Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test, 1st day as it happened: India on top after Ashwin takes six

.@ashwinravi99 was the star of Day 1, as his 6/46 helped @BCCI take control of the 1st Test #SLvInd pic.twitter.com/u8x2by6oK3

— ICC (@ICC) August 12, 2015

And that will be STUMPS in Galle. No weather delays but we ended up with nearly six overs short – sightscreen problems and fall of wickets contributing to that probably. India recover well after a shaky start losing Rahul and Rohit cheaply. Kohli and Dhawan resurrect the innings with an unbeaten 98 run stand.

Summary: India 128/2 (Dhawan 53 no) after Sri Lanka were all out for 183 (Ashwin 6-46)

After 34 overs, India 128/2 (Dhawan 53, Kohli 45)

Kaushal back into the attack. After two singles to begin the over with, Dhawan doesnt bother going after the last 4 balls, leaving extravagantly outside off and ends the over with a big flashy forward defence.

If Bishen says good things, you know you have earned it…..

Nice sensible Crkt by Indns in Galle-nothing flashy-just gud Crkt sense as req fr Tests!Wish V cud say the same fr Parliament proceedings!!

— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) August 12, 2015

After 33 overs, India 126/2 (Dhawan 51, Kohli 44)

Pradeep continues. Kohli in no hurry to get to his milestone (well maybe just a little, as Dhawan says no to a quick single that Kohli badly wanted) Plays well on the front foot defending with the full face of the bat. 

Partnership is now 98 runs.

This could well be the penultimate over of the day. Kaushal to bowl the last?

After 32 overs, India 125/2 (Dhawan 51, Kohli 44)

Kohli continues to treat Herath with respect – plays 4 dot balls on the trot. Herath’s figures read 7-1-15-0.

After 31 overs, India 124/2 (Dhawan 50, Kohli 44)

No extended break for Pradeep as he comes back into the attack. Kohli is nearing his milestone now after he caresses a straight drive past bowler. Not a bad ball by any stretch but Kohli looking in great touch.

After 30 overs, India 117/2 (Dhawan 49, Kohli 40)

Herath’s gets close to getting Kohli with an arm ball that rushed on to Kohli as he rocked back but was going on to miss leg stump. The very next ball He plays that same shot but manages to get it past mid-wicket and the batsmen scamper for 3.

Rohit continues to get some love on Twitter…..

Bhai yeh Rohit Sharma kaun hain? Ek mauka mujhe bhi de do! #INDvSL

— Ujwal (@UjwalKS) August 12, 2015

After 29 overs, India 113/2 (Dhawan 45, Kohli 37)

Pradeep comes back and might have pulled a muscle in that over. 4 runs off it but Pradeep walks back to the dressing room. Done for the day, most likely but Mathews will hope its not worse.

As expected Herath comes back from the other end. 

11 overs left in the day.

After 28 overs, India 109/2 (Dhawan 45, Kohli 37)

Another expensive over from Kaushal and Mathews might start thinking about giving him a break. Interesting shot from Kohli in the second ball as he drove an overpitched ball hard on to the pitch and it bounces over the bowler and past the mid-on mid-off fielders for a 4. Eight runs off it.

Pradeep from the other end replacing Herath. Change of ends for the left-arm spinner?

Kohli has employed the sweep.. #INDvsSL

— Narayanan S (@narayanantweaks) August 12, 2015

After 27 overs, India 101/2 (Dhawan 44, Kohli 30)

Steady again for Herath. More of the same. Kohli plays him out. A single each for the batsmen.

After 26 overs, India 99/2 (Dhawan 43, Kohli 29)

The Kohli Sweep – a shot that he has worked on over the break according to reports – makes its first appearance in this Test. Kaushal goes full but Kohli goes on hisn knees and slaps it to long-leg for a four. 7 runs from a no-ball-less over for Kaushal.

After 25 overs, India 92/2 (Dhawan 43, Kohli 29)

Maiden over played out by Virat Kohli as Herath continues to keep things tight to the right hander. Building good pressure from one end, needs support from Kaushal at the other end.

After 24 overs, India 92/2 (Dhawan 42, Kohli 25)

A good over from Kaushal. Starts off with two beauties to Dhawan outside off turning away from around the stumps – beaten the first ball and a edge doesnt carry from the second. Ends the over with a half-convincing LBW shout.

Kaushal No-ball count: 5

After 23 overs, India 89/2 (Dhawan 41, Kohli 24)

Dhawan after playin four dot balls dances down to Herath, gets to the pitch and drives him past mid-off for a four. Another good over for India.

After 22 overs, India 84/2 (Dhawan 36, Kohli 24)

Disaster averted first ball after drinks for India as Dhawan pushes one to mid-on and starts off for a single. Kohli, perhaps still thinking about the chilled Gatorade he had, doesnt respond. But the throw is poor and Dhawan gets back to his crease on time.

Good over otherwise for India as Dhawan cuts a short ball for three and Kohli puts away a full toss straight down the ground.

After 21 overs, India 76/2 (Dhawan 31, Kohli 21)

Herath with another uneventful over. Kohli keen to get to the pitch of the ball. Just two runs and its time for drinks..

After 20 overs, India 74/2 (Dhawan 30, Kohli 17)

Playing it on the merit of the ball from Kaushal the two Indian batsmen. Nothing threatening from the off-spinner there. Three runs in that over. AND NO NO-BALLS!

After 19 overs, India 71/2 (Dhawan 30, Kohli 17)

Herath starts off with a good over. Induces a false shot from Kohli as he edges a flick to short-leg which falls just short.

After 18 overs, India 70/2 (Dhawan 29, Kohli 17)

Kaushal continues to over-step (one more in that over) but produces a thick edge of Dhawan that carried to Mathews but the captain puts it down. Lucky break #2 for India. Virat Kohli then ends the over with a beautiful wristy cover-drive for his third boundary.

Rengana Herath from the other end..

After 17 overs, India 62/2 (Dhawan 27, Kohli 12)

Prasad into the attack now. Four dot balls to begin the over with good line and length but the moment he offered a bit of width, Kohli pounces on it and cuts him to the point boundary. Pace of the outfield didn’t matter for that shot – it sped away in no time.

After 16 overs, India 58/2 (Dhawan 27, Kohli 8)

Kaushal is off to a dodgy start, suffering from bit of an Ishant-itis there as he bowls three no balls in the over. Did fox Dhawan with a wrong-un from around the wicket which might have missed leg stump anyways. Kohli goes to the pitch and drives him well for a single.

Oh, Rohit!

Rohit v SL in SL (in all int. cricket): 20 inngs, 268 runs, 14.88 ave; Rohit v SL in other countries: 19 inngs, 742 runs, 53.00 ave

— S Rajesh (@rajeshstats) August 12, 2015

After 15 overs, India 54/2 (Dhawan 27, Kohli 7)

A solitary boundary in that over as a short and wide ball from Pradeep is cut uppishly over point by Dhawan for an easy boundary. Dhawan has 50% of India’s runs now.

First taste of spin from Sri Lanka. Off-spinner Tharindhu Kaushal into the attack.

After 15 overs, India 54/2 (Dhawan 27, Kohli 7)

A solitary boundary in that over as a short and wide ball from Pradeep is cut uppishly over point by Dhawan for an easy boundary. Dhawan has 50% of India’s runs now.

First taste of spin from Sri Lanka. Off-spinner Tharindhu Kaushal into the attack.

After 14 overs, India 50/2 (Dhawan 23, Kohli 7)

There’s the first appearance of the Virat Kohli square-cover drive. Times it beautifully with his wrists off the second ball of the over for his first boundary. Picks up another couple down square leg. Still a little tentative for the good length in-dipper.

Alas @ImRo45 doing little to improve his credentials as Test batsman.His dismissal puts India in crisis too. Now @imVkohli must show the way

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 12, 2015

After 13 overs, India 44/2 (Dhawan 23, Kohli 1)

Pradeep continues. A brilliant in-swinging third ball cut Kohli in half but bounced too high and hit on the thighs. A single brings Dhawan on strike, who continues to look like he is batting on a different pitch. Two drives on the up off fuller balls, first for a couple and the next one for a boundary. 

Herath was stretching a bit there, looking like he pulled something. Watch out for that one.

Mathews continues..

After 12 overs, India 37/2 (Dhawan 17, Kohli 1)

Watchfully played by Kohli as Mathews continues with a tight line. On the stumps but Kohli plays them with a straight bat. A quick single off the last ball that almost saw a collision between Mathews and Kohli at the non-striker. All good though, as they smile at each other and make peace.

After 11 overs, India 36/2 (Dhawan 17, Kohli 0)

Pradeep back in the attack and Dhawan continues to look bright and solid. Two brilliant shots in that over – a cover-drive off an overpitched ball and a front-foot punch down the ground. Seems to be seeing the ball nice and early Dhawan.

After 10 overs, India 28/2 (Dhawan 9, Kohli 0)

Wicket maiden for Mathews as he continues his good day so far personally. That steady length outside off gets him the reward. The wicket was not much different to the ball which Rohit shouldered arms. 

Virat Kohli in at No. 4. India in a spot of bother.

After 10 overs, India 28/2 (Dhawan 9, Kohli 0)

Wicket maiden for Mathews as he continues his good day so far personally. That steady length outside off gets him the reward. The wicket was not much different to the ball which Rohit shouldered arms. 

Virat Kohli in at No. 4. India in a spot of bother.

Time might be running our for Mumbai Indians’ skipper.

Rohit Sharma's last ten scores against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka (all formats): 9, 4, 4, 0, 0, 5, 5, 11, 0, 41 http://t.co/V3NFywdGQO #SLvIND

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 12, 2015

Oh well, that didn’t last long for Rohit! Angelo Mathew makes amends for Prasad’s mis-step from last over and traps him right in front. Again pitching slightly outside off and jags back in. Rohit plays within the line and gets wrapped on the back leg. 

Rohit gone for 9 (24)

After 9 overs, India 28/1 (Dhawan 9, Rohit 3)

For a while it looked like an all-too familiar tale of woe for Rohit Sharma but he’s got a big, big break there. Breaks into a sheepish grin as the umpire extends his arm to signal he can stay and bat for a while longer. The very next ball puts his head down and defends watchfully.