MOHAMMED AZHARUDDIN

COLOMBO, Aug 13: There are chronic problems afflicting the health of Indian cricket. It's symptomatic of the turbulent times that the side needed protracted intensive care attention of the last of the recognised batsmen -- Mohammad Azharuddin (108 not out) and Saurav Ganguly (45) -- to revitalise them in their battle of survival.

The second and final Test had raised visions of a thrilling final day's action at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground today. The track was playing true, the ball was coming nicely on to the bat, the target was enticing and India had two world class batsmen in Sachin Tendulkar and Azharuddin, who had the prowess to capitalise on a Lankan attack which lacked qualitative depth.

The initial target of 373 in 103 overs was whittled down to 49 runs before close on the penultimate day. A factor which must have given some anxious moments to Sri Lanka. The revision of their game plan negated the purpose of their highly positive declaration. The logical interpretation was that the Lankans may have suddenly realised that the target carried an element of risk. A preponderance of balls directed outside either stumps was indicative of the negative seizure on the Lankans.

If the two early loss of wickets came setbacks to India's quest for victory, then the exit of Sachin Tendulkar was a virtual signal to shut the shop.

Just 23 runs accrued from 13 overs in the first hour and 22 from 15 overs in the hour before lunch. In fact, the only fleeting moment of excitement for the spectators was the ceremonial arrival of the trophy for the Test series.

The Janashakti Insurance Trophy was brought in a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter, which blew the sponsors' hoardings and umbrellas along the boundary, as it hovered around the ground.

Air Force pilot Sergeant Chandrasiri descended 50 feet down from the helicopter on a rope ladder with the trophy strapped to his body before handing it over to the Dr Upali Dharmadasa, the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka president.

Sidhu left in the fourth over of the morning in a fashion he could have well got out last evening, while Dravid defended his way before he was bat-pad taken at short-leg.

It was the exit of Tendulkar immediately after lunch which came as a big blow. Tendulkar picked a ball from outside the off-stump and tried to clear the man at deep mid-on. However, he mistimed it badly to find the ball go off the leading edge high over mid-on.

A defeat was an imminent possibility had Azharuddin gone ten overs later. But Mutthiah Muralitharan, who has tormented Azhar on this tour with some breathtaking catches, couldn't latch on a caught and bowled chance. Azhar was then 12 in a total of 122.

Ajay Jadeja, who stroked freely to hit seven boundaries last evening, was shackled by the negativity of the Lankan attack and his team situation. He was very restrained and calculated in his approach till he waded into a drive outside the off-stump and paid the penalty.

Ganguly filled in the breach. He knew that he carried a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. There were still about 45 overs left and he was the last of the specialist batsmen. But the Bengal left-hander rose to the occasion by batting with great maturity in the hour of crisis.

Azhar, on the other hand, gave fleeting indications that he was going to take the battle into the enemy camp. His approach reminded one of his methodology last season, which got him two hundreds but copious failures and plenty of criticism.

Happily for India, he soon dispelled such notions and play with the authority that he was shown right through the tour, hitting to all parts of the ground with his wrist ability to find the gaps.

Azhar was reprieved again on 40 by wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana in the 69th over and later Jayasuriya grassed a return catch by the batsman on 51 in a total of 193.

The new ball, claimed after 80 overs, came as a fresh threat to India. But both Ganguly and Azhar made merry in one over from Ravindra Pushpakumara, both the batsmen getting a pair of boundaries each.

By the time, Lanka broke the 110-run partnership, the fourth mandatory over was in progress. It came a bit too late in the day.

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA (1st innings): 332
INDIA (1st innings): 375
SRI LANKA (2nd innings): 415-7 decl
INDIA (2nd innings; overnight 49-0)
Ajay Jadeja c Atapattu b S de Silva (254m, 176b, 8x4) 73
Navjot Sidhu c Jayasuriya b Vaas (73m, 42b, 2x4) 16
Rahul Dravid c Atapattu b Muralitharan (69m, 46b) 6
Sachin Tendulkar c S de Silva b Muralitharan (43m, 44b, 1x4) 8
Mohammed Azharuddin not out (227m, 175b, 14x4) 108
Saurav Ganguly c Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan (132m, 104b, 8x4) 45
Nayan Mongia not out (26m, 24b) 10
Extras: (b1, lb7, nb7) 15
Total: (for five wickets, in 100 overs and 414 minutes) 281
Fall of wickets: 1-55 (Sidhu); 2-75 (Dravid); 3-100 (Tendulkar); 4-138 (Jadeja); 5-248 (Ganguly)
Bowling: Chaminda Vaas 17-2-42-1, Sajeewa de Silva 16-4-32-1, Muttiah Muralitharan 35-5-96-3, Ravindra Pushpakumara 14-1-50-0, Sanath Jayasuriya 10-4-24-0, Mahela Jayawardena 8-1-29-0
Man of the Match: Aravinda de Silva. Man of the Series: Sanath Jayasuriya

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.