da marjack bet： The highlight of Sri Lanka’s innings was a fifth-wicket partnership of105 between Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekeratne Dilshan
The Bulletin by Amit Varma21-Dec-2005
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Anil Kumble struck thrice in the post-lunch session to put India on top © AFP
Sri Lanka began their last innings of this tour 508 runs behind, on apitch whose bounce and spin suited the Indian spinners, a templatethat beckoned a fourth-day finish. And yet they fought hard, despitebeing outplayed, and ended the day on 235 for 6, still 273 behind. Thedestination was probably beyond them, but they made a fist of it onthe journey, never giving up, always scrapping hard, but simply beingoutplayed by a superior team.The highlight of Sri Lanka’s innings was a fifth-wicket partnership of105 between Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekeratne Dilshan. They cametogether with the score on 96 for 4, and batted sensibly, mixingcaution with opportunism and frustrating the Indian spinners.Jayawardene was compact, eschewing the flamboyant strokes he sometimesindulges in, a gatherer instead of a hunter. Dilshan, who had handledthe spinners superbly in the first innings, played with an ease thatbelied the trouble some of the others had got themselves in.It took a fast bowler to break the partnership, Ajit Agarkar pitchinga yorker-length delivery to Jayawardene which was hit straight back tohim. Jayawardene thought it was a bump-ball, but replays showedconclusively that his bat had hit the ground and the ball had gonestraight off the bat (201 for 5).Dilshan went shortly after, lured into a drive by a ball from Irfan Pathanthat moved away just enough to get an edge through to the wicketkeeper(229 for 6). He walked back to the pavilion with an anguished slownessthat reflected the intensity with which Sri Lanka had approached thisgame. Jehan Mubarak and Farveez Maharoof saw Sri Lanka safely throughto the close of play, but three long sessions still loomed ahead.India began the day on 287 for 9, extending their overnight leadby 29 runs before declaring. Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh had added a total of69 runs for the last wicket, demonstrating in the process that thepitch wasn’t quite such a nightmare to bat on. Strokeplay was possible- Harbhajan made 40 off 51 – and so was stodge – Kumble made 29 off68. It was a lesson Sri Lanka would surely have noted.But mere application simply wasn’t enough. Harbhajan opened thebowling with Pathan, and revelled in the conditions: he hadenjoyed the bounce of the pitch in the first innings, and generatedmore of it here, and some turn, too, with the new ball.Upul Tharanga batted with composure and assured footwork, and seemedup to the task of batting out sessions. Marvan Atapattu started uncertainly,and was lucky to be dropped at gully after an uppish cut off Pathanwas put down by Kumble. He was eventually out stepping forward toHarbhajan and edging to the on side, where a diving Mohammad Kaif,from forward short leg, took an excellent catch (39 for 1).Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga then added 45, and the manner ofSangakkara’s dismissal, for 17, showed the cunning and experience ofKumble. Bowling round the wicket, he went very wide of the crease andbowled a superb ball to Sangakkara that, turning sharply into him,squared him up. He was plumb in front (84 for 2).Tharanga was next, surprised by one that spun viciously into him,managing to just tamely glance it to leg slip, where Gautam Gambhirtook a good catch (89 for 3). Thilan Samareewera didn’t last long,edging a ball through to Kaif at forward short leg (96 for 4).Then Jayawardene and Dilshan came together, and contrived to make surethe match would go into a fifth day. Sri Lanka might lose, but theywould not capitulate.How they were outSri LankaMarvan Atapattu c Kaif b Harbhajan 16 (39 for 1)
Kumar Sangakkara lbw Kumble 17 (84 for 2)
Upul Tharanga c Gambhir b Kumble 47 (89 for 3)
Thilan Samaraweera c Kaif b Kumble 5 (96 for 4)
Mahela Jayawardene c and b Agarkar 57 (201 for 5))
Tillekeratne Dilshan c Dhoni b Pathan 65 (229 for 6)