Irfan Pathan produced his best Test innings as India seized control of the second Test against Sri Lanka on the third day at the Ferozshah Kotla in New Delhi on Monday.
The left-hander played a delightful knock of 93, after claiming three wickets for 34 runs in the Sri Lankan first innings, to help India reach 237 for 5 in 68 overs at close in their second innings.
Promoted to open the innings, he hit 10 boundaries and two sixes during his 143-ball essay. Captain Rahul Dravid gave him good support with a fine 53.
At close, Sourav Ganguly was not out on 22 from 54 balls, while Yuvraj looked impressive during an unbeaten 28 as India swelled their overall lead to 297 runs.
Chaminda Vaas claimed two quick wickets, those of Gautam Gambhir (3) and V V S Laxman (11), while Malinga Bandara and Dilhara Fernando claimed one each.
Earlier, Anil Kumble took 6 for 72 to help bowl out Sri Lanka for 230. India did not take much time to dismiss the Sri Lankan lower order and gain a vital first innings lead of 60 runs.
Morning session: (5 wickets, 61 runs, 27 overs)
It took India just 15 deliveries to snare another Sri Lankan wicket on day three, and once again it was Kumble, their most experienced bowler.
Chaminda Vaas hit a full-pitched delivery straight to Harbhajan Singh at midwicket to hand the leg spinner his fifth wicket of the innings. (200-7, 73)
It was Kumble's 30th five-wicket haul in his 99th Test, taking his wicket tally to 473.
Malinga Bandara did not offer much resistance and was beaten all ends up by an in-swinger from Pathan. The previous delivery swung away from the batsmen and it was no surprise when he played down the wrong line to this delivery. (204-8, 75.2)
Muralitharan got off to a flying start, pulling a short delivery from Pathan for a huge six over the fine leg fence. But he could not contribute much after that as India bowled to a plan to restrict his shot-making.
Kumble's quicker delivery produced him another Test wicket, in the form of Muralitharan, for 9. The off-spinner, who had single-handedly destroyed India in the first innings, was now at the receiving end.
He charged down the wicket to Kumble, but was completely deceived by the faster one from the ace leg-spinner. (219-9, 78.2)
It seemed a repeat of day two, but this time it was the visitors who were at the receiving end. Kumble maybe around a 100 wickets behind Muralitharan in the Test wickets' tally, yet he again proved that he was not far behind when it came to talent and ability.
India did not take the new ball after the allotted 80 overs, still having Kumble and Pathan bowl with the old one. Pathan was warned for running on the pitch in the 82nd over by Pakistan umpire Nadeem Ghauri.
Jehan Mubarak tried to fight a lone battle and hit two successive boundaries in the 83rd over to reduce the deficit as Sri Lanka reached 230 for 9, still trailing by 60 runs.
But Harbhajan, introduced into the attack in the next over, tempted Dilhara Fernando to loft straight to Sourav Ganguly at mid-on. (230-10, 83.3)
One must question the wisdom of Fernando, who attempted a big shot, especially with a specialist batsman at the other end in Mubarak, who was eventually left stranded on 29.
India bowled out the Lankans for 230 in 83.3 overs to take a handy lead of 60 runs, on a difficult batting pitch at the Kotla.
Kumble finished with impressive figures of 6 for 72 from 28 overs, while getting good support from Pathan, who claimed 3 for 34 in 22 overs.
At one stage on day two, Sri Lanka were cruising at 175 for 2, with Mahela Jayawardene and Marvan Atapattu in full flow. But then Kumble triggered a collapse from which the visitors never recovered.
India finished off things quickly in the morning session, getting the last four Sri Lankan wickets for the mere addition of 32 runs in 13 overs.
With 60 runs already in their kitty, the Indian batsmen now had to ensure that they bat with some amount of discipline to try and build a healthy total.
Indian innings:
India opted for a brand new opening pairing in Gautam Gambhir and Irfan Pathan, both of whom did not score in the first innings.
Pathan's batting had the Sri Lankans shell-shocked in the one-day international series between the two sides, and with the left-hander struggling against the spinners it could well turn out to be a wise move.
No team was willing to given an inch and Sri Lanka responded to Pathan's promotion by asking Muralitharan to open the bowling. The left-hander had struggled against Muralitharan and he was straight brought into the attack with the danger of Pathan getting settled and taking the match away with a quick knock.
Pathan delivered the first blow by lofting Muralitharan for a huge six over the long-off fence.
But, at the other end, Gambhir, on 3, shuffled across his stumps and was trapped leg before wicket by Chaminda Vaas for the second time in the match. The ball pitched outside off-stump and swung in quite a bit, and seemed that it would have missed the leg stump. (12-1, 2.1)
It was the 300th wicket for Vaas, in his 90th Test match.
Pathan played a few quiet overs from Muralitharan before waiting for a full-pitched delivery on leg stump to hoist it over the midwicket fence for his second six. The plan was clear -- not to let Sri Lanka's main bowler settle and dictate terms.
At lunch, India were 29 for 1 in 14 overs, with Pathan looking good on 21. Giving him company was V V S Laxman, on 4.
With an overall lead of 89 runs and a huge batting line-up to follow, India are the clear favourites at this stage.
Post-lunch session: (114 runs, 2 wickets, 25 overs)
Laxman played a delightful cover drive off Vaas to take India's lead past the 100-run mark.
But Vaas struck with the next delivery, getting Laxman to edge behind to wicketkeeper Kumara Sangakkara for 11. (42-2, 15.3)
Pathan flourished in the post-lunch period, relishing the pace of the Sri Lankan duo of Dilhara Fernando and Vaas. In the eight overs after lunch, India amassed 55 runs, with Pathan hitting five boundaries to race to 48.
Tendulkar also struck three sweetly-timed boundaries for his 16 off 24 balls.
The rapid scoring rate prompted Sri Lanka captain Atapattu to go in for his spinners. The move paid instant dividends.
Leg-spinner Malinga Bandara dismissed Tendulkar leg before wicket with his faster delivery. Tendulkar, who had scored 16, played forward but was struck on the off-stump and the ball looked to be heading for the stumps. (86-3, 23.4)
Pathan, meanwhile, reached his third half-century in Test cricket from 77 balls with five boundaries and two sixes. Promoted to open the innings, he gradually growing in confidence against Murali and Vaas.
He took the onus on himself to tame Sri Lanka's best bowler, Muralitharan, and struck him for two huge sixes, thereby not allowing the off-spinner to operate with utmost ease, as was the case in the first innings.
Pathan's free-flowing batting was rapidly taking the game away from Sri Lanka and their only hope new rested on Muralitharan, who had rescued them from a similar position in the first innings.
It seemed Pathan was a top order batsman, and not a bowler who can bat a bit, who was in full flow.
India progressed to 109 for 3 after 30 overs and Muralitharan opted to bowl around the wicket to Dravid and Pathan, but to little effect, as time and again the batsmen used their feet to unsettle the great spinner.
Bandara settled into a good rhythm and got some hold on the batsman, once getting an inside edge off Dravid's bat which flew past the short leg fielder.
India took a firm grip on the match as they reached 143 for 3 after 39 overs at the tea break. Pathan entertained during his unbeaten innings of 76 from 116 balls with eight boundaries and two sixes to give India a position of command. Dravid gave him good support, remaining unbeaten on 29 from 50 balls, as India swelled their overall lead to 203 runs.
One thing India did brilliantly in the session was the way they tamed Muralitharan by playing him aggressively and not letting him settle down. The session well and truly belonged to the hosts as they scored at a quick rate -- 114 runs in 25 overs.
They will now look to consolidate in the final session and bat Sri Lanka out of the match.
Post-tea session: (94 runs, 2 wickets, 29 overs)
Muralitharan continued to suffer as Dravid used his feet time and again against him. His boundary, straight down the ground, was a treat to watch as India reached 160 for 3 after 42 overs.
Pathan then smashed Muralitharan for two consecutive boundaries in his next over to move to 92.
He looked on course for a maiden Test century, but fell seven runs short of the coveted mark. He slashed at a wide delivery outside the off-stump and the thin edge was easily held by Sangakkara off pacer Dilhara Fernando. (178-4, 46.3)
Pathan made 93 from 143 balls, adding 92 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Dravid, as the lead stretched to 238 runs with six wickets in hand.
Dravid played a delightful cover drive to bring up his half-century from 75 balls, with six boundaries in the 49th over. The boundary also took him past 8000 Test runs in his 94th match. He became the third Indian to achieve the landmark after Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.
Then, against the run of play, India lost the important wicket of Dravid, for 53. The Indian captain hit six boundaries in his 88-ball knock before trying to steal a quick single, but Mahela Jayawardene's direct hit from mid-on caught him short. (190-5, 52)
The effect of Pathan's knock seemed to rub on the rest of the batsmen as Ganguly and Yuvraj Singh also displayed some aggressive cricket.
Yuvraj, in particular, was severe on any loose stuff and quite deservedly enjoyed some luck along the way. A short delivery from Vaas took the edge, but the ball flew quickly past Jayawardene at first slip in the 65th over as the score progressed to 230 for 5.
Play was called off seven overs early as the two batsmen accepted the light.
At the end of day three, India progressed to a healthy 237 for 5 in 68 overs, taking an overall lead of 297 runs.
The failure of Muralitharan to pick a wicket hampered Sri Lanka big time as the Indian batsmen looked to attack him and never let him settle down.
India's gamble of sending Pathan as an opener, who played some attacking cricket, could eventually make the difference in the match.
With such a huge lead in their kitty, India are clear favourites now. Sri Lanka can only hope that India collapse early on the fourth day.
A good session for India in the morning on day 4 and Sri Lanka could well be fighting to save the Test.
