Mumbai, Dec 4 (Inditop.com) Indian batsmen continued their domination of the Sri Lankan bowlers and ended the third day with a 322-run lead in the third and the final cricket Test here Friday.
If it was Virender Sehwag (293), who provided the fireworks on the second day, it was skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s turn Friday. Dhoni smacked an unbeaten 100 as India declared their first innings at 726 for nine in reply to Sri Lanka’s 393 at the Brabourne Stadium.
At stumps, Sri Lanka were 11 for no loss in the second innings with Tharanga Pranavitana batting on eight and Tillakaratne Dilshan three.
With two days remaining and a huge lead in hand, India have put themselves in a position from where they cannot lose the match while Sri Lanka will have to show great determination to save the Test.
Resuming at overnight score of 443 for one, India scored 283 runs on the third day losing eight wickets.
In the last session, Dhoni compleletely stole the show with his power packed 154-ball knock that was studded with six sixes and three fours. He was never deterred to go for the big shots even as wickets kepts tumbling at the other end. Dhoni hit a six off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath to get his third century and declared the innings.
Earlier, opening batsman Sehwag fell seven runs short of his third triple-ton and Rahul Dravid made a well composed 74. Sachin Tendulkar (53) and V.V.S. Laxman (62) also got starts but couldn’t go on to make big scores.
Sehwag added just nine runs to his overnight score and missed out on the opportunity to become the first batsman to get three triple centuries. Muralitharan juggled to take an easy catch off his own bowling to end Sehwag’s scintillating knock and his 237-run partnership for the second wicket with Dravid. Sehwag’s 254-ball innings was studded with 40 fours and seven sixes and lasted six hours.
Dravid also departed soon, edging Chanaka Walegedera’s away going delivery to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jaywardene.
Tendulkar and Laxman then played cautiously for their 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Chanaka Welegedara castled Tendulkar with a inswinger.
India lead the series 1-0 and a win here will propel them to the top spot in Test rankings. The historic Brabourne Stadium is hosting its first Test match in 36 years.
