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It took India all of 35 minutes on the fifth morning of the final test to register a comprehensive innings and 24 run win against Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. With this win, India became the No. 1 test team in the world for the first time, wrapping up the 3 test series 2-0. It was MS Dhoni's fourth win from 8 tests as captain of India. He is yet to lose a test at the helm, since taking over from Anil Kumble a year ago.

The fifth day's play began at 9:30am under hazy conditions with Sri Lanka still 59 runs behind India's first innings score. Zaheer Khan started off proceedings and had Kumar Sangakarra edging the third ball of the very first over, as the delivery cut away late. A fighting knock of 137 came to an a brupt end as did Sri Lanka's hopes of putting India in to bat again and stave off an innings defeat. Rangana Herath stepped out to join overnight batsmen Nuwan Kulasekara, still batting patiently on 9 from 45 deliveries. Sri Lanka were 278/7 in the 94th over and India were well into their tail.

Four overs later Zaheer had Herath trying to pull a short pitched delivery, only managing to top edge it to midwicket and a diving Ojha pulled off a good catch. Sri Lanka were eight wickets down and still 51 runs behind India's lead of 333. This brought in Muttiah Muralitharan, batting for the last time in a test match on Indian soil, and he started off in typical Murali fashion by heaving Zaheer to the midwicket boundary for four. In the 100th over, Zaheer had Kulasekara (32) stabbing at rising delivery which ended up in the hands of VVS Laxman at second slip. It was Zaheer's 5th wicket of the innings, the eight time he has done this in his career.

The Sunday morning crowd, that had come in to watch India achieve a historic win, were in full voice as they sensed an early finish to the game. Harbhajan Singh wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings in the very next over when he had Murali edging a well flighted delivery into a delighted MS Dhoni's gloves. It was game over for the Sri Lankans who succumbed by an innings and 24 runs and India clinched the 3 match series 2-0 and with it the no.1 spot in the ICC test rankings.

It was an intriguing test match thanks to a very good test pitch that had something in it for the bowlers as well as the batsmen, playing true on all days of the match.
Sri Lanka had won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket slightly tinged with grass and their openers did a good job of negotiating the new ball safely. A fluent century by Tillakaratne Dilshan and a handy 99 by Angelo Mathews ensured Sri Lanka put up a respectable total of 393 in their first effort. Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers grabbing 4 wickets in the first innings.

The Indian openers began their chase with Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay, stringing together an opening partnership of 221 runs. This was followed by an even better second wicket stand between Rahul Dravid and Sehwag for 237. By now India had overhauled Sri Lanka's first innings total of 393 with a lead of 65 to boot. The rest is history as Sehwag went on to bludgeon the Sri Lankan attack to score 293, an innings he rated as his third best, given he had two triple centuries to his name already. India ended their first innings with a mammoth total of 726, its highest ever, aided by a sparkling century by MS Dhoni of just 154 balls.

Sri Lanka's 2nd innings chase started well as they lost the one wicket going into lunch on the 4th day. But post lunch S Sreesanth provided the vital breakthrough, trapping Paranavitana in front of his stumps. Zaheer Khan grabbed the next two wickets in quick time and Pragyan Ojha chipped in with his first to leave Sri Lanka facing the prospect of their second innings defeat in the series. A fighting century by Skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who scored his maiden fifty in India before tea, ensured Sri Lanka did not capitulate on Day 4. The match went into the fifth and final morning with Sri Lanka still 59 runs behind India's first innings lead. But a rearguard action was not to be found as the Lankan innings lasted just 8 overs and were finally dismissed with their total on 309.

Sehwag was deservedly adjudged Man of the Match for his brilliant innings of 293 and was also named Man of the Series for his 491 runs scored in 3 matches in this series at an average of 122.75! When asked what he was thinking of during his herculean knock, he replied in typical Sehwag-like fashion, "I was not thinking. My mind was blank. I waited for the spinners to come on so I could play my shots and hit the bad balls. The guys in the dressing room said I was hitting the good balls, but I thought I was only hitting the bad balls".

Indian skipper MS Dhoni accepting the Jaypee Cup on behalf of his teammates was asked his feelings on India becoming the no. 1 test team in the world. He said the real task for India starts now as it will be a tough job to maintain this performance. He thought the team did a terrific job with batting contributions from all and the bowlers responded well, especially Zaheer Khan who he felt was back in rhythm. The skipper was especially pleased with the fielding performance as he felt India held on to all their catches.

Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara summed up the match eloquently when he said, "We won the toss and put runs on the board, and then Virender Sehwag came in, and it was not enough".

India would end 2009 as the no.1 test team in the world even if rivals South Africa were to blank England in the four match test series starting on 16th December in South Africa.

India next plays an away series against Bangladesh in January 2010.

MINI SCORECARD:

Sri Lanka 1st innings 393 all out (89 overs, 4.15rpo)
Dilshan 109 (160)            Harbhajan Singh 4-112
Mathews 99 (131)            Ojha 3-101

India 1st innings 726/9 declared (163.3 overs, 4.44rpo)
Sehwag 293 (254)           Herath 3-240
Dhoni 100* (154)             Murali 4-195

Sri Lanka 2nd innings 309 all out (100.4 overs, 3.06rpo)
Sangakarra 137 (261)       Z Khan 5-72
Paranavitana 54 (144)     Harbhajan 2-80

File Photograph Copyright: Hugh Macdonald