Ind SL T2 Day 3 Lunch: Murali on 795 Wickets, India in Deep Trouble at 260/8

The shaping of the Indian batting in the first innings of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium went from precarious overnight to poor by lunch on the third day.

virender sehwag 11

The Sri Lankan declaration on 520 for six left India with few options but to fight for what they could hope for a draw. However, that result is looking grimmer as India collapsed to …… by lunch, with Sri Lanka sensing the possible of a win with a day and a half to go.

India lost the key wicket of Sachin Tendulkar last night to Muttiah Muralitharan who picked up two more wickets in the morning to touch the 795 Test wickets mark, five shy of the magical 800. Contributing to that haul were Yuvraj Singh and the Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who put up a brief resistance after the departure of V.V.S. Laxman to become Lasith Malinga’s second wicket on his comeback Test, India increasingly slippery at five down for 178.

Virender Sehwag was the mainstay last night, and a century to his name was the only solace in a line up that turned wretched overnight. It is ironical that Sehwag was once again holding up against the Sri Lankan bowling while everything else around him collapsing. His dismissal was perhaps typical of him but after a century, few would have to grudgde him even though in the context of things, he could have been more instrumental in preventing one end from slipping away. Another man who would review his choice of shot would be V.V.S. Laxman who seems to be giving away his wicket after getting a start as has been his bane over the years.

Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni appeared to be repairing the damage, the former scoring a half century while Dhoni was batting on thirty-three before Murlitharan made them both appear like novices in front of his superlative bowling.

Harbhajan Singh’s stumping left India in a hole at eight down for 260 with Sri Lanka firmly on top.

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