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| Ajantha Mendis is all smiles after reaching his maiden Test fifty |
India couldn't figure out a way to dislodge Thilan Samaraweera, who followed up an unbeaten century in the first innings with a resolute effort in the second to engineer another twist in a gripping Test. Just as the Indian tail had given their team the edge on the third day, Ajantha Mendis supported Samaraweera in a fighting century-stand that revived Sri Lanka's chances on a crumbling pitch after India had dominated the opening session.
The fluent progress of the Sri Lankan innings increased the pressure on India with the lead extending to uncomfortable proportions. Rarely did Samaraweera or Mendis offer a chance, adapting well to the turn and bounce with solid defence and a steady flow of singles. Just as he had in the first innings, Samaraweera played the ball late and with skillful use of the wrists worked the ball around. There were timely improvisations as well, as he swept, slog-swept, charged out of the crease to find the boundary and soon enough, as the field spread out, showed plenty of confidence in Mendis by rotating the strike.
India persisted with Amit Mishra for an extended spell when Mendis had begun to look comfortable at the crease but the introduction of pace too failed to unsettle him. The odd occasion where he was in trouble was when the ball popped up in the vacant short-leg area off an inside edge but, for the bulk, he was at ease driving through the off side, offering the full face when defending and opening up intermittently to confound the Indians further. He dealt well the other spinners too, caressing Virender Sehwag through the covers and sweeping Pragyan Ojha into the stands. Though roughed up by a couple of Ishant Sharma bouncers that struck his fingers, Mendis dispatched his wide deliveries through point and over gully.
The dismissals of the two Sri Lankan openers on the third evening had indicated the spinners would play a prominent role on the fourth day. Ojha looked the most lethal, getting the ball to drift from a round-the-wicket angle and varying his pace to go with the assistance from the track. He made an impact in his third over, trapping the nightwatchman Suraj Randiv in front when he defended outside the line.
Ojha was more effective when he pushed the ball through quicker, especially when the experienced pair of Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara appeared to pick the lengths early. Sri Lanka's intent to progress towards a safe score quickly was evident in their attacking approach, with both batsmen stepping out to Ojha. Jayawardene cut him for a boundary while Sangakkara employed the sweep. But Ojha accounted for both: surrounded by catchers, Jayawardene was beaten by the turn to be caught at slip and Sangakkara, sensing a boundary when facing a long-hop, pulled one straight to square leg where Suresh Raina managed to hold on to a tumbling catch. India surged ahead with the introduction of Mishra into the attack, as he snared Angelo Mathews, caught off a full toss at midwicket, and Prasanna Jayawardene, lbw to a quicker legspinner, off successive deliveries.
Then began the fightback. Lasith Malinga chanced his arm and Samaraweera remained unshakeable during a 38-run stand that took the lead past three figures. A wicketless session later, Sri Lanka had progressed to a lead that should give their bowlers a decent chance of putting India under pressure in the fourth innings.
