What looks like a precarious situation, a possible victory slipping away, overnight became a winning proposition on the back of a strong partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman and later between Laxman and Suresh Raina as India square the Test series in Sri Lanka 1-1.
vvs laxman century in sl
The P. Sara Oval in Colombo, the third Test of India's tour of Sri Lanka, saw India chase down 257 for victory despite being reduced to forty-eight for three on a turning track. That was made possible by Tendulkar's own half century, but the better part of the innings thereafter belonged to V.V.S. Laxman who went onto scoring a fine Test century that proved to be the match winning innings for India.
While India hoped to chase down a modest target, events in the latter half of the fourth day forced them to buckle down under pressure. But the fightback eventually came, and with Suresh Raina doing his chances no harm in a valuable stand with Laxman, India staged a remarkable win, given that their spirits would have been crushed by the end of the fourth day and further under the hammer as Suraj Randiv continuing the pressure while taking a five-for.
India needed one of Tendulkar, Laxman or the Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, to bat through to ensure India pocketed this one, else it would have meant losing the series 2-0 and losing face as the no.1 Test team, although it would not have affected their ranking.
Laxman did make the most of the situation and while he appeared to have suffered a back strain with India needing fifty runs or thereabouts for a win, he continued on to ensure there was no break in momentum and that India finished the series with pride before tea could be called.
Ind SL T3 Day 4 Stumps: India Go From Commanding Position to Underdogs All in a Day
Ind SL T 3 Day 3 Stumps: India Gains Slender 11 Run Lead, Match on Even Footing
Ind SL T3 Day 2 Stumps: Sehwag 97*, Tendulkar 40* After Samaraweera Century
Law Says Indian Bowlers Have not Disgraced Themselves
Yuvraj's Taunted Spectators Are Detained, Then Released with Warning
Sangakkara Topples Sehwag to Become Number One
Sachin Tendulkar Gets Praise from Lok Sabha Speaker
Raina v Yuvraj a Half Hour Soap Opera for Media, Says Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Yuvraj Singh Reacts Strongly to "Waterboy" Taunts; Team Management Speaks with Cops
SL 194/3 at Tea, India Without Bhajji, Gauti, Yuvi in 3rd Test; SL Change Fast Bowlers
Sachin Tendulkar Overtakes Steve Waugh as Most Capped Test Cricketer
Indian Squad for Sri Lanka Tri Series Sees Tendulkar, Harbhajan, Gambhir Rested
India Stays as Top-Ranked Test Team After Annual Update
Dhoni Slams SSC Pitch After Match Ends in Dull Draw; Commends Team for Batting Well
Ind SL T2 Day 5: The Farce Comes to an Early End with a Predictable Draw
Pitches Like That At SSC Give Rise to Talk of Twenty20, Day and Night Tests, and What Not
Ind SL T2 Day 4 Stumps: Tendulkar's Double Century, Raina's Debut Ton Give India Lead
Sachin Tendulkar Scored 5th Double Test century; Equals Brian Lara Record for 150
Steve Waugh Does not Think India Are No.1 Test Team Material
Ind SL T2 Day 3 Stumps: Tendulkar's 48th Test Ton, Sehwag's Miss Add to Lifeless Day
Ind SL T2 Day 2 Stumps: Sangakkara Double Century, Mahela Century Take Sri Lanka to 642/4
Gambhir Out with Knee; Yuvraj With Fever Equates Absence of Muralitharan, Malinga?
Ind SL T2 Day 1 Stumps: India Suffer Deja Vu as Paranavitana, Sangakkara Score Centuries
Sangakkara Questions India's No.1 Test Ranking
Moment to Relish in 2009: Mahendra Singh Dhoni Accepts Test Mace for India (in Pictures)
Ind SL T2 Preview: India Hope to Level in Absence of Muralitharan, Malinga
Muttiah Muralitharan - A Statistical Marvel
Murali, Murali's Wife, Sanga, Dhoni, Lorgat Are All Grateful at 800 Test Wicket Occasion
Murali Gets his 800th Wicket, SL 10 Wicket Victory over No.1 Test Team at Galle
Muttiah Muralitharan Celebrates his 800th Test Wicket - Picture Gallery
Ind SL T2 Day 3 Lunch: Murali on 795 Wickets, India in Deep Trouble at 260/8
Ind SL T1 Day 3 Tea: Ishant Sharma Shines But Malinga-Herath Lead SL to 520/8
ICC President Salutes Muttiah Muralitharan
Ishant's Battling for Confidence, Claims Indian coach
Kirsten Expresses Concerns over World Cup 2011, Indicates Irfan Pathan is Out
Kirsten Says Harbhajan Had to Play Despite the Flu For Lack of Bowling Options
Ind SL T1 Day 2: Action at Tea Time...Only for Groundstaff
Galle Promises More Rain, Moody Weather
Ind SL T1 Day 1 Stumps: Sangakkara, Paranavitana Tons Expose India's Seam Problems
Srikkanth States No Zonal Bias to Selection to Indian Team; Captaincy Grooming Relevant
Ind SL T1 Preview: Dhoni Promises No Concessions for Murali for Farewell Test
Why did SLC Fail to Prevail Upon BCCI, Indian Cricket Team for UDRS?
Ajantha Mendis's Six-For Leaves India in a Spin at Stumps; Proves a Point to Selectors
Three Tons and Partnerships put SL BP XI On Top As Indians Totter without Zaheer, Sreesanth
Munaf Patel Named as Sreesanth's Replacement for India's tour of Sri Lanka
Bacher Says Azhar and Co. Wary of Using TV Umpire Technology; Sangakkara Wants UDRS
Highest Paid Cricketer, Dhoni, Inks Rs200 Crores Deal, Tendulkar Surpassed
Sangakkara Talks of Balanced FTPs; Reveals SL's Lack of Tests, Wants IPL Window
Dhoni Inks Rs200 Crores Deal with Rhiti Sports, Surpasses Tendulkar's Rs180 crore deal
Sreesanth Joins Zaheer's Injury List, Flies Back Home from Sri Lanka Before Series
Bhajji Stuck at Airport; Dhoni Presented with MCC Membership..all in Chennai
Sri Lanka Name Squad Against India, Including Team for Board President's XI Tour Match
Murali Says Only Bhajji can Match Him; Bhajji Says, Flattered But not Possible
UDRS Controversy: India Reject UDRS for Test series
India's Tour of Sri Lanka Schedule, Results
Murali Prepones Retirement, Says His Time has Passed, Moves Over for Youngsters
Zaheer's Injury Rules him Out of Series against Sri Lanka; Abhimanyu Mithun Drafted In
Related Stories
Ind Sl T 3 Day 5: India Complete Formalities to Become No.1
India needed to break Kumar Sangakkara's resistance to be able to get to the world's most coveted crown. They did not lose time on the fifth day's morning going for the same. The fifth day of the third and final Test at the Brabourne Stadium in...
Ind Sl T 3 Day 5: No. 1 Victors Celebrate, Albeit in Probable Temporary Roost At the Top (Win in Pictures)
By beating Sri Lanka, India have become the no. 1 Test team in the world. They may not hold the title for long though, but victory like this in the third Test at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai always tastes sweet! South Africa have been...
Ind SL T 3 Day 1 Stumps: Dilshan Ton Keeps SL Interested
Sri Lanka were propelled by two exceptional innings. Even as they lost wickets to give India a chance, the runs flowed at the day drew to a close, leaving this match interesting on the first day of the third Test between India and Sri Lanka at the.
Ind SL T 3 Day 4 Lunch and Tea: India's No.1 Five Wickets Away
Sri Lanka went from a strong position at lunch to a vulnerable position by tea as India picked up five wickets to come within touching distance of a series win and grabbing the ICC Test ranking of no.1. Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan provided the...
Virat Kohli And Co. Enjoy Bike Ride before Formula One Racing ( See Pics)
Is it not known that the Indian cricketers can also love demons of speed? Even as some of the Indian cricket team will fly to Noida for the first Formula One Indian Grand Prix, they did enjoy bike rides, although not on the circuit, with the keys firmly w
