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Colombo:Captain Mahender Singh Dhoni took control of the game after Tendulkar’s dismissal as India walks past Sri Lankan mammoth total of 642 runs in the first innings on fourth day of the second Test match at Colombo.

Dhoni, who was batting on 52 when Tendulkar and Harbhajan departed, constructed a frustrating eighth wicket partnership of 51 runs with Abhimanyu Mithun and took India past 600.

This is only the third time when a team batting second has surpassed a first inning score of 600-plus in Test cricket.

Tilakratne Dilshan picked two wickets in an over, a feat hardly imaginable on this pitch, to pull back Sri Lanka in a match which is inching towards a dull draw.

Tendulkar, who scored a fighting double century, was dismissed shortly after tea when he edged a ball which popped for an easy catch and was successfully grabbed by wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene. Soon, Harbhajan Singh was also caught out at midwicket in the same over when he played a fuller ball in the hands of Sagakkara.

Sachin Tendulkar notched his 5th Test double hundred on fourth day of Colombo Test to guide India out of any danger against Sri Lanka. Tendulkar along with debutant Suresh Raina first stitched an all-important 256-run partnership for fifth wicket and then shared an unbeaten 92 run partnership with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who made quick 50 when tea was taken.

Tendulkar’s inning comprised of firm determination and solid control in the testing humid conditions at Colombo.

Sachin and Dhoni weave a quick 50-run partnership for sixth wicket after Ajantha Mendis broke an intimidating fifth wicket partnership between Suresh Raina and Sachin Tendulkar just after lunch to put brakes on India’s steady progress since morning. Raina chipped a ball to Sangakara’s hands at short mid-wicket after making a brilliant 120 runs on debut.

Earlier, an unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 236 runs between ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar and debutant Suresh Raina helped India avoid follow-on as they added 95 runs in morning session without losing a wicket.

Raina became 12th Indian batsman to score century on Test debut when he stroked a delivery from Dammika Prasad through covers for a boundary. He also became the only Indian batsman after Virender Sehwag to achieve this feat. Interestingly, Tendulkar was at the other end too during that inning.

Sachin Tendulkar also was at his fluent best as he remained unbeaten on 152 when lunch was called.

With this score, Tendulkar surpassed Don Bradman’s 18 scores of 150-plus and equalled Lara as the batsman with most scores of 150-plus.

Earlier, morning session saw unbeaten pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina make steady progress as both batsman sensibly played the fiery first spell from Dilhara Fernando who dugged in short pitch stuff at both batsman. However, both batsmen faced some anxious moments too during their stay but umpires ruled out all the close calls for lbw.

Aggressive start from Suresh Raina and Sachin Tendulkar on the forth day of the Test saw India past 400 runs in the sixth over of the morning.

India look on to build unbeaten 141-run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and debutant Suresh Raina on day 4 to register a comeback in second Test against Sri Lanka. Still trailing by 260 runs in first innings, India’s first target will be to score 60 runs to avoid yet another embarrassing follow-on in the current Test series.

India yesterday posted a fitting reply to Sri Lankan mammoth first innings score of 642 when they finished Day 3 with 382 runs on the board for loss of 4 top-order wickets.

Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar’s brilliant century and Suresh Raina’s maiden half-century helped India exorcise the ghost of another batting collapse as they well negotiated the pace and spin attack of Sri Lanka.

India, who resumed their batting from 95 for no loss lost their first wicket at 165 when spinner Suraj Randiv got Virender Sehwag stumped.[Story Source]