Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Some parity at last

It says a great deal about modern cricket, and about Virender Sehwag, that a first-innings score of 425 in a test is no guarantee of safety. As is now increasingly common in test cricket, an average of 300 runs a day has been maintained in a test, and thanks to 12 wickets having fallen, we can contemplate (with some optimism) the possibility of a result in the third India-Sri Lanka test at the P Sara Oval. Any chance of an Indian win, depends almost entirely, of course, on Sehwag. Only he can ensure (with the right support, of course) a score big enough (and made quickly enough) to put any pressure on the Sri Lankans in the second innings.

If India merely achieve parity in the first innings, they will almost certainly be chasing an awkward target on the fifth day (yes, I do not have faith that the Indian bowlers can put sufficient pressure on the Sri Lankan batting line-up without a big lead to back them up).

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4 Comments:

Anonymous dominic said...

if you were Sanga, with a lead in the series and no Murali, would you declare on the last morning, with Sehwag in this form?

6:26 AM  
Blogger Samir Chopra said...

Dom: Welcome to the blog! Actually, what I was thinking was that India would bowl out SL in about 110 overs, (around an hour into the fifth day) and would still face an awkward 300+ in 75 overs target to chase down. I don't think Sanga will declare, no. Or if he does, it will be after tea on the fifth!

6:58 PM  
Anonymous dominic said...

and what are you thinking now? should be a good last day.

(I'm sorry I don't have any flowers to advertise.)

7:06 AM  
Blogger Samir Chopra said...

Dom: I have to say, this is set up very nicely, with Sri Lanka in front. Sehwag's dimissal really turned things around!

8:43 AM  

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