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Test ends in dull draw
The second cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka ended in a tame draw on the fifth day, in Colombo, on Friday.
The Indian tail-enders did well to stretch the total to 707 before folding up 15 minutes before the lunch break.
Resuming at 669 for nine, Ishant Sharma (27) and Pragyan Ojha (17) put up dogged resistance to take the score past the 700-run mark.
In so doing, India piled up their second-highest total scored abroad surpassing the 705 runs scored against Australia in Sydney in 2004, the highest being 726 for 9 declared against the very same opponents in Mumbai last year.
In reply, Sri Lanka made 129 for three before both skippers decided to call off play.
On a wicket that offered no help to the bowlers, a mind-boggling 1478 runs were scored over the length of the Test.
Ojha, Sharma frustrate Lankans
The wicket at the Sinhalese Sports ground received a lot of flak for offering no assistance to the bowlers.
With the match drawn, India are still atop the ICC Test rankings and will have to lose the next Test to be dethroned from the pedestal.
On day five, Ojha and Sharma did well to stretch the Lankan bowlers. They shared the longest tenth-wicket partnership for India in terms of balls faced by number 10 and 11 batsmen, their stubborn resistance lasting 174 balls.
But after much toil in the morning, the Lankans found the first breakthrough when Dilhara Fernando had Ishant caught at gully by Kumar Sangakkara.
Ojha remained unbeaten on 17 after surviving two sharp leg before appeals off Ajantha Mendis.
India took a 65-run lead
Sri Lanka, who trailed by 65 runs, lost Tharanga Paranavitana (34), Tillakaratne Dilshan (14) and Mahela Jayawardene (5) in the post lunch session.
Abhimanyu Mithun made the first strike having Dilshan caught at short mid-wicket and then Laxman caught Paranavitana in the slip cordon off Harbhajan Singh.
Virender Sehwag then trapped Jayawardene minutes before tea.
Captain Kumar Sangakkara (42 not out) and Thilan Samaraweera (10 not out) ensured that there were no further stabacks before both the captains decided to call off play.