On the anniversary of the day India broke free from British rule, they were made to look like sorry subjects of the teardrop island next door. Sanath Jayasuriya's predominantly off-side century and Dilhara Fernando's early burst have nailed India firmly to the wall. And there's no Tendulkar around. And no Laxman either. Over the years, Jayasuriya's cut shot has been a subject of amazement for Indians. When Adam Gilchrist (the only other man given to sixes over point) does it, the effort is blatant - the clenched Australian jaw, spring from the groin and flailing arms, all involved in one brutal strike. But how does Jayasuriya, with that short-arm jab and beatific Buddha-like smile, keep managing it?

A daft rumour swept through Mumbai on a rainy evening five years ago. Those were the days when he had begun to consistently smash Indian bowlers over point. Jayasuriya had been found out, everybody whispered - there was a thick steel rod running through his bat and this little slasher was the biggest fraud of our generation. Nobody believed it - but everyone wanted to.

The secret still eludes us, but Javagal Srinath did his best to find it out today. Over after frustrating over, he pitched it short and wide - and got routinely deposited to that square boundary. At one stage in the second session, he was despatched there five times in two overs - once for six, twice for one-bounce fours, once along the ground, and once thickishly edged.

And this only minutes after Harbhajan Singh had put an end to an excellent opening partnership, and Sourav Ganguly was seen mouthing "One more, boys, one more," with all the gusto of a Dennis Lillee appeal. All he got in return was a full-blooded release of pressure. Zaheer Khan's short burst after tea, in which he finally dismissed Jayasuriya, was the day's only effort worthy of a top-flight international bowler.

Sri Lanka today did everything that India didn't manage yesterday. Where Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das scored 16 in 20 overs before lunch, Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu cracked 44 in just 12. Where the entire Indian innings of 95 overs included eight fours in all, Jayasuriya struck nine before he reached fifty.

Actually, Sri Lanka today did all that they themselves didn't manage yesterday. Fernando, always expected to trouble India, was quick yesterday but used the bouncer as his stock ball. Today he used it as his trump, and stuck to a three-quarter length for the best part. He blew Ganguly away with a beast of a short ball. It wasn't clear whether the ball brushed glove or shoulder, but Ganguly will know that 135 runs from ten innings now is hardly a good return for a Test No. 5.

Sameer Dighe paid the price for ignoring a basic cricket principle. Drop those wrists when evading a bouncer, they say. Flushed with patriotism on Independence Day, he kept his bat proudly at full-mast while he ducked another Fernando bouncer. The ball kissed the toe of the blade and India lost their last line of defence.

Sri Lanka have been positive and learnt from their mistakes. They have been the better team so far, and are playing much better cricket.

Rahul Bhattacharya is a staff writer with Wisden Online India

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