What The Papers Say About India's Win
Singh - Back In Full Swing.
In a dramatic turn of events Anil Kumble's troops rose from the dead and returned the favour of humiliation when they defeated Sri Lanka by 170 runs and a day to spare. As these two teams continue to ride the seesaw everybody is singing India's praises...
'Like the first Test, this game too ended with a day to spare; unlike the first Test, it was Sri Lanka who were comprehensively outclassed.
'Never for a moment did India relax. The intensity was commendable, and it was only for the briefest of whiles, when Thilan Samaraweera and the busy Tillakaratne Dilshan counter-attacked the spinners while adding 76 (70m, 95b), did they look ragged.
'Kumble re-summoned Ishant to the bowling crease, and his boy wonder responded almost instantaneously, forcing Dilshan to nick a beauty and helping the struggling Dinesh Karthik compensate for having put the same batsman down off Harbhajan when just 17.
'After the last possible pocket of defiance was destroyed, Sri Lanka were ripe for the taking. Harbhajan ate into the soft underbelly with unrelenting hunger, and Kumble joined his spin twin to hasten the end.' - R Kaushik, Deccan Herald.
'Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene's expectation to seal the series against India in Galle itself remained only a wish as his top "order collapsed in shocking fashion after India set them a target.
'Van Dort was also caught off a no ball when he was on six and the Indians finally put an end to his misery when he went on the back foot to an arm ball and was beaten by the quicker delivery and was plumb in front.' - Rex Clementine, The island.
'From heroes to zeros:
'In what must be a humiliating defeat after going over the moon with a first Test victory a week ago, Sri Lanka were pulled down to earth by a spirited Indian team whose fury and vengeance made them record a telling 170-run win in the second cricket Test here at the Galle international stadium yesterday
'Unlike the two Sri Lankan pacemen Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Kulasekara, the Indian duo of Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan bowled with devastating pace.' - Callistus Davy, Daily Mirror.
'The touring Indian team bounced with a magnificent all round performance to pull off a resounding 170 run victory over Sri Lanka. After their debacle in the opening game in Colombo the Indians showed a lot of courage and determination to dismiss the home side for just 136 runs after having set a tough victory target of 307 runs.
'Sri Lanka never looked like challenging the Indians from the moment they lost their top three batsmen rather cheaply. They made a disastrous start to their run chase and slumped to 24 for 3 at lunch.' - Chris Dhambarage, Daily News.
'Left for dead in Colombo, interred mercilessly by Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club last Sunday, India completed a remarkable resuscitation in the pretty coastal town of Galle, thus breathing life into the three-Test series.
'A week is a long time in international sport, and this Indian side has made a practice of showcasing its resilience just when it's written off.
'Without warning the day combusted, producing so frenetic a procession between the dressing rooms and the middle that a round-trip operator would have done roaring business.
'India, looking to extend a lead of 237, lost four wickets in the space of 13 balls, but crucially turned it around through its seamers and extracted three Sri Lankan batsmen in a period of similar length before lunch.' - S. Ram Mahesh, The Hindu.