Innings building is an art mastered by Sachin Tendulkar. Soaking up pressure in crisis situations is another key attribute of the legend. His focus complements his extraordinary ability with the willow.
The maestro's commitment and flair shone through on the third day of the second Micromax Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground here, on Wednesday.
Tendulkar's 48th Test hundred arrived when his team needed a substantial contribution from him. On a hot and humid day, the champion batsman's unbeaten 108 (181b, 14x4, 1x6) extricated India from a potentially hazardous position.
Debutant Suresh Raina impressed with his composure and crisp stroke-play. The left-hander's unbeaten 66 (133b, 8x4) showcased his footwork.
Tendulkar and Raina have so far added 141 crucial runs for the fifth wicket. India ended the day at 382 for four in its first innings, still 260 adrift of Sri Lanka's 642.
While India should be able to cross the follow-on mark, it still has to bat for a long period on Thursday to avoid the possibility of having to save the match on a fifth-day pitch.
Although the surface continues to favour the batsmen, there was some purchase for the spinners on day three. The Indians still have a job on hand.
The Sri Lankans will rue the lapse from Prasanna Jayawardene when Tendulkar, on 29, attempted to upper-cut a short rising delivery outside the off-stump from paceman Dilhara Fernando; the wicketkeeper floored a high offering.
Fernando bowled with heart and Dammika Prasad reversed the older ball. However, Sri Lanka missed the thrust, air-speed and precision of Lasith Malinga.
Close calls
Tendulkar strove for timing early on; there were a couple of mishits and close calls. Once he found his rhythm and range, the maestro called the shots.
He did not miss scoring opportunities. In fact, he created them. He used his feet to debutant off-spinner Suraj Randiv and pierced the field. Tendulkar jumped down to send the ball soaring over the mid-wicket fence for his half-century. Consequently, when Randiv shortened his length, Tendulkar cut him.
He read Mendis well and used his feet and the depth of the crease. His gorgeous cover-drive off Fernando had all the elements — lovely back-swing, footwork, balance, a still head and fine placement.
Tendulkar raised his arms in triumph after sweeping Randiv to reach the three-figure mark. This was an innings of a team-man.
Fortunate
Raina might have been fortunate to survive a leg-before shout when occasional off-spinner Tillekaratne Dilshan drifted one into him from round the wicket, but batted with temperament and panache for the most part.
Even as close catchers surrounded him, the left-hander sashayed down the track to both Mendis and Randiv for sizzling drives. He cover-drove stylishly and exuded confidence in the middle.
The innings was at a critical stage at 241 for four when Raina walked in; a battling V.V.S. Laxman had played outside the line of a Mendis googly to find himself at the wrong end of a marginal leg-before decision.
Both debutant Randiv and Mendis had their moments. A lanky bowler with a high-arm action, Randiv extracts extra bounce from the surface. He also pivots to get his body behind his deliveries, imparts revolutions on the ball. Kumar Sangakkara has confidence in him; Randiv bowled with the second new ball.
Mixing his carrom ball with the googly, Mendis troubled the batsmen in the first half of the day. He is a bigger threat once he pins the batsmen to the back-foot. Mendis tends to flight his carrom ball; his googly is generally quicker through the air.
Reckless
In the morning, Sehwag's astonishing bat-speed was on view.
He was lucky, though, on 89 when he tried to slice a quicker delivery outside the off-stump from Mendis and saw Thilan Samaraweera spill the chance at point. The Lankans bowled to a plan against Sehwag.
Fernando got one to climb awkwardly into Sehwag's rib-cage. Sehwag was unable to keep the delivery down and the ball fell short of the fielder at leg-gully.
On 99 and still batting with the instincts of a gambler, Sehwag charged down to a good length ball from Randiv, was beaten by the extra bounce, and Prasanna Jayawardene had the bails off. It was a reckless stroke.
However, the opening partnership of 165 in 36.1 overs had laid a solid foundation for India.
The compact Murali Vijay impressed with his approach. Between periods of studious defence, he drove fluently in front of the wicket. When Fernando pitched short, he responded with a well-timed hook. Vijay (58) committed the folly of playing back to a Mendis googly. He was trapped in front.
At the other end, Randiv bowled a telling off-stump line. Dravid departed quickly, struck on the pads playing across a sharply turning off-spinner from the back-foot.
Scores
Sri Lanka — 1st innings: 642 for four decl.
India — 1st innings: M. Vijay lbw b Mendis 58 (124b, 8x4), V. Sehwag st. P. Jayawardene b Randiv 99 (101b, 15x4), R. Dravid lbw b Randiv 3 (18b), S. Tendulkar (batting) 108 (181b, 14x4, 1x6), V.V.S. Laxman lbw b Mendis 29 (98b, 2x4), S. Raina (batting) 66 (133b, 8x4); Extras (b-5, lb-1, w-4, nb-9): 19; Total (for four wkts. in 108 overs): 382.
Fall of wickets: 1-165 (Sehwag), 2-169 (Vijay), 3-173 (Dravid), 4-241 (Laxman).
Sri Lanka bowling: Prasad 10-0-53-0, Fernando 21-0-83-0, Mathews 9-1-24-0, Randiv 35-11-108-2, Mendis 26-2-92-2, Dilshan 7-1-16-0.
