July 22: The overriding factors of history and emotion did not stop Sri Lanka from keeping firm track of the bigger picture. Muthiah Muralitharan was given a fitting farewell by his team mates as they scripted an emphatic 10-wicket win over India here on Thursday. The India lower order showed gumption to bat on for 210 minutes and in process avoided the follow-on. Tilakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana knocked off the required runs in 14.1 overs.

India’s effort on the field was lackadaisical. There was no real attempt to make the task difficult for the openers. The target was served on a platter. The bowling lacked purpose and the fielders on a few occasions refused to move. Dilshan completed formalities with a stunning ix over mid-wicket. The winning hit was an apt summary of proceedings. One side playing to win and the other trying desperately trying to play catch up.

Having snared five wickets on Wednesday, a Lankan victory only looked a formality. Any aberration from there required a humongous batting performance. V.V.S. Laxman started with confidence. The Hyderabadi was tested yet again by the bouncer. Lasith Malinga was all smooth rhythm and gun slinging pace. If the short ball was the weapon of choice for Laxman, the well directed yorker was reserved for M.S. Dhoni. Angling from the leg stump the ball swerved from out side leg stump at unsettling pace to knock the off the base.

A boundary each from Laxman and Mithun took India closer towards the target of 244. For a while a repeat of Kolkata 2001 did not look misplaced patriotism. Murali was losing his venom and only the introduction of Malinga provided the breakthrough. The new ball looked the last throw of dice but Malinga came back to hit Mithun in front. The partnership was worth 49 in 61 minutes. Laxman reached his 50 in 101 balls. When the once improbable draw looked possible a direct hit from Angelo Mathews from point caught Laxman inches short of the crease. The 68-run stand that kept the bowlers at bay for 75 minutes ended. The last wicket pair of Ishant and Pragyan Ojha showed good maturity to let go deliveries pitched outside the off-stump, the duo frustrated Murali, the team and the vast crowd.

Appeals for run outs, a stumping off Rangana Herath being referred to the third umpire drew mixed response as Murali’s landmark was awaited. Ojha after having held on grimly opened the face of the bat to offer Mahela Jayawardene a low catch. It was only apt Jayawardene took the catch, he was the most vociferous supporter of Murali, appealing and throwing up arms even when the bowler was not interested. The catch was the 77th in 96 matches for Mahela-Murali combination, a world record by good stretch.

SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka 1st innings 520/8 decl.
India 1st innings 276

India 2nd innings
(overnight 181 for 5)
V.V.S. Laxman run out (Mathews) 69, Mahendra Dhoni b Malinga 4, Harbhajan Singh lbw b Muralitharan 8, Abhimanyu Mithun lbw b Malinga 25, Ishant Sharma not out 31, Pragyan Ojha c Prasanna Jayawardene b Muralitharan 13. Extras: (b-5, lb-9, w-2, nb-8) 24.
Total: (in 115.4 overs) 338
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-42, 3-161, 4-172, 5-181, 6-186, 7-197, 8-246, 9-314.
Bowling: Lasith Malinga 17-2-50-5, Chanaka Welegedara 10-2-43-1, Rangana Herath 27-3-60-0 Angelo Mathews 7-3-13-0, Muthiah Muralitharan 44.4-7-128-3, Tillakaratne Dilshan 10-1-30-0.

Sri Lanka 2nd innings
Tharanga Paranavitana not out 23, Tillakaratne Dilshan not out 68. Extras: (w-1, nb-4) 5.
Total: (no loss in 14.1 overs) 96
Bowling: Abhimanyu Mithun 5-0-33-0, Ishant Sharma 4-0-28-0, Pragyan Ojha 3-0-11-0, Harbhajan Singh 2.1-0-24-0.