GALLE, Sri Lanka — In a dramatic fashion, India made a come back in the test series against Sri Lanka on Sunday. There was a tremendous effort by Off spinner Harbhajan Singh. He bagged a 10-wicket match haul as India claimed the last five Sri Lankan wickets for just six runs. This swift action provided India the much needed win in the second Test. So now the Test series is leveled and a lot of action is expected in the third and final test match.

After a humiliating innings defeat in the series opener, India salvaged its reputation with a strong performance with the ball. This great performance will now take India to Friday’s deciding Test in Colombo. Chasing a target of 307 runs to win in the second innings, Sri Lanka lost their way early, losing four top-order wickets for mere 37 runs on the fourth day.

On the Indian side opener Virender Sehwag hammered an unbeaten 201 and followed it up with a 50 in the second innings. So he was rightly named the man of the match. “We have done that in the past,” India’s captain Anil Kumble said of his team’s fightback. Once again the team has proved that they have the sufficient stamina to come back in an amazing way.

A 76-run partnership between Thilan Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan looked to resurrect the innings as they went for tea at 109-4, but Singh struck soon after tea when he had Dilshan (38) lbw, triggering a collapse by the tail. Thilan Samaraweera’s unbeaten 67 was the only highlight for the Lankans. Samaraweera faced 126 balls and hit eight boundaries but his performance was not sufficient for Lankans to win. Overall the home team looked clueless in front of the aggressive Indian bowling.

India, which had a 37-run lead on first innings, was bowled out for 269 in its second innings in Sunday’s opening session, giving Sri Lanka an achievable chase. However India immediately savaged the top order, quickly reducing Sri Lanka to 10-3.

Ishant Sharma was flawless in sending the opener Malinda Warnapura for a duck, with the score on 4. Then Zaheer Khan nailed the dangerous Kumar Sangakkara (1) in the next over. Both the catches were taken by Laxman. Captain Mahela Jayawardene was out at just 5 runs when Rahul Dravid took the catch at cover-point. Resuming after lunch at 24-3, Sri Lanka soon lost an out-of-form Michael Vandort at 10, trapped lbw by Singh.

So it was a disappointing test match for the Lankans but the only consolation for them is that they had won the first test, so even now the game may turn in their favor in the final test. On the Indian side Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma bowled India to a series-levelling 170-run victory. Both the players will need to maintain their performance in the final test as well. Off-spinner Harbhajan claimed four for 51 from 14 overs while Sharma took three for 20 from 15 overs. Harbhajan’s haul gave him match figures of 10 for 153, the fifth 10-wicket haul of his career.

With their mental strength and quality to bounce back, India has come back in the series. With this tremendous effort the series is now alive. It will be a very exciting and interesting treat to all the fans to watch two excellent teams fighting in the final match. To win the final match Indian team will have to come up with a similar performance with bat and ball both. Only then they will be able to tame the Roaring Lankan tigers!