M & Ms - Murali & Mendis

It was one delicious spin performance. The best batsmen against spin, the Indians playing the best spinner in the world today, the Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan. But he was not alone this time. He has a new partner, the new sensation, Ajantha Mendis.

The scene was set, 1st Test, Colombo and the Sri Lankan posting a mammoth 600 runs on the board before coming on to bowl for
the first time in the match. Thanks to 4 century makers against a mediocre Indian bowling lineup.

Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, did not waste too much before letting the debutant, Mendis play his magic. He was in the attack in the 10th over of the innings. Where people have seen Muralitharan and his magic his 5 wickets were of not that much attention than Mendis' 4-72 in the first innings.



With Indian batsmen getting bowled out at 223, they were still 377 runs behind and obvious follow-on staring in their face. Jayawardene must have been the luckiest captain to be in such an easy decision. He made them follow-on and Murali and Mendis were back at it quickly. The match ending on the 4th day even after the 1st day pretty much getting washed out with Sri Lanka winning by an innings 239 runs.

The Indian batsmen didn't know what hit them. Murali ended with match figures of 11 wickets for 110 runs and the debutant Mendis ended with 8 wickets for 132 runs. A complete spinning devastation of the Indian batting lineup which boasted the great names of Sachin Tendular, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and V.V.S Laxman. Nobody had an answer.

This is by far the best spinning duo I have ever seen and there is lots more to come. All I could think of after this delicious performance was M & Ms. Murali & Mendis.