Such is the performance of this team, that Kirsten and Dhoni never thought of backing this team with winning combination. Why was Munaf and Amit Mishra sent to SL - to carry drinks during the break? If Ishant Sharma is in the team because of his batting in the 2nd innings of the 1st test, it defies logic to me.
A score of 312/2 in 90 overs speaks volumes that this Sanga has for this team - Sanga scoring 130 of 225 balls with 15 fours, having a solid partnership of 174 with Parnavitana, meant that SL cannot loose the game from here on.The bowlers were expected to have a hard time on this pitch and events after MS Dhoni lost the toss reinforced the apprehensions the sides may have had of fielding first. The virtual absence of swing and the lack of movement off the deck, combined with poor lengths from the seamers, had helped the Sri Lankan openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Paranavitana take the initiative in the opening session. And the glimmer of hope that the wicket of Dilshan provided following the introduction of spin was scuppered by a brilliant counter-attack from Sangakkara.
As Dhoni had predicted, the pitch offered more bounce than in Galle but the spinners, despite the accompanying turn, created hardly any chances. It was Sangakkara who initially unsettled the spinners, prompting Dhoni to set defensive fields soon after having gained the wicket of Dilshan. In the very over that Pragyan Ojha had Dilshan caught at extra cover, Sangakkara slashed one through point for four and audaciously stepped out to loft him over mid-on.
It was another forgettable day for Indians as Bhajji cannot make use of the turn the pitch has offered. A score of 600 is very much on the cards, for the Indians to battle out the remaining 3 days....Enough is enough!!
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