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Colombo: Muttiah Muralitharan's four wicket blitz and Mendis' tricky deliveries wrecked India at SSC ground here on Friday, leaving the visitors reeling at 159/6 in their first innings in response to Sri Lanka's massive total of 600/6 declared.
Call it poor application or a case of nerves, the front line Indian batsmen simply had no answer to the formidable Sri Lankan spin duo, and now they are under tremendous pressure to save face and avoid defeat in the first Test. With two more days to go and VVS Laxman and Captain Kumble at the crease, India need 242 runs more to avoid the follow-on.
Muralitharan' performance lived up to the pre match billing as the duo cas a spell on the Indian batsmen. Apart from Virender Sehwag, who threw his wicket away, after typical fashion with some breathtaking strokes. The spinners accounted for Gambhir, Dravid, Sachin, Ganguly and Karthik.
Earlier, on a flat track that didn't have any assistance for the bowlers, Dilshan became the fourth century maker for his team, remaining unbeaten on 125.
