Herath to bowl the final over of Day 1. Rahane punches the third ball of the over towards the off-side to collect a single. Close-in field for Pujara, with two slips, a forward short-leg coming in. Pujara collects a double off the last ball of the day, moving to 128 as India end the day on a commanding score of 344/3. Preview: An in-form India will look to inflict another defeat on Sri Lanka and seal the three-Test series when the two sides clash in the second rubber at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Thursday. India scripted a rampaging 304-run victory in the first Test, where opener Shikhar Dhawan made a strong case for himself with regular openers Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay out injured. The Delhi southpaw smashed a 168-ball 190 in the first innings to steer India to a mammoth total of 600 and help the visitors take a firm grip on the match, which eventually they never let go. Dhawan was adjudged Man-of-the-Match and that leaves skipper Virat Kohli with a happy headache of choosing between Dhawan, Abhinav Mukund and Rahul, who is back into the reckoning. Mukund scored a crafty 81 in the second essay. Rahul, who was laid low in the first Test with viral fever, has now recovered and if he is successful in proving his fitness for this Test, the toss-up will be between Dhawan and Mukund for the second opener’s slot. [caption id=“attachment_3888749” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Dinesh Chandimal and Virat Kohli, the two captains. AP[/caption] It is unlikely that Mukund will get a look in, owing to Dhawan’s form. At No 3 is the ever-dependable Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored a patient 153 off 265 balls at Galle. He will be eager to repeat his performance in what will be his career’s 50th Test. On his Test debut, all-rounder Hardik Pandya notched up a quick-fire half-century in the first essay and in just three overs given to him, scalped the wicket of Nuwan Pradeep. The Indian spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin got on to the act again, taking six wickets between them in the second innings to wipe off any resemblance of a challenge from the hosts. For the hosts, it will be an uphill task. The good news is that their skipper Dinesh Chandimal has recovered from pneumonia and will be available for this Test. Chandimal had put the Indian attack to the sword with a blistering 162 off 169 balls at Galle in 2015 and will look to repeat more of the same here. In the bowling department, Pradeep was the only positive the island nation can take from the first Test as the pacer took six wickets in the first essay and bowled really well. Left-handed batsman Lahiru Thirimanne was also recalled for the second Test as a replacement for injured Asela Gunaratne, who suffered a fractured thumb in the first Test. Thirimanne has been out of the Test team for more than a year and has also not featured in the traditional format since playing against England in June 2016. The home side will also hope veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who looked pedestrian in the first match, will deliver against a strong Indian line-up. Squads: India: Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Abhinav Mukund, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav. Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal(captain), Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara, Lakshan Sandakan, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Vishwa Fernando, Malinda Pushpakumara.
Highlights India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd Test, Day 1: Hosts finish day on commanding 344/3
Herath to bowl the final over of Day 1. Rahane punches the third ball of the over towards the off-side to collect a single. Close-in field for Pujara, with two slips, a forward short-leg coming in. Pujara collects a double off the last ball of the day, moving to 128 as India end the day on a commanding score of 344/3.
 "Highlights India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd Test, Day 1: Hosts finish day on commanding 344/3")
That’s it from us in our coverage of Day 1 of the second Test between Sri Lanka and India at the SSC in Colombo on Thursday. Barring a couple of blips, it turned out to be a thoroughly one-sided day in favour of the visitors, as they rode on centuries from Pujara and Rahane to pile on a massive score at stumps today.
We’ll be back tomorrow at 10 am at the start of Day 2. If the Sri Lankans are to keep any hopes of winning this series alive, tomorrow is the day that they have to make the most of. Let’s see if Chandimal and his men come up with something new to prevent the Indians from putting up yet another 600-plus total.
For now, it’s time for me, Amit, to bid you goodbye on behalf of the Firstpost Sports team!
This is the first time that two Indians have scored centuries on the first day in consecutive overseas Tests.
Ajinkya Rahane’s centuries in Tests – 9
In the second Test of a series – 5
In other Tests of a series – 4
This is the first century for Ajinkya Rahane after 17 Tests innings. His last Test hundred came against New Zealand in 2016 at Indore.
After 90 overs,India 344/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 128 , Ajinkya Rahane 103)
Herath to bowl the final over of Day 1. Rahane punches the third ball of the over towards the off-side to collect a single. Close-in field for Pujara, with two slips, a forward short-leg coming in. Pujara collects a double off the last ball of the day, moving to 128 as India end the day on a commanding score of 344/3.
After 89 overs,India 341/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 126 , Ajinkya Rahane 102)
Perera bowls the penultimate over of the day. Rahane collects a single off the last ball of the over, guiding it towards leg to retain strike for the following over.
After 88 overs,India 340/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 126 , Ajinkya Rahane 101)
Herath bowls the 88th over, and for a moment it seems as if the Lankans finally get the breakthrough that they so badly needed, with umpire Oxenford raising his finger to an animated lbw appeal. Rahane goes for the review, and a thick inside-edge leads to a reversal of the decision. One run off the over, with two more to go after this.
This is the first time that two Indians have scored centuries on the first day in consecutive overseas Tests.
Ajinkya Rahane’s centuries in Tests – 9
In the second Test of a series – 5
In other Tests of a series – 4
This is the first century for Ajinkya Rahane after 17 Tests innings. His last Test hundred came against New Zealand in 2016 at Indore.
After 87 overs,India 339/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 126 , Ajinkya Rahane 100)
Perera collects his second maiden while bowling his 17th over of the innings. Just three more overs left after this. Despite the position that the visitors find themselves in, a wicket at this stage could give the hosts some mental boost going into the second day’s play.
Most centuries batting at No.5 for India in Tests:
16 – Mohammad Azharuddin
8 – Polly Umrigar
6 – Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Ajinkya Rahane*
After 86 overs,India 339/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 126 , Ajinkya Rahane 100)
Herath into his 22nd over. Rahane collects a quick single in the second ball of the over, bringing up his century in 151 deliveries, having hit 12 boundaries in a fluent innings so far. The partnership is worth 206 at the moment. Four overs left in the day’s play.
After 85 overs,India 337/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 125 , Ajinkya Rahane 99)
Five runs scored off the over, including a single at the start of the over that brings up the 200-stand between Rahane and Pujara. The former is on 99 at the end of the over, with his wife wearing a pensive look in the stands.
After 84 overs,India 332/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 124 , Ajinkya Rahane 98)
Singles scored in each of the first three deliveries of the over, with Rahane moving to 98, with the partnership worth 199 at the end of the over. Too many milestones on offer at the moment. Six more overs left in the day’s play.
After 83 overs,India 329/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 123 , Ajinkya Rahane 96)
Rahane rocks back and pulls the second ball of the over towards the midwicket boundary, collecting a single three balls later to move to 96. Just a hit away from his ninth Test century now.
After 82 overs,India 324/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 123 , Ajinkya Rahane 91)
Herath into his 20th over. Three singles scored in the over, with Rahane entering the nervous 90s in this over. Eight more overs left in the day’s play.
After 81 overs,India 321/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 122 , Ajinkya Rahane 89)
Pradeep returns to the attack, with the second new ball being taken by the hosts. Pujara and Rahane collect a couple of singles, before Pradeep begins to wince with pain, eventually walking off te field. Looks like he pulled a hamstring or a calf muscle in this over. Problems aplenty for the hosts, with no frontline seamer left on the field to make full use of the second new ball. Pushpakumara completes the over for the injured pacer.
After 80 overs,India 317/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 119 , Ajinkya Rahane 88)
Rahane drives the first ball towards the extra-cover boundary with utter ease, collecting his 11th boundary in the process. The Sri Lankans decide to review an unsuccessful lbw appeal in the second delivery of the over, wasting their remaining review with the impact clearly outside off, though it shouldn’t affect the Lankans with the reviews getting reset at the end of this over. Six off Herath’s 19th over, with the second new ball also becoming available for the hosts.
After 79 overs,India 311/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 118 , Ajinkya Rahane 84)
The two batsmen commit to exchanging singles more often to keep the scoreboard ticking, getting past 350 before stumps being one of the milestones for Pujara and Rahane at the moment. Five off the over.
After 78 overs,India 306/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 116 , Ajinkya Rahane 81)
Pujara and Rahane rotate strike between themselves in the first four deliveries of the over with singles. Pushpakumara, who is bowling his 18th over, lets go of his maiden international wicket after Rahane pushes the ball wide of the bowler, with the ball popping out of his strong hand. Rahane survives on 80 as a result. Five off the over.
After 77 overs,India 301/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 114 , Ajinkya Rahane 78)
Single at the start of the 77th over brings up the 300 for India for the loss of three wickets — tremendous progress for the visitors after the loss of a couple of quick wickets post lunch earlier today. Two singles off the over.
After 76 overs,India 299/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 113 , Ajinkya Rahane 77)
Rahane cuts the second ball of the over towards sweeper point, with the ball reaching the boundary rope well before Herath, running in from sweeper cover, could get anywhere close to it. Five off the over. The visitors a run away from 300 now.
After 75 overs,India 294/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 112 , Ajinkya Rahane 73)
Dhananjaya comes to bowl his 6th over and Rahane bunts it long on for a single. Pujara uses his feet to work it on the onside but closes the face of the bat a little early, gets a leading edge but doesn’t carry to the bowler. Pujara blocks a couple and then hits the final ball, which is a touch short to long on to take the single off the final ball. New ball due in 5 overs.
Century in most consecutive Tests in Sri Lanka among Indians:
3 – Sachin Tendulkar, CHETESHWAR PUJARA*
2 – Vinod Kambli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Shikhar Dhawan
After 74 overs,India 292/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 111 , Ajinkya Rahane 72)
Pujara and Rahane collect two singles each in this over, rotating the strike between themselves, with four singles coming off this over. The umpire calls for drinks at the end of this over, with the Sri Lankans requiring some serious strategising, as well as some luck, to break this partnership and stand a chance of restricting the opponents to a manageable score.
After 73 overs,India 288/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 109 , Ajinkya Rahane 70)
Just four runs scored off Dhananjaya’s fifth over, with Rahane scoring all of them off a boundary in the third delivery of the over after coming down the track and hammering it down the ground.
Century in most consecutive Tests in Sri Lanka among Indians:
3 – Sachin Tendulkar, CHETESHWAR PUJARA*
2 – Vinod Kambli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Shikhar Dhawan
After 72 overs,India 284/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 109 , Ajinkya Rahane 66)
Just two singles off this over, though one of them brings up the 150-run stand for the fourth wicket between Pujara and Rahane — the former collecting a single in the third delivery of the over to bring up the milestone.
After 71 overs,India 282/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 108 , Ajinkya Rahane 65)
Pujara and Rahane choose to rotate the strike between themselves in this over, getting three singles in the first four deliveries. Rahane cuts the fifth delivery — which bounces a bit unexpectedly — towards backward point for a couple of runs. Five off the over.
Century in most consecutive Tests in Sri Lanka among Indians:
3 – Sachin Tendulkar, CHETESHWAR PUJARA*
2 – Vinod Kambli, Mohammad Azharuddin, Shikhar Dhawan
'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report
Jasprit Bumrah was rested for fifth Test against England at The Oval Workload management was believed to be the reason behind Bumrah's absence The pacer, however, reportedly has a knee injury, a BCCI official claimed in a report.
More Impact Shorts "‘I’d love to do it’: Trump refuses to rule out third term — despite constitutional limit")
 "What is the ‘Golden Fleet’ of navy ships that Trump wants to counter China with?")
 "‘Ramayan country’: Why Trinidad and Tobago wants to build a large Ram temple")
 "How China's rare earths choke changed America's trade deals")
 "‘I’d love to do it’: Trump refuses to rule out third term — despite constitutional limit")
 "What is the ‘Golden Fleet’ of navy ships that Trump wants to counter China with?")
 "‘Ramayan country’: Why Trinidad and Tobago wants to build a large Ram temple")
 "How China's rare earths choke changed America's trade deals")
](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Chandimal-Kohli-380-collage.jpg){kind=link}
Top Shows
