India pull off spectacular win !

Set to score 258 by a strong Lankan side, India was in the doldrums at 57/3 and 62/4 ! Then the Indian batsmen went in for a strong rear guard action and emerged victorious. Full marks to Laxman ( 103 no), Sachin ( 54) and Raina *( 41 no ).

This is one of the greatest wins ever. When it was 57/3, we all thought that India was facing the music. To play Mendis and Ranadiv on the last days of the Test is disconcerting to many. But not for Laxam, Sachin and Raina.

Raina proved that he is world class material again today with a majestic 41 no. When Sachin fell at a 171, India had won half the battle. Laxman was all wristy excellence and he scored one of the greatest character innings centuries to bring victory for India. The series is drawn at 1-1.

The Indian team had a point to prove to its detractors. Indian batting line up was earlier defined as one of the best and now that reputation had taken a lot of battering. Today's performance confounded those who dismissed it as a depleted line-up ! There were only four batsmen left at 62/4 and three batsmen rose to the occasion to defend India's reputation ! The experience of Sachin and Laxman showed the way. Also the potential of Raina. Trevor Bailey used to say that it is pressure, " it is the situation " which will take a toll of psyche and nerves of all those involved ! Laxman battled the great pressure and with aid from Sachin and Raina, pulled off one of the best wins ever !

Laxman defied cramps and played the sheet anchor role and was as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. Raina smote Welegedara for a mighty six to seal the fate of Sri Lanka.

257 was a difficult score to chase and India suffered some reverses early on as Sehwag, Vijay, Dravid and Ishant went out cheap. India were in dire straits at 62/4, but then a glorious 109 partnership between Sachin and Laxman changed the complexion of the game.

Sachin had his moments of luck, when he was dropped by T Dilshan off Ranadiv. He was 18 then but he recovered his poise and cracked yet another fifty. He jumped down the track and hit Ranadiv for a mighty four. Laxman, the grand touch artist that he is, leaned forward to a Mendis delivery and turned it to leg for four, thus notching the 50 run partnership between the two which came off 92 balls.

India were comfortably placed at 145/4, but when Tendulkar fell, there was angst in the Indian camp. But Raina disproved all fears as he gave great support to the wristy genius, Laxman. Sachin was dismissed when he gloved a Ranadiv flighter to the wicket keeper. But Laxman's sang-froid and coolness ensured that the great dismissal of Sachin did no harm to India's hopes ! Laxman continued his wristy work and was comfortable, as he was partnered by the inform Raina.

Laxman was adjudged Man of the Match and Sehwag the Man of the Series !

India keeps the numero uno position in Test matches !

Sehwag and Sachin rescue India

India were 180/2, with Sachin on 40 and Sehwag on 97, in reply to Sri Lank's 425.

Ojha took 4wickets and Ishant 3 and SL were all out for 425. India can still retain the No 1 position.

Sehwag was dropped at 52 by Angelo Mathews and this lapse may prove costly. Sachin survived a scare when he edged Ranadiv just past slip.In Fortress Lanka, Lanka scoring 425 is a bit low by SL standards. India can still pull the match out of the Lankan hands ! Let us watch and see tomorrow. 3 runs more and Sehwag will complete yet another century and where is Sachin headed to ?

When the SL bowlers found swing and was threatening the Indian batsmen, Sehwag cut loose with three consecutive fours of Welegedara, the man who had dismissed him in the Galle Test twice. The SL bowlers tried to trap Sehwag with short pitched deliveries but the Indian opener was too smart for that. He slammed Welegedara over midwicket and square leg and runs flowed off his bat. Mathews also had tried to trap Sehwag but couldnt find success, as the Indian powerhouse was at his belligerent best !

Sehwag targeted Welegdera and blasted him for nine fours. Demon fast bolwer Malinga tried to keep Sehwag quiet with some bouncers but Sehwag hit him for a glorious punched backfoot drive past the umpire ! Malinga did bowl a fiery spell and tried to trap Sehwag with the slower delivery but to no avail !

The host had their successes when they dismissed M Vijay and Dravid cheap. If Mathews had held on to that catch, India would have been in dire straits. Now the Indian morale is up, with Sehwag on 97 no and Sachin on 40 no !