the first innings, joined Gambhir in the centre and both of them looked unperturbed by either seam or spin. Both of them batted comfortably without taking too many risks. The ball was spinning but not viciously enough to rattle an experienced campaigner like Dravid.

Sangakkara finally went back to Dammika Prasad and Welegedera and just before stumps Sri Lanka got lucky when Welegedera got Dravid with a late swinging delivery from round the stumps. The ball was clearly missing the leg stump.

Amit Mishra was sent in as the night watchman and in the company of the well set Gambhir saw out the remaining 15 overs without any more hiccups. India ended the day at 190 for 2 with Gambhir batting at 74 and Mishra at 12.

Brief Scores:

India 426 and 190 for 2 (Gambhir 74*, Sehwag 51) trail Sri Lanka 760 for 7 dec (Jayawardene 275, Prasanna 154*, Dilshan 112) by 144 runs

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