Thanks a lot for following our coverage of the Sri Lanka-India Test series. We will be back on 18th as Test paves ways for ODI action!  

Anil Kumble felt that poor batting display in the first innings let them down. 'We had a great chance in the second innings as well, it was still a good wicket but Sri Lanka played very well. We never expected so many players to be injured but its part of the game.' Sangakkara gets the Man of the Match award. He says " It was a case of getting as many runs as possible on the board. I was supported well by the tail-enders. We have a great bunch of senior players but young guys led from the front.' He feels that his century in the finals was one of the tougher ones. Ajantha Mendis gets the biggest prize, the spinner is named the Man of the series. He is accompanied by Sangakkara who will translate it in English. 'I wasn't confused and wanted to get the basics right.' Mahela Jayawardea, who received the fabulous trophy credits the win to all round performance. 'The guys showed a lot of character. We have been very consistent. The younger guys are taking a lot of responsibilities. Murali keeps bowling his heart out even when he is supported by Mendis. They (Murali-Mendis) put the Indian middle order under pressure throughout."  

Sri Lanka have maintained their impeccable home record by clinching the three Test home series 2-1. They were off the hook in second Test but came back strongly with a clinical performance in the final Test. The last time India won a series was in 1993 and they have still not bettered their record. Gary Kirsten - India's coach wants his team to be No.1 in 12 months but the visitors seem to have made little effort in that regard. The batting order failed to fire in all six innings and the bowling lacked zing. Even skipper Anil Kumble had an average outing with the ball and that is one of the main reasons why the Lankan batsmen could pile on runs. India's strength has been their batting but in this series it has turned out to be their weakness. The fabulous four of the Indian line up won't forget this series in a hurry and Ajantha Mendis would love to cherish it for rest of his career. The mystery spinner stunned some of the best batsmen of spin in the world and even forced them into their shells. India have never been a good fielding side and their dismal show once again added to the agony. The referral system that was tried to discard 'obvious errors' has only raised more doubts and fanned debtates. MS Dhoni's absence has badly hurt India as the reserve wicket-keepers. The exuberance of youth sunk India in the finals and the wealth of experience didn't help either.  

Sri Lanka are just three runs away from victory and the Indian captain has tossed the ball to Sourav Ganguly.  

Sri Lanka now 15 runs away from victory.  

Sehwag after bowling just 1 over has been replaced by his skipper Kumble who probably wanted to change ends.  

Sehwag comes to bowl his first over replacing Harbhajan Singh  

A useful partnership developing for Sri Lanka.  

Harbhajan shared the new ball and has not been taken off the attack. He bowled nine straight overs.  

Chasing small totals can always be tricky! Although, the target of 121 isn't compelling - there is always a dash of unpredicatability to it. Sri Lanka have scored 45 runs and are just 77 runs away but have lost two quick wickets including first innnings centurion - Kumara Sangakkara. Sri Lanka are in a leading position but the visitors are not letting it go. We will be back in a while as the gripping final session begins.  

After finishing the over, Harbhajan Singh threw the ball back to the keeper. Warnapura hit the ball a la pull shot. Parthiv Patel who was waiting to catch it bend down as it would be have been nasty. The Indian side expresses objection. Harbhajan points this to Koertzen and Parthiv signals it to Mark Benson at square leg. Some action that!  

Harbhajan is gettting the ball to turn a long way.  

Sri Lanka now need 99 runs to win.  

Sangakkara walks in.  

  

The players are back and Zaheer is ready with the new ball..The tv replays show that the ball had hit the grill of Warnapura before he could finally catch it. In that case Ishant should have been declared not out. Tony Greig feels that claiming this is similar to claiming for a catch after grassing it.  

India have been bowled out for 268 and they have a slender lead of 121 runs. With Rahul Dravid's wicket in the first session, Sri Lanka had managed to get a firm hold and it was just the matter of time before the tail was wiped off. VVS Laxman, who battled despite his ankle injury notched 6000 Test runs but was deserted. He remained unbeaten on 61, a knock of class and composure under pressure. It has been a brilliant bowling display by the Lankans as they managed to pick wickets at regular intervals.  

Ishant Sharma is India's last batsman and makes his way with Parthiv in tow. A highly unusual situation at the moment with both the batsmen having runners. Gambhir is running for Laxman and Parthiv doing the duties for Ishant. I hope this doesn't confuse you! We have four Indian players in the middle.  

VVS Laxman notches 6000 runs in Test cricket! The way he has scored his runs is truely special.  

Zaheer is the new man.  

Chaminda Vaas is brought back in the attack as Sri Lanka has opted for the new ball. He replaces Mendis.  

India are 238 for 7 at lunch on day four with a lead of 91 runs. Definitely not enough to challenge the Sri Lankan batting. Two wickets in the last half hour have put the Indians on the backfoot just when we were hoping that Dravid and Laxman were about to repeat Eden Gardens, 1991. That said and done, India are playing the waiting game but can they save wickets? Someone will have to stay on at the crease with Laxman who will have to play out of his skin if India have to save the Test. Sri Lanka are still way ahead of the Indians and they will be licking their lips at the prospect of wrapping up the series today itself.  

Harbhajan Singh is the new batsman at the crease at the fall of Kumble's wicket. Another big partnership is needed at this stage as Sri Lanka clearly seem ahead. They need three more Indian wickets and India have a lead of just 82. Can Harbhajan strike batting form which has betrayed him throughout this series?  

Laxman brings up his thirty-fifth Test half century and it could not have come at a better time for India. However with Dravid back in the hut, India will need to him to keep going if they are to have any chance of clawing their way back into the match.  

Anil Kumble, the Indian skipper, is the new man at the crease as Sri Lanka get their first breakthrough of the day in the form of Rahul Dravid. A big blow this for India and Sri Lanka will push for another wicket before lunch which is less than half an hour away.  

India now lead by 50 runs  

Dammika Prasad has been bought back into the attack as Sri Lanka continue looking for a breakthrough since the spin-twins were ineffective against the resilience of Dravid and Laxman.  

Dravid brings up his half-century. But India will need him to score much much more if for them to have any chance of saving the Test. Is a big innings due from a batsman who has been struggling for form in the recent past? Only time will tell.  

Hello and welcome to day four of the decider Test between India and Sri Lanka. India have dug themselves a hole and it will take a Herculean effort for Dravid and Laxman to save this Test from hereon. The last recognised batting pair is at the crease and if India lose a wicket in this session them you can rest be assured of an early finish. But these two batsmen have forged record partnerships in the past so don't count them out just yet.  

It's stumps at day three with India at 161 for 5. But they have a lead of just 14 runs so it will be fair to say that India are 14 for 5. The Sri Lankan bowlers are as deceptive as ever at the moment as we again saw the 5 top Indian batsmen come and go without troubling the scoreboard. Laxman and Dravid are the last recognised batting pair and the duo will require a mammoth effort to save the Test. That said and done, India have fought back before. Whether they do it tomorrow or not is the big question? Can Dravid and Laxman make up for their lack of form throughout the series and put up what can well be their knocks of a lifetime. India need it but the wily Sri Lankan bowlers will go all out to stop them. An exciting day beckons tomorrow so do join us then.  

Scores are level with India now beginning to set the final target Sri Lanka will have to chase in order to win this match. The problem is that India already have half their side in the pavillion.  

VVS Laxman is the new batsman at the crease who walks in with a runner. India are almost out of the game. It will take more than a heroic effort for Laxman and Dravid to save the game from hereon.  

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar walks in to bat despite nursing an injury. He comes in at a time when his team are in dire straits at 109 for 4. The great man will have to play a great knock if India are to have any chance of a comeback.  

Parthiv Patel is the next batsman coming in place of Sourav Ganguly.  

India trail by 50 runs.  

Mendis too is introduced in the attack.  

Muralidaran is back in the attack.  

Ganguly is the new man in  

The 'WALL' Dravid is the new man in  

Tea on day 3. India are 57 for no loss trailing by 90 runs. Sehwag and Gambhir started off positively hammering 9 boundaries. Join us after the Tea break for the commentary of the final session.  

Fifty partnership between Gambhir and Sehwag  

1000 Test runs for Gambhir  

First change. Muralidaran introduced in the attack.  

  

Middle order failing to fire for India has been the story throughout this series and yet again they perished quickly as Sri Lanka came back strongly to dismiss India for 249 .The Indian openers were off to a characteristics start yet again scoring over 6 runs per over in the first hour. However, Sri Lanka broke the deadlock by claiming Sehwag and never looked back since then. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar were sent back in quick succession pointing towards another collapse. The responsibility of bailing India out of trouble was on Gambhir, who looked extremely confident and composed. The southpaw struck his third consecutive fifty but failed to get to triple figures. A gritty last wicket partnership of 50 runs helped India from embarassment.. This is Dammika Prasad's first game and the young pacer consistently clocked 140 kph mark. Not many can boast of claiming Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin in their maiden game but Prasad can look back and be proud of the feat.  

50 runs partnership between Ishant and Zaheer. What an effort from the duo! They played patiently and scored runs without taking much risk. Anil Kumble will be very pleased by the contribution made with the bat by his new ball bowlers.  

Chaminda Vaas has been brought back.  

The 42 run unbeaten partnership is now the highest 10th wicket partnership for India in Sri Lanka.  

Dammika Prasad is brought back into the attack.  

Last man Zaheer Khan walks in.  

Mendis has now taken 22 wickets and he is second in the list of bowlers with most wickets in their debut series. A wonderful performance from this mystery spinner. More so as the Indian batsmen are regarded as the best players of spin. He has foxed some of the best in the world!  

Mendis picks two wickets from his last over.  

Harbhajan Singh is the new man.  

The change of end has seemed to have worked wonders for Mendis. He strikes in only his third ball claiming the wicket of VVS Laxman. All the recognised Indian batsmen are back in the hut and you just get the feeling that its a matter of time before Sri Lanka start batting. The Indian middle order have failed! Yet again in the series! But now its up to the tail to salvage some lost pride. Can they do that or is it too late? Sri Lanka clearly seem to be tightening the grip on the Indians here. 3 more wickets have fallen in this session alone. The final sessions awaits. Can Sri Lanka clear the Indian tail or will be see signs of a comeback. Stay tuned to find out.  

Mendis is back into the attack bowling from the opposite end than he was bowling earlier.  

Parthiv Patel comes in. The long wait of four years is finally over for this Gujrat captain. He made his debut against England on 8th August and ironically makes a comeback on 8th August. The last few images of Patel on the international field were back in 2004 when he fumbled often against the visiting Aussies.  

VVS Laxman walks in to bat at the fall of Ganguly's wicket. He needs 86 to get to 6000 Test runs.  

Ganguly manages a single after three dot balls. So the pressure that was created is now off.  

Chaminda Vaas is brought back in the attack.  

Prasad is already in his 14th over. It has been a courageous display by the debutant.  

Muttiah Muralidaran is the new bowler for Sri Lanka. He comes in after a long time when in the previous two Tests he came in much earlier. This is largely due to the new Sri Lankan bowler Dammika Prasad putting the brakes on the Indian scoring and picking up wickets all the same.  

The players are back on the ground as the Post lunch session begins.  

India go into lunch at 104 for the loss of 3 wickets. After their brisk start Dammika Prasad, the debutant Lankan bowler, struck the Indians not once, not twice but thrice and with three huge scalps. Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar are all back in the hut as another debutant bowler makes the Indians wriggle. The game is evenly poised but one just feels that going into lunch Sri Lanka have the upper hand in this deciding Test. Gambhir in the meanwhile is standing tall, showing no signs of ceasing the fight. Will Ganguly, the other southpaw, give him company at the crease? We'll have to wait to the next session to find out.  

Sourav Ganguly is the new batsman for India with his team clearly looking weary. The new bowler is working wonders for Sri Lanka. Dammika Prasad is making the Indians work for their runs.