Colombo, Aug. 7: Class, culture and experience combined seamlessly in V.V.S. Laxman as India rode his 16th Test century to a series-levelling five-wicket win in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka here on Saturday.
Laxman’s unbeaten 103 and his partnerships for the fifth and sixth wickets with Sachin Tendulkar (54) and Suresh Raina (41 not out) saw India home in a tricky chase. The match was poised nicely at the overnight 53/3 and Sri Lanka would have fancied their chances of rolling the Indians up on a wearing fifth-day wicket.
Instead, Kumar Sangakkara and his men were treated to an exhibition of grace under pressure. Laxman walked out with India in some strife at 67/4 at the fall of nightwatchman Ishant Sharma and promptly saw Tendulkar grassed by Tillekaratne Dilshan, but that was the last ray of hope the Lankans were to see for a very long time.
For close to three and half hours, Laxman showed no signs of either stress or discomfort from back spasms as he guided India home, his 103 not out spanning 149 deliveries and studded with a dozen boundaries.
The fall of three quick wickets on Friday had created some tremors in India’s ranks but experience of Laxman and Tendulkar calmed the nerves. Their fifth wicket partnership was worth 109 (129m, 183b) and it set up India’s first win at this venue where Sri Lanka have been unbeaten since 1994.
Helping to take pressure off the Indians were the fields Sangakkara set. Where runs should have been at a premium, the batsmen were given plenty of space to knock the ball and rotate strike. When Laxman walked in, the situation called for consolidation, and the Hyderabadi did not enjoy a fluent start. Once he and Tendulkar saw off the first hour, however, the chase began to take on shape and solidity.
The in-out field allowed singles and both batsmen showed urgency in keeping the board moving. Suraj Randiv sent down a marathon 20 overs in all for the day and finished with all five Indian wickets to fall, but the hosts were hampered by the lack of a second bowler to really trouble the Indian duo even though they had managed to keep the runs down in the first hour. By lunch, India had marched on to 145/4. Laxman suffered a back spasm when on 60 and received on-field treatment. Continuing with Virender Sehwag as runner, Laxman lost Tendulkar, well taken down the leg side by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
With another 87 required and five wickets in hand, memories of Chennai 1999 were in the air.
Raina began with a wild slash, danced down the track to Malinga. It was not Test batting but the approach was daring and refreshing. The bouncer was the last trump and Laxman replied with a pull that threaded the two fielders on the fence. It was high quality batting from the stylist.
There was method to Raina’s bravado. Consecutive boundaries off Randiv brought the target closer. Laxman caressed a full toss from Mendis through covers and a glanced the next ball to bring up his hundred. The efforts of Laxman and Tendulkar deserved a salute which came in the form of Raina’s stunning six off Welegedera to seal the match.
India’s celebrations were not muted; there was no reason for them to be.
Scoreboard
Sri Lanka (1st innings) 425
India (1st innings) 436
Sri Lanka (2nd innings) 267
India 2nd innings
(Overnight 53/3)
M. Vijay c M. Jayawardene b Randiv 27, V. Sehwag c M. Jayawardene b Randiv 0, R. Dravid b Randiv 7, S. Tendulkar c P. Jayawardene b Randiv 54, I. Sharma c Sangakkara b Randiv 4, V.V.S. Laxman not out 103, S. Raina not out 41
Extras (b5, lb6, wd2, nb9) 22
Total (in 68.3 overs) 258/5
FoW: 1-10, 2-27, 3-49, 4-62, 5-171.
Bowling: Malinga 12-1-49-0, Randiv 29-3-82-5, Mathews 2-0-5-0, Welegedara 8.3-2-34-0, Mendis 14-0-65-0, Dilshan 3-0-12-0.