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A familiar run-fest has unfolded at the Sinhalese Sports Club. As expected on the docile pitch, the bowlers continued to struggle while the batsmen, if ready to bide their time, scored without exception. The biggest challenge for a batsman here has been the heat and humidity. And in case one happens to be the oldest man on field, the sultry weather can be taxing.
Sachin Tendulkar, 37, defied age and defeated conditions to score 203. And with Suresh Raina scoring a century in his debut Test, India finished the day at 669/9. Such was Tendulkar's determination that at times it was hard to make out who was faster between the wickets, when the highest run-getter in the game and the debutant scampered up and down the pitch during their 256-run partnership.
Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan vice-captain, has played a lot of his cricket at the SSC. He has made 2,641 runs at the venue, the most by any batsman at a single ground. Still, the conditions stretched his physical limits. On Tuesday, it was a tame flick to short mid-wicket that ended Jayawardene's 358- minute stay. Exhaustion, Jayawardene said, got the better of him on Day Two.
Sachin Tendulkar batted 158 minutes more than Jayawardene. Tendulkar is four years older than Jayawardene. Without Muralitharan, the Sri Lankan attack was inexperienced but they were not overawed by the batting maestro and made life difficult for him.
Off-spinner Suraj Randiv maintained a leg-stump line from around the wicket, with a leg slip and a short leg in place. Tendulkar had to stretch every sinew to get forward and defend, time and again. The paddle sweep was his preferred shot against this particular line. He played it tirelessly but only after perfectly judging the line and length.
A large part of his innings was spent building the innings brick-by-brick. He played the slog sweep for a four to bring up 150, his 19th such score in Tests. But largely it was a waiting game for Tendulkar. In his company, Raina too grew in confidence.
Their partnership was the bedrock of India's innings. It helped avoid the follow on and was chiefly responsible in wiping out the deficit. It was hard work out there for both Tendulkar and Raina with boundary-saving fields in place.
The senior batsman received treatment for cramps late in the innings. The sapping conditions were taking a toll but Tendulkar wasn't going to let fatigue set in. India couldn't afford to slip before going into the clear. Tendulkar wouldn't let his tiring body betray his skill.
Second coming
Over the past eighteen months, Tendulkar has got a second wind. He became the first batsman to score 200 in an ODI and his double century on Thursday was his fifth three-figure score in Tests since the beginning of this calendar year. Of greater significance is that the 203 completed on Day Four was Tendulkar's first double hundred in six years. As much as it required skill and class of the highest order and unending patience, the 516-minute knock also demanded the highest levels of fitness from his aging body.
"It's been challenging. Of course, the conditions are tough. Yesterday when I got into the dressing room, I had a long ice bath. I was in the ice tub for a while. Then I did some stretches, had an early dinner and I was in bed by 8.30. Because I went off to sleep early, I was up early morning, and then sort of relaxed a bit and stretched a bit," Tendulkar said, elaborating on how he recharges himself between match days. "When you are off field, time flies. You go back to the hotel and sleep, when you wake up in the morning, it's time to go back to the ground again. For almost all four days, I have been on the field. It's been demanding on the body but it's held up pretty well. To be out there for whatever number of hours I have been, it was a good effort and I am quite pleased."
It was a hard day's work for Tendulkar. But before he knows it, he'll be back on the field.
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