Run-laden second Test heads for draw
Colombo, July 30: India compiled their second-highest total ever as the big-scoring second cricket Test against Sri Lanka headed for a draw on Friday.
India, replying to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 642-4 declared, were all out for 707 just before lunch on the fifth morning at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Friday.
The total was just 19 runs short of India's Test record of 726-9 declared against the same opposition at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai last year.
Sri Lanka went to lunch on 19-0 in two overs with Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillakaratne Dilshan on five runs apiece.
With just 14 wickets having fallen on the placid pitch so far, a stalemate appears a certainty, with Sri Lanka leading 1-0 in the three-match series after winning the first Test in Galle by 10 wickets.
The final Test starts at the P. Sara Oval in the Sri Lankan capital on Tuesday.
India's last-wicket pair of Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha, who resumed at the overnight score of 669-9, batted until 20 minutes before lunch to put on a partnership of 39 runs.
Sharma finally fell for 27, caught in the gully region off fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, leaving Ojha unbeaten on 18.
All four frontline Sri Lankan bowlers conceded more than 100 runs in India's innings, with debutant off-spinner Suraj Randiv going for 2-222 from 73 overs.
Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis finished with 4-172, fast bowler Dilhara Fernando claimed 1-116 and seamer Dammika Prasad went for 0-101.
Part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan was the lone bowler to contain the Indians with figures of 3-56 from 27 overs.
India's innings was marked by Sachin Tendulkar's 203, his fifth double-century, while debutant Suresh Raina made 120 and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit 76.
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