Third Test – Sri Lanka vs India at Col-PSS in Aug 2010: Fifth day’s highlights : India won the test by five wickets and the three test series ended in a draw {1-1}

SR Tendulkar scored 54 in India’s second innings and earned the distinction of scoring fifty in eight consecutive tests. His feat read thus – 53 vs Sri Lanka at Mumbai {BS} in Dec 2009, 105* and 16 vs Bangladesh at Chittagong in Jan 2010, 143 and DNB vs Bangladesh at Dhaka in Jan 2010, 7 and 100 vs South Africa at Nagpur in Feb 2010, 106 vs South Africa at Kolkata in Jul 2010, 8 and 84 vs Sri Lanka at Galle in Jul 2010, 203 vs Sri Lanka at Col-SSC in Jul 2010 and 41 and 54 vs Sri Lanka at Col-SSC in Aug 2010

This is the second occasion that SR Tendulkar scored a fifty in eight consecutive tests. The other occasion was – 91 and 1 vs England at Nottingham in Jul 2007, 82 and 1 vs England at The Oval in Aug 2007, 1 and 56* vs Pakistan at Delhi in Nov 2007, 82 and DNB vs Pakistan at Kolkata in Nov 2007, 62 and 15 vs Australia at Melbourne in Dec 2007, 154* and 12 vs Australia at Sydney in Jan 2008, 71 and 13 vs Australia at Perth in Jan 2008 and 153 and 13 vs Australia at Perth in Jan 2008

SR Tendulkar earned the distinction of becoming the only batsman in the annals of test cricket to register fifty in eight consecutive tests on two occasions.

SR Tendulkar and VVS Laxman added 109 runs for the fifth wicket in this innings providing the 48^th occasion of Indian batsmen posting a three figure partnership against Sri Lanka. This partnership provides the tenth occasion of a three figure partnership for the fifth wicket by Indian batsmen against Sri Lanka.

Indian batsmen were concerned in a three figure partnership for the fifth wicket in first and second innings. In the first innings, VVS Laxman and SK Raina added 105 runs and in the second innings SR Tendulkar and VVS Laxman added 109 runs. India has achieved the feat of posting a three figure partnership for the fifth in both innings of a test against Sri Lanka on three occasions including the one in this test. The first occasion was at Col-SSC in Aug 1997 when– SC Ganguly-SR Tendulkar pair added 150 runs in the first innings and M Azaruddin-SC Ganguly pair added 110 runs and the second occasion was at Ahmedabad in Nov 2009 when R Dravid-Yuvraj Singh pair added 125 runs in the first innings and SR Tendulkar-VVS Laxman pair added 137* runs,

VVS Laxman scored 56 and 103 not out in this test providing the 116^th occasion of an Indian batsman scoring fifties in both innings of a test match.

VVS Laxman’s 56 and 103 not out in this test provide the eighth occasion of his scoring twin fifties in a test match – 59 and 281 vs Australia at Kolkata in Mar 2001, 65 and 66 vs Australia at Chennai in Mar 2001, 69* and 74 vs West Indies at Trinidad in Apr 2002, 104* and 67* vs New Zealand at Mohali in Oct 2003, 100 and 63 vs West Indies at Basseterre in Jun 2006, 200* and 59* vs Australia at Delhi in Oct 2008, 76 and 124* vs New Zealand at Napier in Mar 2009 and 56 and 103* vs Sri Lanka at Col-PSS in Aug 2010

VVS Laxman with his eight twin fifties became the fourth Indian batsman to score eight or more twin fifties. Others are – R Dravid {10}, SM Gavaskar {09} and SR Tendulkar {08}

VVS Laxman’s 56 and 103 not out in this test provide the 48th occasion of an Indian batsman scoring a hundred and fifty in a test match.

Laxman’s knocks of 56 and 103 not out in this test represent sixth occasion of his scoring a hundred and a fifty in a test match – 59 and 281 vs Australia at Kolkata in Mar 2001, 104* and 67* vs New Zealand at Mohali in Oct 2003, 100 and 63 vs West Indies at Basseterre in Jun 2006, 200* and 59* vs Australia at Delhi in Oct 2008. 76 and 124* vs New Zealand at Napier in Mar 2009 and 56 and 103* vs Sri Lanka at Col-PSS in Aug 2010

VVS Laxman became the second Indian batsman to score a hundred and fifty in a test match on six occasions, the first being SR Tendulkar

VVS Laxman became the fourth Indian batsman to score a hundred and fifty in a test match. Others are – V Sehwag {201* and 50 at Galle in Jul 2008, NS Sidhu {82 and 104 at Col-SSC in Jul 1993} and SR Tendulkar {53 and 104* at Col-SSC in Feb 1999}

VVS Laxman’s 103 not out in this test provide the 23^rd occasion of an Indian batsman scoring a hundred in the fourth innings of a test match. He is the second batsman after M Azharuddin {108* at Col-SSC in Aug 1997} to score a hundred in the fourth innings

VVS Laxman with his 103 not out in this test became the fourth Indian batsman to score a hundred in India’s winning tests. Others are – 102 by SM Gavaskar vs West Indies at Trinidad in Apr 1976, 112 by GR Viswanath vs West Indies at Trinidad in Apr 1976 and 103* by SR Tendulkar vs England at Chennai in Dec 2008

VVS Laxman’s 103 not out in this test represent the 195^th occasion of a batsman scoring a hundred in the fourth innings of a test match. It also represents the 63^rd occasion of a batsman scoring a hundred in the fourth innings of a test match in a winning cause

VVS Laxman’s run aggregate against Sri Lanka at the end of the series stood at 900. He became the sixth Indian batsman to total 900 plus runs against Sri Lanka. Others are – SR Tendulkar {1995}, R Dravid {1508}, V Sehwag {1239}, M Azharuddin {1215}, SC Ganguly {1064} and NS Sidhu {935}

SR Tendulkar’s 54 in the second innings of this test represent his 15^th fifty against Sri Lanka. VVS Laxman’s 103 not out represent his 10^th fifty against Sri Lanka. He became the third Indian batsman to score ten or more fifties against Sri Lanka. R Dravid {12} is the other Indian batsman.

VVS Laxman’s 103 not out in this test provide the 47^th occasion of an Indian batsman scoring a hundred against Sri Lanka. This knock is his second hundred against Sri Lanka after his 104 at Ahmedabad in Dec 2005. This knock also represents his 16^th test hundred.

S Randiv captured five wickets conceding 82 runs in this test providing the 131^st occasion of a Sri Lankan bowler capturing five or more wickets in a test innings. His figures also represent the 33^rd occasion of a Sri Lankan bowler’s five wicket haul going in vain.

S Randiv’s 5 for 82 in this test provide the 21^st occasion of a Sri Lankan bowler capturing five or more wickets in an innings against India. It also represents the sixth occasion of a Sri Lankan bowler’s five wicket haul in a losing cause against India. The other five occasions are – 5 for 85 by JR Ratanayeke at Cuttack in Jan 1987, 5 for 162 by M Muralitharan at Lucknow in Jan 1994, 7 for 100 by M Muralitharan at Delhi in Dec 2005, 6 for 117 by BAW Mendis at Galle in Jul 2009 and 5 for 121 by HMRKB Herath at Kanpur in Nov 2009.

India won this test by chasing a target of 257 runs providing the fifth occasion of India chasing a target of 250 plus runs. The five occasions are – vs West Indies at Port of Spain in Apr 1976 {Target – 403}, vs England at Chennai in Dec 2008 {Target – 387}, vs Sri Lanka at Kandy in Aug 2001 {Target – 264}, vs Sri Lanka at Col-PSS in Aug 2010 {Target – 257} and vs Australia at Mumbai {BS} in Oct 1964 {Target – 254},

This win was India’s 105^th test win and also 39^th win by wickets margin {chasing a target in the fourth innings of a test match}