‘Sanga’ farewell is up to himself
Now it’s a case of shaping the final script for the ‘Sanga’ farewell which will adorn a day hence. The game’s custodians are keeping a bag full of secrets to unleash at the end of the game, but, could the young fighting Lankans make it a fitting finale for that man with the magical touch?
The whole Indian team, including the two on field umpires line up to give Kumar Sangakkara a fitting welcome to the crease on his last Test match on Friday - Pix by Amila Gamage
Indians on their part lost one round of the three round bout but, clawed their way through to stamp an 87 runs lead. This means whatever the required number of runs on the fourth innings, the man playing his last inning for the country would have make it happen with a typical ‘Sanga’ inning that the Lankans and the whole world is used to.
Now the ball is in the Lankan court. Another two more days to go and the wicket is not guaranteed to behave in the same manner that it did in the two opening days. Now at 70 for 1 the Indians go in for the fourth day with a lead of 157 with nine wickets at hand. Remember the last three Lankan wickets were grabbed by the Indian spinners and the Lankans would have to make a total on the fourth innings of the game or else hold on till the end to hold on to the series lead.
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews acknowledges the crowd after reaching his sixth Test century.
Third day dawned with India a few nicks ahead of the Lankans with tall man Ishant Sharma operating. However in the very first ball Lankan skipper outside-edged a single to move to 141 for 3 in replay to India’s first innings total of 393.Not that the first over was incident free. The fourth ball that Mathews’ deputy Thirimanne faced for the day took the outside-edge of Thirimanne’s bat and safely landed in front of first slip Murali Vijay.
The Lankans got into their stride in the first Binny over for the day when Mathews drove the bowler two boundaries to gain some confidence. Once Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews overcame their overnight blues, they settled in – not aggressively, but watchfully, but changing ends more frequently than on day two. Shortly after the first drinks break of the day, it was Mathews who rolled to his half century which contained six fours.
Shortly afterwards Thirimanne also ambled to his half century in 230 minutes of batting with four fours –his second in twenty-four innings. Yet, by then the total also had reached a rather healthy looking 211 for 3.The second new ball was taken shortly afterwards with the score reading 217 for 3 with Mathews not out on 66 and Thirimanne not out on 56.
Lankans went in for lunch winning the first bout of the three bout day making 84 runs in the two hours of play and the two batsmen taking their association to an unbeaten 110 runs. As expected it was a typical third-day Sara Oval wicket that helps no bowler. But, to their credit the Indian bowlers kept to their task bowling on the right lines and not letting the Lankan pair break loose.
In the fourth over with the second new ball an unhappy Thirimanne walked back to the pavilion when umpire Bruce Oxenford ruled the batsman out while he was shaping to drive and the ball missed the bat. He was ruled caught behind by wicket keeper Saha off Ishant Sharma for 62. Thirimanne added 127 runs for the fourth wicket with his skipper Mathews who was unbeaten 84 at that time.
Another fact that bugged the Lankans in the post lunch session was the short showers that hampered the batsman’s concentration. The first shower after the first over since the lunch break was short, but the second break lingered a bit longer. This time it was an agonizing loss of concentration of 33 minutes.
Making most it Sharma struck once again but this time legitimately to have Chandimal edging to K.L. Rahul in the slip cordon after making a brisk eleven runs. Once again the Lankans slumped to a tentative 259 for 5. The next man to make his exit was the Lankan skipper, who turned rather tentative once he reached his late nineties. In spite of a few close calls he reached his sixth century with a reverse sweep off Ravichandran Ashwin, but in the very next over was held in the slips giving medium pacer Stewart Binny his first wicket when the bowler found Mathews’ outside-edge to be held at the slips by Murali Vijay for 102. Mathews occupied the crease for 250 minutes and hit twelve fours.Lankans walked into tea at 298 for 7, still a mile short of the Indian total with Mubarak – the only recognised batsman left not out on 20.
Shortly after tea the Lankans were all out for 306 leaving the visitors a first innings lead of 87 runs.
