Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.
Venue- Galle International Stadium, Galle [July 31- August 4, 2008].
In July 2008, Indian Cricket Team toured Sri Lanka to play 3 Tests and 5 ODIs. The first test in Colombo turned out one-sided game as the Hosts crushed Visitors by an innings and 239 runs. On a pitch where the Sri Lankans pulled up 600 in an innings, Indians were struggling like anything. The duo of Murali and Mendis literally made a mess of the Indian Batting Line-Up. As a result, when the two sides met again in Galle, Indians were under enormous pressure. It was important for them to find a solution to the Sri Lankan Spin Attack or else the series will be lost.
In a must win game Indian Captain Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat first. And Boy! What happened next was something truly unbelievable. Virender Sehwag played one of the finest knocks of his international cricketing career. The Nawab of Najafgarh just blew away the Sri Lankan bowling attack as he scored an unbeaten 201 of just 231 deliveries. His innings comprised of 22 boundaries and 4 sixes. Be it spin or pace, Sehwag pounced upon everyone. It is pertinent to note that on a pitch where every Indian Batsman struggled, Sehwag looked comfortable. Due to his heroics, India was able to post a competitive total of 329 in their first innings. For the Lankans, Mendis picked up 6 wickets in the first innings.
In response the Sri Lankans scored 292 in their first innings with Mahela Jayawardene being their highest run getter (86). Apart from Mahela, Warnapura and Sangakkara too scored gritty half-centuries. For Indians Harbhajan Singh picked up 5, whereas Kumble picked up 3 wickets respectively. The game was on a knife-edge as Indians had a narrow lead of just 37 runs.
However, in the second innings every Indian Batsmen contributed something or the other as the Visitors ended up scoring 269 in their second innings. Gambhir and Sehwag scored magnificent 50s as Indians set a target of 307 for the Lankans. It was not going to be an easy task, and the Indian Bowling Attack made sure that the game ends their way. The Sri Lankans were bowled out for just 136 in their second innings. The Spin duo of Harbhajan and Kumble picked up 4 and 2 wickets respectively and just ripped away the Sri Lankan Batting Attack. Apart from them Ishant Sharma too picked up 3 wickets as the Visitors crushed the Hosts by 170 runs.
The Series was levelled 1-1. Unfortunately, the Visitors failed to carry the momentum to the next match as the Lankans ended up winning both the match and the series. However, despite the series loss, the knock of Virender Sehwag will forever be remembered by Cricket Fans around the Globe.
To watch that magnificent knock of Virender Sehwag, Click Here.
No comments:
Post a Comment