MUMBAI: At 10.04 am, December 6, 2009, India were crowned as World No.1 in Test cricket. The moment of reckoning came when off-spinner Harbhajan Singh induced an edge from Muttiah Muralitharan. Fittingly, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni held the catch to signal India’s victory and their coronation to the top. Sri Lanka were all out for 309 and India won the third Test by and innings and 24 runs at Brabourne Stadium on Sunday.
It was swift and a quick end as Lanka lasted only 7.4 overs and 34 minutes. India won the series 2-0. It was India’s 101st victory in Tests.
Skipper Kumar Sangakkara (137; 261b, 349m, 20x4, 1x6), who delayed the inevitable yesterday with a brilliant century, admitted that his team was outbatted and outbowled by India.
Lanka’s fickle hopes rested on Sangakarra. But the left-hander managed to face only three balls today. The first one was a defensive shot, the second a square drive that ran away to the boundary but that third one was a peach of delivery. Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, who was the five-star bowler, bowled the right length ball which kissed Sangakkara’s bat on its way to Dhoni’s hands. It was a huge wicket. The Indians were delighted because Sangakkara was the last frontier to stand between India and number one ranking. Sri Lanka 278/7 in 93.3 overs.
Over number 97.1: Zaheer, who had snuffed out Lanka’s challenge with two important wickets in short bursts on Saturday, captured his fourth today after dismissing Rangana Herath, who was caught in the covers by a diving Pragyan Ojha. Wicket number eight and India were two steps away for their fifth victory at this venue. Zaheer’s show was yet to end.
Over number 99.5: Nuwan Kulasekara fails to get away from a ball that seamed away. The ball flew to VVS Laxman, who made no mistake. India one step away from the memorable moment. Zaheer had a dream spell of 4-1-21-3. Zaheer rattled the Lankans with pace and accuracy.
Over number 100: Muralitharan faces Harbhajan’s fourth over of the morning. He heaves the first ball. It goes towards long-on. Virender Sehwag, the man of the match and the man of the series, runs from long on and makes a brave attempt to hold the skier but just cannot hold ball. But he allows only two runs. The next two balls were played defensively. But the fourth ball, Harbhajan flights and forces Murali to edge to wicketkeeper. That is it. India complete victory and are at the top of the ranking.
Captain Cool Dhoni collects the stumps as souvenir. There are high-fives among the team members. Team India players walk back with heads in high. Coach Gary Kirsten hugs Sachin Tendulkar and other members of the team. Cricket Club of India (CCI) announces Rs 50,000 to curator Prakash Adhav and Rs 5,000 each to 25-member staff for preparing a true Test wicket. The late Raj Singh Dungarpur, the former CCI president, would have been the happiest person.
What a way to finish a Test match. The hollowed ground of Brabourne would surely remember the spectacular 293 by Sehwag.