Bezawada.co.in

A double hundred from Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina's century on debut added some spice to what was otherwise a dreary fourth day of the second Micromax Test. The surface at the Sinhalese Sports Club is only breaking the heart of the bowlers.

During times when attendance for Test cricket is low, at least in the sub-continent, sporting wickets are mandatory. Leading Sri Lanka by 27 runs with one wicket left on Thursday, the Indians will have the opportunity to employ the heavy roller on Friday morning in a last-ditch effort to try and break the pitch.

Unless Sri Lanka collapses dramatically in its second innings – an extremely unlikely prospect on this surface – the match is heading for a draw.

Barren pitches often whip up batting records and India's 669 for nine at stumps is the highest Test total by a visiting team in Sri Lanka. On a pitch that, at best, offered only slow turn to the spinners and almost nothing to the pacemen, Sri Lanka desperately missed Muralitharan's deception in flight and the air-speed and reverse swing of Lasith Malinga.

The Indian batsmen were certainly not complaining. After Tendulkar's monumental 203 (347b, 23x4, 1x6) and Raina's impressive 120 (228b, 12x4, 2x6), skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made 76 with placements, hard-running and typically wristy blows.

Despite a mountain of achievements, Tendulkar's hunger for runs remains undiminished. His journey has been a relentless quest for perfection. It can be extremely demanding for a 37-year-old to bat for more than four sessions in such humid conditions.

Tendulkar's fifth double century in Tests – his first after the 2004-05 season - may have come on a flat track against a rather inexperienced attack. Yet, the innings brought the maestro's resolve to the fore. Nothing in Test cricket is ever given away easily.

It must not be forgotten either that Tendulkar, along with Raina, batted India out of a crisis situation. The Sri Lankan attack was undone by a right-left combination.

Tendulkar's square-drives and cuts off pacemen Dilhara Fernando and Dammika Prasad were exquisite. He used the depth of the crease, shortened the length of the bowler. When the pacemen erred in line, he responded with delicate glances.

The maestro's balance and poise were on view against the spinners. He essentially played Mendis off the front foot, which was the right ploy. Tendulkar's deft footwork once again disrupted off-spinner Suraj Randiv's length. It was a triumphant moment for the legend when he turned Mendis for a brace to reach his double hundred.

Raina's equanimity as he approached a major individual landmark underlined his temperament. The left hander was positive and batted with decisive footwork.

The southpaw's batsmanship stems from a balanced and upright stance. His has an elaborate back-lift and uses it to impart more power and weight behind his strokes. Over the years, he has also worked on straightening his back-swing.

Raina is a buzzing left-hander but there have been question marks on his handling of the short-pitched deliveries from the quicks. Indeed, he has been squared-up by well-directed lifters in the past.

Fernando did probe him with a few bouncers here but Raina swiftly got out of the harm's way. But then, it would be premature to arrive at a verdict on Raina's ability vis a vis short-pitched bowling from his display on this surface. Bigger tests await him on juicy tracks against hostile pacemen.

Yet, it would be unfair to take credit away from Raina's innings here. He is the 12th Indian to score a Test hundred on debut and the ninth to achieve the feat in his maiden innings.

Someone who unsettles the length of the bowlers, Raina skipped down to Randiv and lifted the ball over the long-off fence. And he slog-swept the same bowler for the maximum. Then, Raina off-drove Prasad fluently to reach the three-figure mark. The southpaw's Test debut had been a memorable one.

Raina eventually miscued an on-drive off Mendis to be held at short mid-wicket by Sangakkara. The fifth wicket association between Tendulkar and Raina produced a massive 256 runs.

Tendulkar continued to build partnerships, putting on 95 with Dhoni for the sixth before being held bat-pad by 'keeper Prasanna Jayawardene off part-time spinner Tillekaratne Dilshan. Bowling from round the wicket, Dilshan had spun one into Tendulkar. The maestro walked.

Harbhajan Singh once again gifted his wicket away, Dhoni knocked one back to Dilshan and Mithun contributed usefully before being castled by Mendis. The young Mithun does have some ability with the willow.

Despite some success, it was an ordinary day for Mendis. Although the Sri Lankan spinner troubled Dhoni with a couple of googlies, the Indians are definitely reading him better.

Scorecard: Sri Lanka (Ist innings) 642 for four declared

India (Ist innings): M. Vijay lbw b Mendis 58 (124b, 8x4), V. Sehwag st P. Jayawardene b Randiv 99 (101b, 15x4), R. Dravid lbw b Randiv 3 (18b), S. Tendulkar c P. Jayawardene b Dilshan 203 (347b, 23x4, 1x6), V.V.S. Laxman lbw b Mendis 29 (98b, 2x4), S. Raina c Sangakkara b Mendis 120 (228b, 12x4, 2x6), M.S. Dhoni c & b Dilshan 76 (138b, 7x4), Harbhajan c Sangakkara b Dilshan 0 (3b), A. Mithun b Mendis 41 (97b, 4x4), I. Sharma (batting) 10 (40b), P. Ojha (batting) 0 (4 b), Extras (b-9, lb-5, w-4, nb-12) 30; Total (for nine wkts in 198 overs) 669.

Fall of wickets: 1-165 (Sehwag), 2-169 (Vijay), 3-173 (Dravid), 4-241 (Laxman), 5-497 (Raina), 6-592 (Tendulkar), 7-592 (Harbhajan), 8-643 (Dhoni), 9-668 (Mithun).

Sri Lanka bowling: Prasad 19-1-96-0, Fernando 31-1-116-0, Mathews 9-1-24-0, Randiv 64-14-212-2, Mendis 54-7-157-4, Dilhara 21-4-50-3.

T.N. Sudhindra Kumar, chief general manager of AP Telecom Circle, launched the BSNL's IPTV (internet protocol television) in city on Monday. With this, interested broadband users can also opt for the new service to watch television channels.

All customers of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) can make use of this new feature while non-BSNL customers can also subscribe to the IPTV after getting a landline connection with broadband connectivity.

The BSNL has tied up with Myway to provide IPTV to BSNL broadband customers and this is going to be a prepaid service.

John Chrisostom, general manager of BSBNL Krishna Telecom, Myway regional manager Nilesh Dholkar, BSNL deputy general manager Y. Ravindranath and others were present on the occasion of launch function held at Hotel DV Manor.

Addressing a press conference after the launch, Mr. Sudhindra Kumar said that the launch of IPTV would be another red letter day for BSNL in city as the maximum number of broadband connections was present in Krishna district.

Nearly 20,000 broadband internet users of BSNL service were present in city and surrounding areas, he added.

Mr. Sudhindra Kumar said that the IPTV service was already launched in Hyderabad where the number of users had come to 500 as of now. The service was available in different tariffs for different plans and it would be different from the direct to home (DTH) service.

The interactive feature in the IPTV would be a special and useful service for users. At present, IPTV service was being given based on a wire line but in the days to come, it would be offered on a better technology using fibre connectivity.

Also speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chrisosthom and Mr. Nilesh said that all important channels would be made available to IPTV subscribers and these include Telugu channels.

In addition to this, movies, games, serials and other such items would be made available to viewers on demand. Moreover, there would be DVD like facilities with IPTV wherein users can find a lot of ease of use.

Telugu film actor Sunil couldn't have asked for more, what with his latest flick ‘Maryada Ramanna' capturing eyeballs across the State.

Directed by S.S. Rajamouli, who is known for rolling out powerful films like Magadheera, Simhadri and Chatrapati from his stable, the film comes across as a whiff of fresh air to Telugu filmgoers.

“During the shoot of Magadheera, Rajamouli sir told me that he had a story idea in mind and he was considering me in the lead role. It was difficult for me to believe him then. In fact, I have come to believe the whole thing only after the film hit the theatres,” Sunil told a press conference in the city on Wednesday.

Asked if he was influenced by any of the comedians of yesteryears, he named Relangi. “But if you notice, I try to copy Kota Srinivas Rao,” he said.

Sunil said he worked out so vigorously to shed weight for this film that he lost 20 kg. “When I realised that in my enthusiasm I had overdone the workout sessions, I had to make extra effort to gain seven kg again,” he disclosed.

State-wide tour

As part of State-wide tour to promote the film, the director, actors and others descended on the city and spoke to the local media before visiting cinema theatres.

When asked if there was any specific reason for casting Sunil in the lead role, Mr. Rajamouli said he couldn't think of anyone else fitting in the role so very perfectly.

“Now that you all have some idea about the character of Maryada Ramanna in the film, just think if you can imagine anyone else in his place,” he said.

The director refused to talk about his future projects, saying,

“At the moment, I am basking in the success of Maryada Ramanna. Let me allow this ecstasy to sink in before I can think of my next venture,” he said.

‘Good experience'

Actor Saloni Aswani, playing the lead in the film, turned out to be the news photographers' delight. She posed for the camera endlessly with a smile. “The journey of Maryada Ramanna has been a wonderful experience and I am extremely happy that people have liked the film,” she said.

Nagineedu, who played a negative role in the film, and others were present at the press conference.

Keywords: Sunil, Saloni Aswani, Maryada Ramanna