This is unmistakably Muttiah Muralitharan's Test. The build-up to the off-spinner's swansong has been rather grand with the Galle decked up with hoardings,posters and cut-outs of who Sri Lankans call 'the greatest spinner ever'. On Tuesday,when India took four Sri Lankan wickets before lunch after a delayed start,large cut outs were put up on top of the Galle fort wall overlooking the stadium in anticipation that the off-spinner may soon come out to bowl. Muralitharans,in the delivery stride,stared down on the proceedings from the high walls of the fort. But the real Murali played his first big role in this Test match in the 21st over of Indias innings. Sachin Tendulkar tried playing the paddle sweep but missed a ball that pitched on middle but didnt turn a great deal. The appeal went up immediately and Tendulkar departed. India were 101 for three. Muralitharan had won the battle of the giants,and probably for one last time. It was the 14th time in Tests that Muralitharan had dismissed either one of Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid. Crackers sounded like gun salutes when Muralitharan came to bat after lunch and also when he walked out after Sri Lanka declared at 520 for eight at tea. Both times he received a guard of honour the first from the Indians and the next from his own mates. Muralitharan was brought on in the 17th over of the innings. By then India had suffered as Gautam Gambhir and Dravid were dismissed. A 115-run partnership between Rangana Herath and Lasith Malinga for the eighth wicket added to India's misery in the post-lunch session after Ishant Sharma and Abhimanyu Mithun pegged back the Lankans with four strikes. The wicket of Gambhir in the second ball of the innings ensured that the flourish of runs would come off Virender Sehwags bat. Malinga playing his first Test in two-and-a-half years swung the ball into Gambhirs pads and the opener paid the price for losing balance while trying to flick. Dravid was slow to turn for the second run and then didn't make his ground as Malinga misfielded Sehwags drive to mid-off. It brought to an end the 62-run partnership between Dravid and Sehwag,the best of the innings. Malinga and Muralithran were then handed the duties of getting wickets before close of play. They bowled nine overs in tandem,from the 21st till the penultimate of the day. Malinga relied heavily on reverse swinging yorkers that Sehwag kept at bay. When Malinga used the bouncer directed at the body of the batsmen,there were always fielders in catching position,including a leg gully. The late swing from Malinga meant pre-meditated shots were risky. Sehwag waited for Malinga to err. The full toss delivered outside the off-stump was driven through the covers. But so tight was Malingas line that Sehwag remained content just to keep the ball out. Sehwag has made three hundreds in his last six Tests against Sri Lanka,a tally that includes two double centuries. His unbeaten 85 off 98 has set him up for another century. He found playing Muralitharan easier. The paddle sweep came into force when the doosra was turning in from leg-stump. Sehwag played late,a ploy that worked on the wicket that had eased out. Muralitharans fourth ball of the day was dispatched over the sightscreen for a six. Sehwag attacked early and it helped him score at more than a run a ball against the off-spinner. Laxman failed to read the first doosra from Muralitharan. Luckily for the wristy batsman the ball hit the pads too high. He was beaten by the next doosra but eased some of the pressure when he drove Muralitharan through the covers. Soon the light meter came out. It was temporary relief for the battling Indians.
