India have often been targeted as weak chasers
Colombo: India have often been targeted as weak chasers. This time though they found another hero in the man who had made the Eden Gardens miracle of 2001 possible with Rahul Dravid.
VVS Laxman, batting through the pain barrier and later with the need of a runner, Virender Sehwag, put together an immaculate 16th Test century to grab a five-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka on Saturday. Laxman helped India end the three-match Test series 1-1 by batting under immense pressure. Little wonder he won man-of-the-match award.
Without a recognised frontline bowling attack, and emerging spinners, it was the batsmen who needed to pull their performances together. In the first Test in Galle it was shaky and Laxman struggled to find his batting rhythm in a match that was Muttiah Muralitharan's last.
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The tall Hyderabad batsman, now closing in on 36, showed off his elegance only the way someone of his ability can. Why ask for a second hand car engine when the smooth Rolls Royce is
available.
Concern
There may have been a few moments of concern in the target chase when Tendulkar fell for 54, the ball brushing the bottom of the glove with the total on 171 and the target still some 86 runs off. A lot can still happen in that time. Teams have collapsed for a lot less and capitulated from a winning position. Especially as Tendulkar had a lucky escape when 18, with Tillakaratne Dilshan spilling the chance.
It needed cool heads and assured batting technique to bring sanity back to the gameplan.u00a0 After some initial hesitancy with Suresh Raina as the new partner, and getting used to a runner, it was impressive.
Laxman's aching back was all too obvious when on the drive or playing the ball behind, and the grimaces of pain displaying the agony.
How much longer this could go on was a question that would have crossed the thoughts of the management team. This is when Raina decided he would finish it off and attack the bowling with the maturity he has shown when scoring that debut century.u00a0 It was his six over long-on off, off Chanaka Welegedara that seemingly sent the clear message, "Okay guys, let's finish this off!"
What Laxman fought to help India win over Sri Lanka on Saturday...
1. Indian team's reputation of collapsing while chasing
2. Coping with a situation where India had lost its match-winner Sehwag
3. A bad back meant his movements were restricted; Viru had to run for him later
4. Batting on a wicket where the ball bounced awkwardly
Scoreboard
India (overnight 53/3)
S Tendulkar c P Jayawardene
b Randiv 54
I Sharma c Sangakkara b Randiv 4
VVS Laxman not out 103
S Raina not out 41
Extras 22 Total 258-5
Fall: 4-62, 5-171.
Bowling: Malinga 12-1-49-0,u00a0 Randiv 29-3-82-5, Mathews 2-0-5-0, Welegedara 8.3-2-34, Mendis 14-0-65-0,
Dilshan 3-0-12-0
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