The Great Game Called Cricket...

Having watched the Sri Lankans go through the grind of two tight chases, India’s batsmen must have sensed at the break the need to finish things off with plenty to spare. The fact that they had only 240 to get helped, as did the fact that Sachin Tendulkar seemed determined not to give up his wicket at the Barabati Stadium on Monday. And though he missed a century, finishing on an unbeaten 96, he never looked like missing out on seeing India through to a comfortable victory, which they did with plenty left in the tank.

India won by seven wickets, completing the chase in 42.4 overs, and now lead the five-match series 2-1 going into the Kolkata game. But while Tendulkar’s innings was what sealed it in the end, the groundwork was done much earlier in the day by the Indian bowlers, led by Ravindra Jadeja.

Sri Lanka got the perfect start to the day, with Kumar Sangakkara winning the toss and deciding to bat first.

On a wicket that offered some turn but still had plenty of runs in it, the Lankan batsmen went on overdrive, choosing not to slow down even when wickets started falling, and paid a heavy price for their audacious shot selection.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (41 off 18 balls, with 10 boundaries) had given the vistors another explosive start before falling to an aimless pull against Ashish Nehra. However, his opening partner Upul Tharanga struck a pacy 73 and with Sangakkara too at his punishing best, they looked set for a big one. They had reached 165 for one in 22.3 overs — and Sehwag admitted later that thoughts of a 400-plus total crossed his mind.