Opener Virender Sehwag scored a magnificent undefeated 201 as India were bowled out for 329 on the stroke of lunch on the second day of the second test against Sri Lanka on Friday.
Sehwag, resuming on 128, continued his domination of the Sri Lanka bowling from the first day while wickets tumbled at the other end with spinner Ajantha Mendis claiming career-best figures of six for 117.
Sehwag’s incredible innings, the first double century by an Indian against Sri Lanka, spanned 231 balls and included 22 boundaries and four sixes.
When Mendis trapped last-man Ishant Sharma lbw to close the innings Sehwag became only the second Indian after Sunil Gavaskar to carry his bat through an entire innings.
India, resuming on 214 for four, started the day well with VVS Laxman (39) and Sehwag surviving the first hour without alarm and extending their fifth-wicket partnership to 100.
In the second hour, though, Sri Lanka turned back to Mendis and he inspired the second collapse of the innings, the final six wickets falling for 51 runs.
Laxman was the first to perish as he attempted a wristy pull but was surprised by some extra bounce and caught at mid-wicket.
Dinesh Karthik (seven) was pinned lbw by Mendis’s straighter ball.
Muttiah Muralitharan also chipped in with a couple of wickets, finishing with two for 93, as Anil Kumble was stumped and Zaheer Khan top edged a slog-sweep.
Mendis wrapped up the innings with a leg break to bowl Harbhajan Singh and a straighter ball to win an lbw shout against Sharma, who offered no stroke. – Reuters