India equal Aussie record

– India won a record ninth Test series in succession yesterday after drawing the pollution-tainted third and final Test with Sri Lanka in New Delhi.

Top-ranked India won the series 1-0 to equal Australia’s record of nine successive Test series victories, between 2005-2008.

The first Test in Kolkata had ended in a draw and the hosts won the second game by an innings and 239 runs.

But Sri Lanka salvaged some pride in the final match thanks to Dhananjaya de Silva (above) and Roshen Silva, who defied the odds to earn the draw.

The Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground was marred by severe pollution, with fast bowlers from both sides vomiting on Tuesday amid thick smog.

In an unprecedented move, Sri Lankan players wore facemasks while fielding to combat the toxic air, which interrupted play on day two.

“It was a tough time. The thing is, in Sri Lanka we are not used to that, that’s why we struggled on) the first two days,” said Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal.

“But after that we needed to continue the game. We told the boys we have to forget about that and we need to play the game.

“Today is a fantastic day. It feels like Sri Lanka,” quipped the captain, referring to the less smoggy weatheryesterday.

The US embassy website yesterday showed concentrations of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants hit 234, better than a day earlier but still nearly nine times more than the World Health Organisation’s safe limit.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has said Delhi could be dropped as a venue during winter when pollution spikes.

Dhananjaya, who retired hurt on 119 due to muscle stiffness, and Roshen (74 not out) held Sri Lanka steady over three sessions of play on the final day, after the visitors were set a huge 410 victory target late on day four. – AFP