Galle 1st test,Day 4: India were faced with a scary task of saving the first Test after spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan scalped six wickets in his last match to put Sri Lanka within sniffing space of a victory on Wednesday. Muralitharan claimed of 5/63 in the first innings and extra another wicket in the second to be just two short of the 800-mark as India were skittled out for 276 in their first innings in reply to the home team’s total of 520/8 declared. Asked to follow on, the Indians were stressed at 181/5 at close on an exciting last but one day, still needing 63 runs to avoid the shame of an innings beat.
The visitors lost Gautam Gambhir (0) and first innings centurion Virender Sehwag (31) early on but the practiced duo of Rahul Dravid (44) and Sachin Tendulkar (84) steadied the innings to some amount with a 119-run partnership.
India are hopeful that skipper MS Dhoni and VVS Laxman would bat long sufficient and heavens would do them a favour by opening up at the final day to save the first Test. The Opener Virender Sehwag, only Indian to score a century in this Test so far, said both Dhoni and Laxman can still spoil Sri Lanka’s party. India, who finished the day at 181 for five, are still trailing by 63 runs and need to live three sessions tomorrow to save the opening match of the three-Test series.
SL: 520/8 in 124 ov
Ind: 276/10 in 65 ov & 181/5 in 59.3 ov
Ind: 276/10 in 65 ov & 181/5 in 59.3 ov
