So how comfortably the best batting line up in the world won the game.

[Cricketics]

Any other top team today would have succumb to the pressure. Only Australia perhaps might have won such game with 1-2 wickets in hand. Teams like England, South Africa, would have easily gotten bowled out for 70-100 runs on day 5. Rest of the teams won't have had any chance Only Indian line up you could have trusted to seal the game. and look how we won. We lost just one big wicket of Tendulkar, that too after he had scored a good solid 54. His exit got in the Rookie Raina who were to bat alongside another man of crisis Laxman. This removed any doubts that Indian batting line up is just good on paper. Infact the lower middle order is the best in the world. Indian team won this game very comfortably.

[The Outsider]

Well said. People don't understand the difficulty of 4th innings chases in places like India and Sri Lanka. They also do not understand the special batting line up and team culture India has. The press coverage this chase will get will be miniscule compared to some 4th innings chases in places like England, Australia, and South Africa. Those pitches stay true and sometimes even get better towards the end. This was a classic 5th day wicket on which we have pulled off something special, with an outstanding lineup.

[Lord]

I would back SA to do it too

[Roshanrocks]

super effort, really well played. A wonderful 4th innings fightback, which turned out to be comfortable at the end. hats off to Laxman for his stupendous cool effort, Nice innings by Raina who was aggressive from the word go, solid effort by the boss too.... all in all a well played TEAM effort, ..not to forget sehwag's century and the crucial 40's from Mithun n Mishra ( 1st innings)

[Cricketics]

I would back SA to do it too

on this pitch, i would have given perhaps 30% chance and 70% to lanka. Randiv would easily ran through Saf line up. Plus, Saf always suck in lanka. Check their test record in sri lanka.

[kabira]

they had their strategy right. They knew batting will be easy after 40 overs. Two of our best players were there socking up the pressure. Once the hard work was done it was comfortable.

[don_corleone840]

this performance made india undisputed numero uno.

[The Outsider]

they had their strategy right. They knew batting will be easy after 40 overs. Two of our best players were there socking up the pressure. Once the hard work was done it was comfortable.

Yeah, that's where the experience of these guys is invaluable. Skills are one thing, but reading the pitch and situations put his lineup in a different league. For those saying any other line up would have chased this score down, there was no chance for anyone. All other teams would have been 6-7 down by the 35-40 over mark after which the pitch eased out due to an older ball and there would have been no coming back from that situation. The patience and skill showed up Tendulkar and Laxman was evidence that they read the track and conditions perfectly and were happy to play extremely defensive cricket at times to get through tough phases. I haven't read the match thread yet, but I am sure people would have been whining about a slow run rate and letting bowlers dominate at the start.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

south africa could never have done what india did here today. and the thought of australia doing it is even more laughable, since their current batting lineup has no clue how to play spin. No other visiting side has EVER chased 200+ for a win in sri lanka. India has done it twice.

[ZodiaC]

I agree with you but, Sanga's ridiculous field placements helped a lot in easing the pressure. Otherwise it'd have been a 4 or 3 wicket win perhaps. Nevertheless, we'd have won it for sure.

[ZodiaC]

south africa could never have done what india did here today. and the thought of australia doing it is even more laughable, since their current batting lineup has no clue how to play spin. No other visiting side has EVER chased 200+ for a win in sri lanka. India has done it twice.

Except clarke they're gonna cream in their pants against lankan spinners on this pitch :cantstop:

[goose]

Sehwag Dravid Tendulkar Laxman is the best top six ever.

[ludhianvi]

Missed catches cost the Lankans dearly today although they were a bit bit difficult- first Tendulkar at 18 and then Raina. Innitially, Raina was being tested under pressure... trying to take the attack to the opposition and almost got out to Malinga slashing, the ball barely escaped Jayawardene. Seemed to settle in after the inital rush of blood. The new ball has been the most difficult to play, just as we saw Ojha was his most ominous in the first session and that delivery to get Jayawardene was just brilliant. Things eased off in the second session yesterday and while forcing to attack that Sangakarra and Mathews gifted their wickets - the first a rank hop and the other a full toss. Both of them picked out the fielders perfectly. India played out the first session today without any damage and that was crucial as with the old ball, it was going to be a tad bit easier . It was a bit surprising that Malinga didnt bowl early on as he had gotten Tendulkar in the first innings . Laxman and Tendulkar played out the first session and that was the difference in the end. It was an interesting Test match altogether.

[thevortex]

Precisely! This is the best batting line up in the world. So why does the team management not give them more responsibility? Trust them where they need to be and take judicious risks in bolstering the flagging bowling lineup. Before people jump on me - that is on an as needed basis. Not regularly :).

[Deleted_User_1]

Tics I have to give it to you....although I tried hard with my jinxes, I was less hopeful of the Indian team pulling it through. Now they have had two successful chases on a wearing 5th day pitch in the last two years. Bravo!!!!

[Lord]

Precisely! This is the best batting line up in the world. So why does the team management not give them more responsibility? Trust them where they need to be and take judicious risks in bolstering the flagging bowling lineup. Before people jump on me - that is on an as needed basis. Not regularly :).

do u really think we'd have won if Munaf was there for Raina?

[cowboysfan]

according to cricinfo this was a a close series between equal rivals ,no mention of the series in India.

[nballa]

Sehwag Dravid Tendulkar Laxman is the best top six ever.

top 6? only "zakir naik" can pull of stunts like 4=6 bro.

[Ravi.]

Only Australian batting line could have done it.They won 3-0 when they last toured Lanka.

[Sachinism]

The batting line up they had then and the line up they have now are totally different