23/07Result
1st Test, India tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Jul 23-26 2008
Sri Lanka won by an inns & 239 runs
Player of the Match
Muthiah MuralidaranSri Lanka
23/07Result
1st Test, India tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Jul 23-26 2008
Sri Lanka won by an inns & 239 runs
Player of the Match
Muthiah MuralidaranSri Lanka

END OF OVER:
45 | 8 Runs 2 Wkts | IND: 138/10

  • Ishant Sharma5 (1b)
  • Ajantha Mendis18-3-60-4
  • Muthiah Muralidaran13-3-26-6

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 Singh, OUT, 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.

Harbhajan Singh b Mendis 15 (34m 28b 1x4 0x6) SR: 53.57

44.5
0
Mendis to Harbhajan Singh, no run, leans forward to push a full delivery on the middle stump line
44.4
5
Mendis to 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.

Z Khan b Mendis 3 (11m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

44.2
1
Mendis to Harbhajan Singh, 1 run, leans forward to push it to the off side
44.1
2
Mendis to Harbhajan Singh, 2 runs, leans forward to defend and edges it to the off side as the ball cuts away from him

END OF OVER:
44 | 5 Runs | IND: 130/8

  • Harbhajan Singh12 (24b)
  • Zaheer Khan3 (5b)
  • Muthiah Muralidaran13-3-26-6
  • Ajantha Mendis17-3-52-2
43.6
1
Muralidaran to Harbhajan Singh, 1 run, the traditional sweep this time and a single to long leg results
43.5
0
Muralidaran to Harbhajan Singh, no run, quicker, flatter, on the middle and leg line, paddled for a single
43.4
0
Muralidaran to Harbhajan Singh, no run,
43.3
0
Muralidaran to Harbhajan Singh, 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
0
Muralidaran to Harbhajan Singh, 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
Muralidaran to Harbhajan Singh, FOUR, 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:
43 | 5 Runs | IND: 125/8

  • Harbhajan Singh7 (18b)
  • Zaheer Khan3 (5b)
  • Ajantha Mendis17-3-52-2
  • Muthiah Muralidaran12-3-21-6
42.6
1
Mendis to Harbhajan Singh, 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
0
Mendis to Harbhajan Singh, 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 Singh, 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
0
Mendis to Harbhajan Singh, no run,

END OF OVER:
42 | (wicket maiden) | IND: 120/8

  • Zaheer Khan0 (3b)
  • Harbhajan Singh5 (14b)
  • Muthiah Muralidaran12-3-21-6
  • Ajantha Mendis16-3-47-2
41.6
0
Muralidaran to Khan, no run, on the leg stump line, padded away
41.5
0
Muralidaran 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

India are in line for their third-heaviest innings defeat in Tests. Click here to see the list.

41.4
0
Muralidaran to Khan, no run, off break on the leg and middle line, padded away

India tour of Sri Lanka 2008 News

India 3rd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st25G GambhirV Sehwag
2nd28VVS LaxmanG Gambhir
3rd29SR TendulkarG Gambhir
4th13R DravidG Gambhir
5th8SC GangulyR Dravid
6th0R DravidKD Karthik
7th0A KumbleKD Karthik
8th17A KumbleHarbhajan Singh
9th13Harbhajan SinghZ Khan
10th5Harbhajan SinghI Sharma