Second Test ends in draw by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
Scorecard:	Sri Lanka v India
Player:	KC Sangakkara, I Sharma, PP Ojha
Event:	India in Sri Lanka 2010

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DateLine: 30th July 2010

 

The second Test between India and Sri Lanka ended in a high-scoring draw on a track which proved to be graveyard for bowlers.

 

The Indians scored a mammoth 707 all out in the first innings, recording their second-highest total ever. The hosts then scored 129 for three in their second innings before both the captains decided to call off play, bringing an end to a dull Test completely dominated by the batsmen with just 17 wickets falling.

 

Resuming at 669 for nine, Sharma and Ojha almost survived the opening session of the final day as India's first innings folded for 707 about 15 minutes from the break. India bettered its highest total abroad by two runs as they had made 705 against Australia in Sydney in 2004. It was also India's second highest total, the highest being 726 for 9 declared against the same opponents in Mumbai last year.

 

Sharma and Ojha shared the longest tenth-wicket partnership for India in terms of balls faced by number 10 and 11 batsmen as they resisted for 174 balls. They bettered their own mark of 92 balls at Galle during the first Test.

 

Paceman Dilhara Fernando ended the stand when he had Sharma caught at gully by Kumar Sangakkara. Sharma's 27 runs came off 117 balls with help of one boundary while Ojha consumed 92 balls for his unbeaten 17.

 

Sharma played with confidence and straight bat until he played an uppish cut off Fernando and found Sangakkara at gully.

 

Sri Lanka, who trailed by 65 runs, lost Tharanga Paranavitana, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene in the post lunch session. Mithun had Dilshan caught at short mid-wicket and then Laxman caught Paranavitana in the slip cordon off Harbhajan Singh.

 

Part time spinner Virender Sehwag trapped Jayawardene minutes before the second break of the day. Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera ensured that there were no further setbacks before both the captains decided to call off play.