A blog by Â(c)hinaman

Colombo:
1st test – Sri Lanka won by an innings and 239 runs
The two wizards weaved spell after spell to bag 19 wicket between the two.
The Indian famed batting line up did not have any answers.

Galle:
2nd test – India won by 170 runs

The pitch was predicted to be another magicians’ carpet; and so it was.
And the series was to be wrapped up with another emphatic win.
That did not happen.

The script writers had got it wrong.
It is not that the Indians’ had found the answer on how to play the two spinners. Not yet.
But they did manage to win the test; win back some lost pride.

It indeed was a spinners track; 30 wickets went with the spin.
So what did make this turn around possible?

Just looking at the scorecards one name and his numbers stands out.

Virender Sehwag.
First innings 201 no 22x4s 4x6s – SR 87.01
Second innings 50 6x4s 1×6 – SR 96.15
His first innings alone was more than the Indian winning margin.

Virender Sehwag, a batsman who on his day is indomitable.
Magic and spells does not touch him.
Just like in Galle they didn’t.

Gambhirs 74 in the second innings confirms for me
that playing this Sri Lankan team on a spinning track
knowing soon Muralitharan and Mendis will be spinning their magic,
the opposition has to make the most of the opening overs
when the ball is still shining and
the spinners are stretching their interosseii and lumbricals in anticipation.

The Indian cause may have been helped
by a touch of Srilankan over-confidence and whimsical captaincy
they prepared a spinners’ track
but underestimated the Indian spinners
the fell into the trap that they had set for the opposition
and by the time it was their turn to bat again, it was themselves under pressure.

The Indians, while still looking for an effective counterspell for Murali and Mendis,
have found, perhaps inadvertantly, how to counter Sri Lanka – the team.
To make runs while the ball shines;
get the numbers quickly on the board before getting tied down by the two spinners.

They of course have their own brand of magic; a Virender Sehwag.
“Expelliarmus”.