Efficient India complete 100th Test win

India 642 (Gambhir 167, Dravid 144, Sehwag 137, Herath 5-121) beat Sri Lanka 229 (Mahela 47, Sangakkara 44, Sreesanth 5-75) and 269 (Samaraweera 78*) by an innings and 144 runs



India achieved their biggest victory against Sri Lanka and in the process clinched their 100th Test win on the fourth day of the second Test in Kanpur. India's previous best against their neighbors was a victory by an innings and 119 runs in 1994 and they bettered that record with ease today. Thilan Samaraweera hit an assured fifty to provide some resistance but it was always going to be just a matter of time before India wrapped up the game.

The only question at the start of the day was how long Sri Lanka will delay the inevitable and though they looked to be positive, adding 149 runs in the first session, India kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. Samaraweera was involved in two fighting partnerships with Prasanna Jayawardene and Ajantha Mendis, which not only proved that the pitch wasn't bad but also showed the top order in poor light.

India's only concern would be Zaheer Khan's no-ball problems (12 in this game and 21 in the series) but he did start the day well, dismissing Angelo Mathews in his first over. Mathews had crashed three fours in a row, which included a pull, and Zaheer placed a man at deep square-leg and tested Mathews with more bouncers. The first was fended off in an ungainly manner and the next was top-edged to backward point where Rahul Dravid took a lunging catch.

Samaraweera proceeded to stitch together a 61-run partnership with Prasanna who, much like in the first innings, flattered to deceive. He was looking good with his cuts and sweeps but was cleaned up by a fine off break from round the stumps from Harbhajan Singh. It drifted away and broke back in but Prasanna left a big bat-pad gap and was bowled. Muttiah Muralitharan indulged himself with a typical hit-and-giggle knock filled with slog sweeps but fell, going for yet another big hit.

Samaraweera, who then added 73 runs with a determined Ajantha Mendis to frustrate India, was rarely troubled during his stay, the highlight of which was a whippy on-drive to a delivery on off and middle stump line from Sreesanth. He has had a stellar 2009 and he played yet another pleasing knock. He rarely looked hurried, tackled the spinners and seamers well and unfurled many pleasing on drives. The caravan now moves to Mumbai for the third Test that starts on December 2.

Source: cricinfo.com

               
                Thanking God for his one of the best performance in Kanpur test

Sachin Tendulkar with Ajay the little computer genius.

                                Congratulating Zaheer for 1st ball wicket of Dilshan in 2nd test at Kanpur

Yuvraj and Gambhir

practicing before 2nd test at Kanpur.

Dinesh Kartik (L) and Rahul Dravid

On a practice session before 2nd test at Kanpur.