Lanka complete the formalities
Prem Panicker
Cricket -- for a team on the losing side -- is about making points.
On the fourth morning, Rahul Dravid and Venkatesh Prasad made a few -- points aimed at their own mates back in the dressing room, more than the opposition.
The two batted with application -- and in this respect, Venkatesh Prasad, one of nature's genuine tailenders, was the real revelation -- to wipe out the deficit. And in the process, they showed that devils in the wicket or no, if you were prepared to put a price on your wicket, you could bat on this deck and what is more, make runs.
Prasad made 20 of them. Equally to the point, he survived 66 deliveries of seam and spin. And in doing so, asked the more vaunted batsman sitting back in the hut just what the fuss was all about.
At the other end, Rahul Dravid with a composed unbeaten 62 showed his mates that reputations and averages counted for nothing -- what counts, is the determination not to give your wicket away, coupled with a positive attitude. Too many batsmen in this lineup have come to the crease wearing the hangdog expressions of the already defeated -- Dravid came out looking positive and ready, able and willing to cope, and that difference in mindset showed in the runs he scored, on a difficult track, without giving the semblance of a chance.
Muthiah Muralitharan finally got Prasad trapped in front with one that straightened off a length, to register his 25th five-wicket haul in Tests -- a feat that puts him at number four on the list of bowlers who have completed such hauls for the maximum number of times. And you only need to look at the fact that the only contemporary bowler in that list is Wasim Akram, to realise just what a huge part Murali plays in the Lankan lineup, and what a match-winner the man is.
Sanath Jayasuriya hit up the 6 runs Lanka needed to complete a 10-wicket win, but not before Zahir Khan wrapped him a couple of times on the knuckles to make a point of his own. And again, Zahir's point was more for his own mates who, in the first innings, opted to have him patrol the outfield while Prasad, a good 12 kmph slower than the left arm seamer, took the new ball on the first morning.
Detailed Scorecard
Read also:
Day three match report
