COLOMBO: Venkatsai Laxman overcame back spasms to hit an unbeaten 103 as India defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in the final Test on Saturday to draw the three-match series 1-1.
Sachin Tendulkar chipped in with 54 and Suresh Raina made 41 not out to help India surpass a challenging victory target of 257 just before tea on the fifth day at the P. Sara Oval.
Raina smashed seamer Chanaka Welegedera over mid-on for a six to signal the series-levelling win after Sri Lanka had taken the opening Test by 10 wickets, while the second was drawn.
Laxman, aged 35, and Tendulkar, 37, shared a match-winning partnership of 109 runs for the fifth wicket in what was probably the last Test innings for the two veterans on Sri Lankan soil.
Laxman was on 60 when he developed back spasms and called for a runner in Virender Sehwag after being treated by team physiotherapist Nitin Patel on the field.
The stylish Hyderabadi followed his 56 in the first innings with his 16th Test century that was studded with 12 boundaries.
Raina, playing only his second Test, hit four fours and a six during an unbroken stand of 87 for the sixth wicket with Laxman.
Laxman`s exquisite strokeplay inspired the Indians to ward off the threat of the Sri Lankan spinners exploiting the bounce and turn on a fifth-day wicket.
Off-spinner Suraj Randiv, brought in to replace world bowling record-holder Muttiah Muralitharan, who retired after the first Test, claimed all five Indian wickets to fall.
But Randiv had little support at the other end as sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga went for 0-49 from 12 overs and unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis conceded 65 runs in 14 wicketless overs.
Tendulkar, the world`s leading run-getter, marked his record 169th Test appearance with a dour half-century during a three-hour vigil at the crease.
Sri Lanka should have got rid of Tendulkar when he was on 18, but Tillakratne Dilshan floored a simple catch at forward short-leg off Randiv.
Tendulkar fell in the fifth over after lunch, with 86 still needed, when he gloved a sweep off Randiv and was taken smartly down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Earlier, India added just nine runs to their overnight score of 53-3 when nightwatchman Ishant Sharma was dismissed for four, caught at short mid-wicket off Randiv.
It was the off-spinner`s fourth wicket in the innings, having removed Sehwag, Murali Vijay and Rahul Dravid in the final hour on Friday.
But Laxman settled in to drive Mendis through the covers and play a fluent on-drive in the same over to bring up the 50-run partnership with Tendulkar.
He continued in the same vein despite the pain, pulling Malinga and Randiv for boundaries.
India and Sri Lanka will now be joined by New Zealand for a limited-overs tri-series that opens in Dambulla on August 10.
BDST: 1611HRS, August 7, 2010
