Gallant Sangakkara fights tough battle

Kumar Sangakkara stood alone, between India and the No. 1 ranking, and also brought up his first hundred in six Tests in India, a fighting effort on a pitch that helped both spinners and fast bowlers.

Sangakkara struggled at the start, almost getting out twice when attempting to sweep Harbhajan Singh, but he overcame his jitters and settled in to add 90 with Tharanga Paranavitana. After lunch, Sri Lanka lost Paranavitana and their challenge was to bat through scoreless periods without letting it affect them. Sangakkara managed that, defending stoutly, using his feet well to spinners, spending 17 balls on 46, and then bringing up his fifty off 145 balls.

Sri Lanka lost their fifth wicket at the stroke of tea and Sangakkara came back after the break and made a conscious effort of not getting bogged down. He stepped out to Pragyan Ojha and cleared the aggressive field sets with ease. Sangakkara added 64 runs in 14.4 overs with Prasanna Jayawardene before the wicketkeeper was trapped leg before for 32 by Ojha.

Sangakkara then tried to keep the strike but once he saw Nuwan Kulasekara at ease against the Indian spinners, he let the score tick along. Sangakkara spent 24 balls in the 90s, refusing singles and picking boundaries when the fields came up for the last two balls of the overs. By the time he reached his century, India had taken the new ball, and he unleashed a flurry of attractive drives. By stumps the two had added an unbeaten 66 in 17.3 overs, and Sangakkara had scored 83 runs in 107 balls since tea.