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Mendis the difference: Harbhajan

Special Correspondent

— Photo: AFP

RECORD HAUL: Ajantha Mendis (right) is congratulated by teammates after taking Parthiv Patel’s wicket.

Colombo: Harbhajan Singh has singled out Ajantha Mendis as the difference between India and Sri Lanka in the three Test series.

“The Sri Lankans have bowled really well, especially Mendis, he has been really consistent,” said the off-spinner, after the third day of the third Test. “He has been the guy who has changed the series for them. Without him I think Sri Lanka would have really struggled in this series. The way he has bowled is outstanding.”

Harbhajan added that he’d like to steal Mendis’s wicket-taking luck. “Obviously he is new in international cricket and the more people play against him the more they will get to see him and people will learn about him. He does have some variation but every bowler has variations.”

Failures disappointing

Harbhajan said the failure of some of the big guns was disappointing, but expressed hope that India would make a fight of it. “These are the guys who have won games for India and done so well for the country it’s just a matter of not clicking. I don’t know how it happened,” he said.

“I hope Laxman and Rahul play the same sort of innings like Kolkata, and if they can do that and put us in a good position and we go on to win it will be another great win for Indian cricket. It’s still a very good wicket to bat on. Maybe fifth day it will play a bit differently but we have to bat really well for the match to go to the fifth day.”

Would Ishant be able to bowl in the second innings? “I don’t know what his situation is but he is little better than what he was,” said Harbhajan. “I hope he gets better and can bowl in the second innings.”

Kumar Sangakkara, whose 144 established Sri Lanka’s position of strength in the third Test, was modesty itself on Sunday, saying he had only done his job and that there were other worthies in the side.

“I always say a hundred is a hundred,” said the left-hander. “This was one of the more difficult hundreds to get. But at the same time, when you are a batsman, that’s basically your job — every time you go out, you try and get runs.

Kudos for Vaas

“Looking at our performance, I think Chaminda Vaas is the guy who set us up really well in the batting innings, going in as nightwatchman after a hard day’s bowl. It was wonderful to see him go out there and make it easier for the batters.

“Prasanna Jayawardene I thought batted brilliantly, Ajantha Mendis, Dammika Prasad in his debut showed a lot of maturity. Every single run counted at the end, it was a great team effort.”

Sangakkara said Mendis’s 25 wickets in the series thus far was an astounding effort. “He came in when Murali needed the support and he rose to the occasion really well.

“We were looking for a support bowler for Murali — Vaasy has done it for so many years — and we were looking for the next spinner. He has come along and gone beyond expectations. The important thing for him now is to keep learning.

Better and better

“The longer you play cricket, the harder it is going to get because the oppositions get to know you. Now his challenge is to get better every day. The character he has shown, the intelligence he has shown — I am sure as the years go by, he will get better and better.”

How did he see the match progressing? “I don’t think this track is going to get terribly worse than it is now. So anything in the region of 220-230 is I think chasable. But we want to keep them well below a hundred when we go out there tomorrow.”

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