COLOMBO, (Reuters) – A limping Vangipurappu Laxman scored a magnificent unbeaten century to guide India to a five-wicket victory in the third and final test against Sri Lanka yesterday, earning the visitors a 1-1 tie in the series.
Utilising opener Virender Sehwag as a runner due to cramp, the elegant middle-order batsman scored his 17th test hundred to remain unbeaten on 103, scored off 149 balls with 12 fours.
Suresh Raina, who helped in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 87, finished the match off in style shortly before the scheduled tea break by clouting Chanaka Welegedara for six to remain 41 not out as India chased down the 257 needed for victory.
Laxman was also involved in an important fifth-wicket partnership of 109 with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 54 before being dismissed by Suraj Randiv as the off-spinner captured his first five-wicket haul in test cricket.
“That’s why he is called ‘Very Very Special’, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said in reference to Laxman’s initials V.V.S.
“In this innings it was very important for him to score runs for the team because the team needed it most. The way he batted, he paced his innings really well.
“He was struggling with back spasms and still he wanted to go on without a runner, but then he had to take one because of the situation the team was in. There was pain and pressure. It was a special innings,” Dhoni told reporters.
In the final day morning session, Sri Lanka missed a golden opportunity to remove Tendulkar cheaply when he was put down by Tillakaratne Dilshan at forward short-leg with his score on 18.
The prolific batsman and cricket’s most-capped test player made Sri Lanka pay for that early lapse by recording his 56th test half-century that included three boundaries.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka first innings 425 (K. Sangakkara 75, M Jayawardene 56, T. Samaraweera 137,
P. Ojha 4-115)
India first innings (V. Sehwag 109, V.V.S. Laxman 56, S. Raina 62, S. Randiv 4-80)
Sri Lanka second innings 267 (T. Samaraweera 83, A. Mendis 78)
India second innings (overnight 53-3)
M. Vijay c M. Jayawardene b Randiv 27
V. Sehwag c M. Jayawardene b Randiv 0
R. Dravid b Randiv 7
S. Tendulkar c P. Jayawardene b Randiv 54
I. Sharma c Sangakkara b Randiv 4
V.V.S. Laxman not out 103
S. Raina not out 41
Extras: (b-5, lb-6, nb-9, w-2) 22
Total: (five wickets, 68.3 overs) 258
Fall of wickets: 1-10 2-27 3-49 4-62 5-171
Bowling: Malinga 12-1-49-0 (3-nb, 1-w), Randiv 29-3-82-5 (1-nb), Mathews 2-0-5-0, Welegedara 8.3-2-34-0 (4-nb, 1-w), Mendis 14-0-65-0 (1-nb), Dilshan 3-0-12-0.
Result: India won by five wickets to draw series 1-1.