SPORTS | Wednesday, November 25, 2009 | Email | Print | 
Lanka in Gambhir spot
Sandeep Narayan | Kanpur
Not the best way to describe the mood of a match but the first Day of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka was pretty much summed up by the sight of Rangana Herath bowling over the stumps and outside leg to the newly arrived Rahul Dravid. It spoke of how India totally dominated the day and how Sri Lanka resembled a demoralised bunch of soldiers, recently defeated at battle.
It was a day for statisticians as well. It was the first time India scored over 400 in a single day (they made 417 for 2), it was the highest opening partnership (233 runs) between Gambhir and Sehwag, and even, Muralitharan, at one point, was leaking at over six runs an over. The other spinners were even worse as the duo from Delhi plundered the three spinners mercilessly.
The most telling were the spinners’ figures. Things went pear-shaped for Lanka after the spinners were introduced, with Sehwag and Gambhir looting 73 runs off nine overs before lunch and little changing after the break. They weren't allowed to settle at all by the openers who lashed out at them with a calculated fury.
But it wasn’t the amount of runs India scored but the way they had accumulated them. Both Gautam (167) and Sehwag (131) scored at will. The batsmen seemed to do as they wished: Sehwag went either inside-out or carved across the line as his mood seized him, Dravid, who hit the last ball of the day for a boundary, pierced the off-side field at will. But it was Gautam’s innings that started the whole shabang.
He punctuated his charges down the wicket with brilliant cover drives and delicate late cuts. It was a tactic that seemed to be working during the entire day against the spinners. By picking them early not only did he negate the spin but also asserted a dominance that would send even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis running for cover.
Gambhir paced himself superbly. He took charge of the first hour and played of the new ball while Sehwag at the other end will, playing the mellowed batsman’s role. He had different approaches to the Sri Lankan spinners as well. He stepped out against Herath, used his crease well against Muralitharan, going either well back or stretching forward, and worked the ball against Ajantha Mendis. There were several delightful late cuts that showcased the beauty of his batting. The late cuts coupled with the cover and straight drives culminated together to form one of the best knocks at this historic ground. Mistakes were made but they were immediately rectified and the flow of runs never ceased.
This is his fourth hundred in as many matches and it would be hard not to count him in the group reserved only for the best of the world. In the end the brilliance of his innings could only come to an end through an equally brilliant play as he fell, beaten by a dipping Murali delivery which he scooped to the bowler, who flew to his right to pull off a difficult chance.
Not to be left out, Rahul Dravid too joined the party and at stumps ended with an unbeaten 85 alongside Sachin Tendulkar. Dravid was decisive in everything he did right from the start. When he defended he showed the full face of bat and when he chose to attack, he either stretched well forward to drive inside-out or rocked right back to punch through the off side. There were many skilful punches on the back foot but what stood out was a gorgeous inside-out extra-cover drive off Muralitharan.
The presence of three spinners and just one frontline seamer was always going to pose problems for Sri Lanka after they lost the toss. None, except for Angelo Matthews, had an economy less than four. Murali gave away 100 in his 18, though he took two wickets and Mendis had no clue where to bowl after being subjected to a Viru onslaught. It would be hard for India to lose from here but many would hope to see the pitch slowly helping the spinners as the days pass so that another Motera doesn’t get repeated.
Brief Scores:
India 417-2 (Gautam Gambhir 167, Virender Sehwag 131, Rahul Dravid 85 not out; Muttiah Muralitharan 2-100).
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