SPORT LD SL 3

Swinging the ball in late, the 28-year-old Lankan struck
three big blows, including two in four balls, to bring down
the home team on its knees and raise visions of a repeat of
the last Test here when India were bowled out by South Africa
for 76 in 20 overs in the opening session in April, 2008.
Welegedera’s first spell read a splendid 7-2-28-3 and his
victims were openers Gambhir, Sehwag (16) and champion batsman
Tendulkar, whose celebrations as he stepped into his 21st year
in the international game were rudely halted by the superb
bowling.
Right arm pacer Dhammika Prasad, playing in only his
fourth Test, struck another blow from the other end to send
back Laxman for a duck that left India punch-drunk at 32 for
four before Dravid and Yuvraj stemmed the rot.
Dravid, playing each ball on merit and uncorking splendid
clips off toes and drives to covers and to the on-side, and a
belligerent-looking Yuvraj, carried on from the lunch-time
score of 105 for four when the second session of play began.
The Bangalore stalwart played second fiddle as his
partner Yuvraj went on the offensive after the duo raised
their century partnership in quick time (109 minutes) and off
146 balls.
While the rest of the batsmen, including Yuvraj, seemed
to be in the one-day mode with the amount of limited-over
cricket under their belt, Dravid alone played the ideal game
for the lengthy version of the game, coming into the match
with three half tons in four Ranji Trophy innings for
Karnataka. More PTI