Colombo, July 29: Normal services resumed on the fourth day with the bat dominating ball on a placid pitch, after the Sri Lankan spinners had injected some life in the Test on the third. India ensured a draw was inevitable, as they overhauled Sri Lanka’s first-innings score, with Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina adding to an exhaustive list of milestones achieved in this game. Tendulkar eased to his fifth double-century while Raina became only the second Indian batsman after Virender Sehwag to score a hundred on debut this decade.
As Tendulkar and Raina took India past the follow-on target, the proceedings began to evoke memories of the dull draws these two teams played out during the 1990s. With spread-out fields, a slow pitch and conditions discriminating against the bowlers, Sri Lanka’s triple strike on the third morning proved an aberration.
That was evident in the positive approach that Tendulkar and Raina adopted from the outset on the fourth day. Tendulkar, who had been more sparing in his treatment of fuller deliveries amid pressure on day three, resumed his innings with a cover drive off Suraj Randiv. The seamers, while troubling Tendulkar on the odd occasion with some well-directed bouncers, were dealt with more harshly. Dammika Prasad, after striking him on the helmet, was cracked for three fours through point; Dilhara Fernando, who again induced Tendulkar - after having him dropped off his bowling on day three - to play an ill-executed upper cut, was at the receiving end of his trademark straight drive.
Tendulkar shrugged off a couple of close shaves against Randiv - he padded up to deliveries that straightened, only to be saved by their height - by employing the sweep to good use against the turn, and brought up his double with a paddle down to fine leg.
Raina showed few signs of nerves in his maiden Test appearance, appearing confident early in his innings. He didn’t hesitate to step out against the spinners on the third day and began in a similar vein on the fourth, lofting Randiv over long-off. Unlike Tendulkar, Raina more comfort against the pitched-up deliveries throughout his knock. He pulled off his favourite slog-sweep to dispatch Randiv over midwicket, and brought up his ton with a drive through mid-off. The celebration began the moment he connected, and he clenched his fists, ran to the other end and soaked in the applause for an achievement that opens up India’s options in their Test middle order. He was beaten by a Mendis legbreak shortly after lunch, and spooned an easy catch to short midwicket but only after India reached safety.
The batsmen had plenty of time to adjust to the variations in pace as well as the frequent changes in length, and runs flowed at a healthy pace. This was on display in the manner that MS Dhoni settled in, stepping out to Mendis on just his fifth ball and pulling Prasad for consecutive boundaries. The spinners were heaved and slogged and Dhoni notched up another fifty.
Tillakaratne Dilshan salvaged some pride for the bowlers with a couple of quick wickets. Tendulkar was caught off an inside edge onto the pads, and Harbhajan Singh gifted a catch to midwicket. But the resistance continued with Dhoni and Abhimanyu Mithun occupying the crease for 21.4 overs before Dilshan struck again to snare the Indian captain.
AT STUMPS: India 669 for 9 (Tendulkar 203, Raina 120, Dhoni 76) lead Sri Lanka 642 for 4 dec by 27 runs

Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST