AHMEDABAD, India, (Reuters) – Opener Gautam Gambhir led India’s fightback in an effort to save the first test after a world-record, sixth-wicket partnership of 351 helped Sri Lanka take control of the game yesterday.
Gambhir was 74 not out as India reached 190 for two at close of play on day four after overnight batsmen Mahela Jayawardene (275) and Prasanna Jayawardene (154 not out) extended their record stand to help Sri Lanka take a first innings lead of 334.
Sri Lanka, second behind South Africa in the official test rankings, declared their first innings 40 minutes after lunch at 760 for seven, giving themselves a chance of winning a test in India for the first time.
Gambhir put on 81 for the opening wicket with Virender Sehwag who slammed a chancy 51 and 88 with first-inning centurion Rahul Dravid (38) for the next but India face an uphill task, still 144 runs behind.
Nightwatchman Amit Mishra (12) was keeping Gambhir company after Dravid fell leg-before to Chanaka Welegedara.
Sehwag blasted seven boundaries before falling tamely when he top-edged left-arm spinner Rangana Herath to be caught at mid-on.
Former captain Mahela Jayawardene, 204 overnight, fell after lunch while his namesake Prasanna recorded a career-best effort to help Sri Lanka (591-5 overnight) post the highest innings score in India by any team.
Sri Lanka added 169 for the loss of two wickets on a record-breaking day when Mahela Jayawardene, who faced 435 balls and hit 27 fours and a six, became the ninth batsman to reach the 9,000-run mark in test cricket.
The sixth-wicket stand between the two Jayawardenes upstaged a 72-year-old mark of 346 set by Australia’s Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton against England in 1937.
The pair tormented a listless Indian attack in a productive first session before former skipper Mahela fell in the third over after lunch, bowled by Mishra when he gave the leg spinner the charge.
The tourists declared after Dammika Prasad (21) fell to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh after adding 34 with wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, giving themselves 135 overs to push for a victory.
India took the third new ball at the overnight score without effect as Mahela Jayawardene, who recorded his sixth double hundred on Wednesday, toyed with the bowling.
Prasanna, 84 overnight, recorded his second test century, and the fifth century of the match, when he guided pace bowler Ishant Sharma to the third man fence in what was another frustratingly unproductive session for India.
