Third Test,P Sara Oval: Virender Sehwag led an violent Indian response to Sri Lanka’s demanding score on a competitive pitch on the second day at the P Sara Oval. Thilan Samaraweera let down India’s quest for early wickets with an certain century amid testing spells from Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha, but Sehwag’s counter-attack, with some luck, helped the visitors even things out. The signs were encouraging for Sri Lanka at the start of the Indian innings with the seamers finding sway while their opponents had produced virtually none. Lasith Malinga targeted the blockhole and hurled a couple of sharp bouncers, while Chanaka Welegedara got the ball to flit in. But the helpful conditions did not produce the restlessness Sri Lanka would have hoped from the Indian openers, as Sehwag settled in with three consecutive boundaries – through point, mid-on and over midwicket – off Welegedera, who had dismissed him twice in the Galle Test.
First Innings:
Sri Lanka 425 (Samaraweera 137, Sangakkara 75)
India 180 for 2 (Sehwag 97*, Tendulkar 40*)