Marvellous stuff. It's all over! Great thumping win for Sri Lanka. The goggle-eyed master and the middle-fingered assasin have done the job for Sri Lanka. Harbhajan was cleaned up by the googly. He had gone for the big slog across the line, no wood on leather, though. Great scenes here at SSC. This is India's third-heaviest innings defeat in Tests.
Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test at Colombo, Jul 23 2008 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
1st Test, Colombo (SSC), July 23 - 26, 2008, India tour of Sri Lanka
New
IND 2nd Innings
Full commentary
end of over 458 runs • 2 wickets
IND: 138/10CRR: 3.06
Ishant Sharma5 (1b)
Ajantha Mendis 18-3-60-4
Muthiah Muralidaran 13-3-26-6
Sri Lanka walk away, led by Murali and Mendis. The first day was nearly washed out and yet, here we are in the fourth day and it's all over. Mendis' match haul of 8 for 132 is the best by a Sri Lankan debutant, beating Kosala Kuruppuarachchi's 7 for 85 against Pakistan in 1986. Indians couldn't handle the double jeopardy. Total surrender.
More stats confirm the emphatic Sri Lankan victory. It's also Sri Lanka's third-biggest win in Tests, and their largest against a team other than Zimbabwe.
And one more, from S Rajesh, our stats editor: Murali has dismissed Tendulkar seven times
, which is more than any other bowler. McGrath and Gillespie are next with 6.
Kumble: After getting 600 runs it was always tough for us to eke out a draw. Great spell by the two spinners. The review system is still a experiment[; it has be to reviewed at the end of the series. It's too early. Ajantha Mendis is a tremendous find for Sri Lanka. Great Debut. And you can't take Murali out of the picture.
Mahela We probably played a perfect game. We put the pressure on the Indians by scoring 600 runs. It was not a bad wicket to bat on but Murali and Mendis bowled brialliantly. It's a good feeling that 4 of the top 7 got hundreds.
Man of the Match: Muralitharan : We were under pressure before the game but I think Ajantha and my self bowled well. The wicket started to turn a little bit more and we did well. I had Vaas who would bowl well with me and now Ajantha is a new find. He is going to be the future of Sri Lankan cricket. When I started off my career, I was not as good as him.
On behalf of my scorers, Srinivas Raju and Binoy George, this is Sriram Veera signing off. It was a pleasure bringing this match to you. Join us on 31st for the second Test. No need to hype that one. I know you will log on! Till then, good bye and good luck!
44.6
W
Mendis to Harbhajan, OUT
Harbhajan Singh b Mendis 15 (28b 1x4 0x6 34m) SR: 53.57
44.5
•
Mendis to Harbhajan, no run
leans forward to push a full delivery on the middle stump line
44.4
5
Mendis to Ishant Sharma, 5 runs
leans forward to drive to mid-on. over throws at the striker's end means Ishant has five runs.
44.3
W
Mendis to Khan, OUT
Oh boy! what a wicket orgy. Googly. Hurried nervous waft of the bat. Thin air. Timber! It broke back in from the middle stump line, Zaheer Khan tried to jab it to the off side but missed it completely and the ball hit the top of the leg stump.
Zaheer Khan b Mendis 3 (6b 0x4 0x6 11m) SR: 50
44.2
1
Mendis to Harbhajan, 1 run
leans forward to push it to the off side
44.1
2
Mendis to Harbhajan, 2 runs
leans forward to defend and edges it to the off side as the ball cuts away from him
end of over 445 runs
IND: 130/8CRR: 2.95
Harbhajan Singh12 (24b 1x4)
Zaheer Khan3 (5b)
Muthiah Muralidaran 13-3-26-6
Ajantha Mendis 17-3-52-2
43.6
1
Murali to Harbhajan, 1 run
the traditional sweep this time and a single to long leg results
43.5
•
Murali to Harbhajan, no run
quicker, flatter, on the middle and leg line, paddled for a single
43.4
•
Murali to Harbhajan, no run
43.3
•
Murali to Harbhajan, no run
big turn from outside off stump, Bhaji backs away to cut but the ball is turning big and he manages to stab it in the end
43.2
•
Murali to Harbhajan, no run
oh ho! he goes for another reverse sweep and misses this one completely. The ball spins just past the leg stump!
43.1
4
Murali to Harbhajan, FOUR runs
ah! Harbhajan goes for the reverse sweep! he is trying everything - the slog sweep, the lofted shot , the big heave , nothing has worked till this reverse. He fetched it from the middle and leg through backward point
end of over 435 runs
IND: 125/8CRR: 2.90
Harbhajan Singh7 (18b)
Zaheer Khan3 (5b)
Ajantha Mendis 17-3-52-2
Muthiah Muralidaran 12-3-21-6
42.6
1
Mendis to Harbhajan, 1 run
slower, bit more air, again Harbhajan goes for the big slog across the line and doesn't connect it well but will pick up a single to deep midwicket
42.5
•
Mendis to Harbhajan, no run
lands on a length, straightens on the middle stump line, Harbhajan was looking to hit to the leg side, adjusted to dab it back down the track
42.4
1
Mendis to Khan, 1 run
on the front foot, tapped to extra cover for a single
42.3
2
Mendis to Khan, 2 runs
leans forward to drive through the cover region
42.2
1
Mendis to Harbhajan, 1 run
"Allu!" was the cry from the 'keeper as the ball went in the air but fell well to the right of the short midwicket fielder. Harbhajan had gone for the heave across the line.
42.1
•
Mendis to Harbhajan, no run
end of over 42Wicket maiden
IND: 120/8CRR: 2.85
Zaheer Khan0 (3b)
Harbhajan Singh5 (14b)
Muthiah Muralidaran 12-3-21-6
Ajantha Mendis 16-3-47-2
41.6
•
Murali to Khan, no run
on the leg stump line, padded away
41.5
•
Murali to Khan, no run
fuller, on the off stump line, Zaheer was going for the big drive and could only dig it out in the end as the ball was really full in length
Match Coverage
Instant answers to T20 questions
India Innings
<1 / 3>