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Brave Laxman leads India to series-tying win

Utilising opener Virender Sehwag as a runner due to cramp, the elegant middle-order batsman scored his 17^th test hundred to remain unbeaten on 103, scored off 149 balls with 12 fours.

Suresh Raina, who helped in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 87, finished the match off in style shortly before the scheduled tea break by clouting Chanaka Welegedara for six to remain 41 not out as India chased down the 257 needed for victory.

Laxman was also involved in an important fifth-wicket partnership of 109 with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 54 before being dismissed by Suraj Randiv as the off-spinner captured his first five-wicket haul in test cricket.

‘That’s why he is called ‘Very Very Special’, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said in reference to Laxman’s initials V.V.S.

‘In this innings it was very important for him to score runs for the team because the team needed it most. The way he batted, he paced his innings really well.

‘He was struggling with back spasms and still he wanted to go on without a runner, but then he had to take one because of the situation the team was in. There was pain and pressure. It was a special innings,’ Dhoni told reporters.

In the final day morning session, Sri Lanka missed a golden opportunity to remove Tendulkar cheaply when he was put down by Tillakaratne Dilshan at forward short-leg with his score on 18.

The prolific batsman and cricket’s most-capped test player made Sri Lanka pay for that early lapse by recording his 56^th test half-century that included three boundaries.

Sri Lanka’s only success of the morning was the wicket of nightwatchman Ishant Sharma, who was caught at short mid-wicket for four off Randiv after India had resumed on 53-3.

‘We had a couple of chances today with Sachin and Suresh Raina,’ Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara said.

‘That would have made the match a lot more interesting. But the way they batted was excellent. They played positively and kept scoring runs. Unfortunately, apart from Suraj (Randiv) and Lasith (Malinga) we weren’t able to exert pressure from the other end, either to take wickets or cut down the runs.’