India needed to break Kumar Sangakkara’s resistance to be able to get to the world’s most coveted crown. They did not lose time on the fifth day’s morning going for the same.
The fifth day of the third and final Test at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai against Sri Lanka was perhaps one of the most anticipated days in cricket in India.
The Sri Lankan captain had put on a stiff resistance, making an unbeaten 133 overnight to delay what appeared to be the inevitable. For India therefore to kick off celebrations early, it was important to dislodge the man who stood between India and victory, rather between India and the ICC Test ranking no.1.
Sangakkara could only add four more runs before Zaheer Khan broke the stand and left Sri Lanka with a gaping hole. 309 was all Sri Lanka could manage, losing the match by an innings and twenty-four runs!
Zaheer came back to pick two of the remaining three wickets and in a flash, it was all over for Sri Lanka, made worse by the fact that India were rejoicing not just beating Sri Lanka 2-0 in the series but also, going past them and South Africa en route to becoming the number one team!
What followed were uninhibited celebrations as the nation turned into a celebration, perhaps not as flamboyant as when Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, but perhaps in equal rejoicing of when Kapil Dev’s team raised the ICC World Cup trophy in 1983!
Ind SL T 3 Day 4 Stumps: Sri Lanka Extend Wait for India’s Celebrations
Ind SL T 3 Day 4 Lunch and Tea: India’s No.1 Five Wickets Away
Ind SL T 3 Day 3 Stumps: No Early Declaration After Stupendous Batting Baffling
Ind SL T3: Srikkanth Ecstatic Over Sehwag Innings
Aussie Mike Young to Help Team India in the Field
Sreesanth: The Return of the Cavalier Prince
Ind SL T3 Day 3 Starter: Sehwag Missed Opportunity to Surpass the Two B’s
Sreesanth on Comeback Trail as Selectors Announce Twenty20, ODI Teams Against SL
Sehwag: A Statistical Nightmare - For Brabourne with Love
Ind SL T3 Day 2 Stumps: Sehwag Storms Hits Sri Lanka, Brabourne Stadium
Ind SL Day 2: SL Innings Ends Disappointingly for 99-run Angelo Matthews
Ind SL T 3 Day 1 Stumps: Dilshan Ton Keeps SL Interested
India Not Worried About Chasing No.1; SL Banking Heavily on Murali to Come Good
Sangakkara Favours Seamers Over Spinners, Dhoni Indicates Otherwise
Ind SL T3 Preview: Sri Lanka Will Have to Improve Their Game
Donald Asks Sreesanth to Press On
When Sreesanth Met Amitabh Bachchan
Imagine! Irfan Pathan is Impressed and Inspired by Sreesanth!
Gautam Gambhir Not to Play in Third Test
Ind SL T2 Day 4: India Seal Big Win with 100th Test Victory!
Ind SL T 2 Day 3 Stumps: Madness in the Middle Leaves Sri Lankan Team in Disarray
Archana Vijaya, Still Think This is a Draw?
Post 26/11 and 3/3, Is It Any Wonder That Sri Lanka Want More Security?
Ind SL T2 Day 3 Lunch, Tea and Follow On: Sreesanth nails Sri Lanka for 229, Lead by 413
Ind SL T2 Day 2 Stumps: Sri Lanka Manage to Escape Further Damage After First Ball Mayhem
Sehwag Believes Gambhir Primed to Beat Sunil Gavaskar, Sir Don Bradman
Gambhir, Sehwag - Chasing Best Partnerships
Ind SL T2: Dravid Becomes Fourth Highest Run Getter, Surpasses Allan Border
Ind SL T1 Day 2 Lunch and Tea: India Build Lead on Dravid Century (Ind All Out for 642)
Ind SL T2 Day 1 Stumps: India Looking at 700, Insists Gambhir
Murali Scores Century on Day One too; Mendis, Herath Not Far Behind
India, SL Make Interesting Choices for Second Test Bowling Line Ups
Ind SL T2: Dhoni’s Thumbs Up for Sehwag Yields Dividends
Ind SL T2 Day 1 Lunch and Tea: Gambhir, Sehwag Star in Century Stand with Individual Tons
Ind SL T 2 Preview: Personnel Worries for Both Teams
Kanpur Pitch Looks to Bury Memories of Wrath
Broken Nose Not to Come in the Way for Dilshan For Second Test
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Sangakkara Magnanimous For Tendulkar
