India squander advantage

There were two distinct parts to the day’s play that were split by a generous spell of rain. In the first part, Virender Sehwag shone like a beacon and in the second, Sri Lanka showed the kind of resilience similar to that of the old Galle Fort that braved the tsunami of 2004.

The annihilation by Sehwag in the first session was nothing less than total destruction while crafty bowling by Sri Lanka brought them back in the second.

Many a time Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir looked vulnerable and yet when lunch was taken after 29 overs, the Indian openers had put on an unbeaten 151.

It was rich entertainment but none of it normally associated with the traditional format.

After that, India lost their way a fair bit to end the truncated first day at 215/4 after a little over three hours were lost to rain.

The hosts came back strongly packing off four batsmen in the space of 20 deliveries after the openers had added 167.

What looked like a solid platform was suddenly reduced by some imaginative bowling by Chaminda Vaas and India’s now familiar nemesis Ajantha Mendis. Credit to the young spinner who picked the pieces well after his first spell of six overs was taken for 37 runs.

The openers were positive from the start and that was the key to not allowing Muttiah Muralitharan and Mendis develop any sort of rhythm. Using their feet well to counter the spin, the pair ensured they did not fall in the same trap of playing from the crease as they did at the SSC. Getting his front foot out of the way, Sehwag made room to drive or cut through the off-side.

Muralitharan obliged by pitching it short while Mendis pushed it a touch faster that allowed the slog sweep over cow corner.

The wicket was not essentially a batting beauty. The new ball kicked off a length and also died on the batsmen from the same spot. It required adjustment and Sehwag did it well, with touch of arrogance to boot.

The 7-2 off-side field made the line obvious but the captain could not be faulted for running out of ideas.

Just before lunch, Mahela Jayawardene reacted slowly to a sharp chance at first slip when Sehwag threw the bat hard to an off-spinner from Murali.

Gambhir, at the other end, complemented the efforts of his partner with some positive running. The century partnership came in 115 balls. The ghosts of the previous game were laid to rest for sure.

The rain break helped Sri Lanka to regroup. Gambhir was trapped by a Mendis googly. This time the referral went in favour of the bowler.

Rahul Dravid walked to the crease careworn and with more doubts than he would ever carried. His first single carried him past Sunil Gavaskar’s Test tally of 10,122 but he was to leave soon, snapped by Warnapura off Mendis.

Sachin Tendulkar warmed up well with a pleasing off drive but was caught at the crease by a in-slanter from Vaas. Sourav Ganguly followed a delivery that shaped away.

V.V.S. Laxman settled quickly and treated the ball solely on merit.

Sehwag looked like batting in another planet. He just continued with his strokes paying scant respect to what had happened before.