Gambhir, Tendulkar help India take slim lead

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 : Gritty knocks from Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar on the fifth and the final day took India to the threshold of a draw in the first cricket Test and spoil Sri Lanka's hope of their maiden win on Indian soil here Friday.

Gambhir's fine 114 and an unbeaten half-century from Tendulkar (55) saw India bat the first two sessions successfuly and get to 341 for four in the second innings and take a slim lead of seven runs by the tea break at Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium. Giving Tendulkar company at the other end was V.V.S. Laxman (28).

With 33 overs left in the day, Sri Lanka's chances of achieving their milestone win was all but over. Sri Lanka declared their first innings at 760 for seven in reply to India's 426.

Resuming at the overnight score of 190 for two on the final day, India were on the defensive mode right from the start and scored at a painstaking pace, with 66 runs coming off 29 overs in the first session.

Gambhir and nightwatchman Amit Mishra (24) didn't take any chance on the lifeless track and were happy with their defensive strategy that kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay. Mishra played well for his career-best score and was dismissed after Tillekaratne Dilshan took a diving catch, jumping to his right off Angelo Matthews.

Gambhir controlled his natural instincts and played a patient innings that reminded many of his match saving 137 against New Zealand in Napier earlier this year. He took some time to get to his 90s, but then hit three fours to get his third consecutive century and the seventh overall.

Gambhir and Tendulkar added 66 runs for the fourth wicket. But at a time when everything looked set, Gambhir perished with a poor shot off Rangana Herath and Dammika Prasad took an easy catch at mid-off. Gambhir 230-ball knock was studded with 13 fours.

Tendulkar, who became the only batsman to score 30,000 international runs, and Laxman played intelligently for their unbroken 66-run stand to give India the slim lead.