COLOMBO: No team has chased more than 352 to win a Test at the P Sara Oval. The punters wouldn’t bet against that in this Test either. The hosts will have to hunt down a monstrous target of 413 in a maximum of 117 overs. For that they have to kick along at a rate of 3.5. Winning the Test, and if so the series, seems beyond their grasp.
Batting time, though, isn’t impossible, history points out that the last drawn Test came here 10 matches ago, back in 2003, where fourth-innings batting wasn’t even required. The 9 matches since have produced results, and overall there has been only four draws in 16 matches. An ominous precedent for Sri Lanka, though the strip has not yet deteriorated into a tantrum-throwing beast. Apart from stray instances of invariable bounce, the surface hasn’t made the spinners lick their lips in glee.
In that context, it can be argued that India perhaps delayed their declaration, nine overs after the tea. The lower order tried to run helter-skelter for quick runs, but it was clear that they had pre-decided on a definite number of overs in which they could fold out Sri Lanka, even if showers were to disrupt the final day (then showers have only flattered to deceive). Their confidence might have also been furthered by the fact that hosts don’t possess men who are capable of entrenching themselves and saving a Test, barring a certain Kumar Sangakkara. Taking all these factors into consideration, Indian batsmen didn’t over-exert themselves, apart from the forenoon session when the ball was relatively new and they were necessitated to impose themselves on Sri Lankan bowlers. Hence, Murali Vijay (82) and Ajinkya Rahane (126), briskly began to accumulate runs.
It began with Rahane latching onto anything that was pitched marginally short or full. He whipped Rangana Herath through midwicket before lofting him over cover. He brought up his half century with a reverse sweep off Tharindu Kaushal.
Vijay consumed more time to get his bearings. But the introduction of Dushmantha Chameera gave him a chace to increase the ante. He pulled him over mid-wicket for a six. In the next over, he heaved Kaushal over midwicket. Thus in the first hour, India added 68 runs in 13.4 overs, Vijay scoring 40 in 38 balls and adding 28 in 44 balls.
Post break, they were slightly pegged back by Kaushal, who accounted for Vijay, after his 140-run partnership with Rahane, and Virat Kohli. Consequently, they eked out only 41 runs in 13 overs in the next hour.
More aggression was expected after lunch, but Rahane and Rohit Sharma batted like they normally would in five-day cricket, which when you look back, was justifiable, for a heap of wickets would have restored Sri Lanka’s chances of flitting through the tail. But as the partnership progressed, they began to open up, their 85-run alliance coming at a healthy rate of 3.86. Overall, 255 runs in 61.4 overs at a rate of 4.1 wasn’t flaccid, as far as blaring intention was concerned.
An anti-climax looks improbable, now that Sri Lanka have lost the one man they believed could orchestrate the impossible, Sangakkara.