Raina and Tendulkar lead Indian plunder

COLOMBO,  (Reuters) – Suresh Raina  stroked a  memorable debut century and Sachin Tendulkar coasted to his  fifth double hundred to lift India to a massive total of 669 for  nine in the second test against Sri Lanka yesterday.

India ended the fourth day 27 runs ahead and with only one  day remaining the second match in the three-test series was  heading for a certain draw.

Part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan enlivened the dull  proceedings in the final session when he grabbed three wickets  for 50 runs.

He sent back Tendulkar for 203 and Harbhajan Singh for a  duck in his ninth over and ended the resistance of Indian  captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for 76 when he held a brilliant  return catch.

Sri Lanka also dismissed Abhimanyu Mithun for 41 when  Ajantha Mendis bowled him as he tried to paddle sweep a straight  ball.

Raina and Tendulkar carried their overnight partnership to  256 runs, an Indian record against Sri Lanka for the fifth  wicket, before Raina, on 120, drove off-spinner Mendis to short  midwicket.

Tendulkar, who hit 23 fours and a six, was dismissed after  tea when he attempted a glance and was caught off bat and pad by  wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene who had missed him on 29.

Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 following their 10-wicket  victory in the first test in Galle.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka first innings 642-4 dec (T. Paranavitana 100, K.  Sangakkara 219, M. Jayawardene 174)
India first innings (382-4 overnight)

M. Vijay lbw b Mendis                                                                       58
V. Sehwag st P. Jayawardene b Randiv                                      99
R. Dravid lbw b Randiv                                                                        3
S. Tendulkar c P. Jayawardene b Dilshan                               203
VVS Laxman lbw b Mendis                                                             29
S. Raina c Sangakkara b Mendis                                                  120
M.S. Dhoni c & b Dilshan                                                                  76
H. Singh c Sangakkara b Dilshan                                                     0
A. Mithun b Mendis                                                                            41
I. Sharma not out                                                                                10
P. Ojha not out                                                                                        0
Extras: (b-9, lb-5, nb-12, w-4)                                                       30
Total: (nine wickets; 198 overs)                                                  669
Fall of wickets: 1-165 2-169 3-173 4-241 5-497 6-592 7-592  8-643 9-668
To bat: P. Ojha
Bowling: Prasad 19-1-96-0 (4-nb), Fernando 31-1-116-0 (5-nb,  3-w), Mathews 9-1-24-0 (1-w), Randiv 64-14-212-2, Mendis  54-7-157-4 (3-nb), Dilshan 21-4-50-3.