Gambhir digs in for rescue mission

Mahela Jayawardene, left, and Prasanna Jayawardene put on 351 together for Sri Lanka, a new Test record for the sixth wicket

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Openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag hit half-centuries as India began well in their attempt to save the first Test against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad.

Gambhir cracked an unbeaten 74 and had partnered Virender Sehwag (51) and Rahul Dravid (38) in useful second-innings stands, but the visitors hit back to reduce India to 190 for two at close, still 144 in deficit.

Sri Lanka, fuelled by a record partnership between the Jayawardenes - Mahela made 275 and Prasanna a career-best 154 not out - had declared their first innings on 760 for seven - a lead of 334 and with more than four sessions remaining. Sri Lanka’s score is the highest total made in India.

The stand between the two Jayawardenes was worth 351, the highest for the sixth wicket in Test history, surpassing the 346 put on by Jack Fingleton and Sir Don Bradman against England in Melbourne in 1937.

India had made a belligerent start to their second innings with Sehwag providing the initial momentum.

The opener, however, had survived several early reprieves, the first on 11 when an edge off seamer Dammika Prasad flew between first slip and wicketkeeper Prasanna.

In the previous over Sehwag was dropped by Prasanna Hayawardene off a no-ball, and survived a run-out attempt on 23. Muttiah Muralitharan, at mid-on, missed a direct hit at the non-striker’s end with the batsman yards out of the crease.

Sehwag then settled down to play a steady hand, but was removed by Rangana Herath in the first over after tea.

Sehwag had already bludgeoned the left-arm spinner for his seventh boundary to reach his half-century and attempted another hoist over midwicket only to hole out to Angelo Mathews at mid-on.

Prasanna Jayawardene moved swiftly to his second Test century on the fourth day in Ahmedabad, as Sri Lanka built their lead

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The opening pair had added 81 and Gambhir, far more fluent and precise than Sehwag, then put on 88 with Dravid for the second wicket.

Dravid, who had rescued India from total capitulation with 177 in the first innings, again looked in impeccable touch, his stay punctuated with six boundaries.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara had shuffled his bowlers around and left-arm quick Chanaka Welegedara struck at end of the day by removing Dravid lbw.

With just under five overs remaining before stumps, Gambhir and nightwatchman Amit Mishra ensured no further success for the visitors.

Sri Lanka, resuming on 591 for five this morning, immediately settled to the task of accumulating runs.

Mahela Jayawardene, 204 overnight, had lent impetus by cutting Ishant Sharma for two boundaries in three deliveries in the bowler’s third over.

The former captain then went past the 250-run mark and later scaled 9,000 runs in Tests - only the ninth batsman in a list headed by Sachin Tendulkar to achieve the mark.

Prasanna Jayawardene, 16 short of a century at the start of play this morning, reached 99 with an edged boundary that fell just short of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and went past the wicketkeeper.

Another more decisive and fluent cut to third man boundary in the same over helped the wicketkeeper-batsman to the three-figure mark - only his second Test century.

Leg-spinner Mishra finally found success when he bowled Mahela Jayawardene early in the afternoon session, luring the batsman out of his crease and beating him with flight and turn.

Prasad and Prasanna Jayawardene took the lead past the 300-run mark before Prasad, playing a rash of attacking strokes, holed out to Mishra in the deep.