Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed his third Test century after Virender Sehwag missed a world record third triple century to boost India to a record total on day three of the third and final Test at the Brabourne stadium, in Mumbai , on Friday.
With wickets falling at the other end, Dhoni took the attacking route and went after the Sri Lankan bowlers to complete his century off 154 deliveries with a huge six that disappeared out of the ground.
Dhoni finished unbeaten on 100, hitting six sixes and three boundaries in his 154-ball knock as India declared their first innings on 726 for nine in 163.3 overs to take a huge lead of 333 runs. This is India’s highest total in Test cricket beating the 705 for seven declared they made against Australia at Sydney in January 2004.
Pragyan Ojha was not out on five from 14 deliveries as the two batsmen were involved in an unbroken stand of 56 runs in 72 deliveries for the last wicket.
Morning session: (29 overs, 93 runs, 2 wickets)
Sri Lanka did not take the second new ball after 80 overs and continued with spin from both ends.
Dravid, on 62, was lucky to survive. He got an edge and was caught by the wicketkeeper off Rangana Herath in the third over of the day, but the umpire turned down the huge appeal. Two deliveries later he stepped down the wicket and lofted Herath for a huge straight six.
There was tragedy to follow in the next over when Sehwag was dismissed caught and bowled by Muralitharan after a cracking innings of 293. The opener, who hit 40 boundaries and seven sixes in his 254-ball knock, was beaten in the flight by Muralitharan, bowling round the wicket, and ended up scooping the ball back to the bowler, who fumbled before completing the catch. (458-2, 82.2)
Post-lunch session: (27 overs, 93 runs, 4 wickets)
Tendulkar completed his half-century, his 54th in Tests, with a single on the leg side against Kulasekara in the first over of the session.
Both pacers, Kulasekara and Welegedara, kept things tight after lunch with the Indian batsmen looking to get their eye in. Laxman broke the shackles when he hit Welegedara for consecutive boundaries through the leg side in the 114th over.
Just when the Mumbai crowd was coming back to life, they were stunned into silence when Kulasekara claimed the wicket of Tendulkar for 53. The right-hander hit six boundaries in his 103-ball knock before he was beaten by the incoming delivery from Kulasekara and inside edged it back on to his stumps. (558-4, 114.2)
After Sehwag’s vintage display on the second day, Sri Lanka managed to restore sanity as Tendulkar and Laxman took 147 deliveries to add 71 runs for the fourth wicket.
source: rediff
