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DAY ONE REPORT Galle, Sri Lanka: Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s six-wicket haul helped India seize the initiative at stumps on Day One in the first Test match against hosts Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday. India posted 128/2 at stumps in reply to hosts Sri Lanka’s 183 in the first innings at stumps. Ashwin was the inspiration behind India’s impressive performance, claiming a six-wicket haul to bowl out the hosts cheaply. Ashwin (6/46) alongside leg-spinner Amit Mishra (2/21) flummoxed the Sri Lankan batsmen to bowl them out in just 49.4 overs in the second session of the day’s play. In reply, Shikhar Dhawan (53) and skipper Virat Kohli (45) remained unbeaten to help the visitors reach 128/2 in 34 overs at the end of the day’s play. With his six-wicket haul, Ashwin produced the best bowling by an Indian in Sri Lanka, surpassing Harbhajan Singh’s figures of 6/102 during the 2008 series. For Sri Lanka, skipper Angelo Mathews (64) was the highest scorer. [caption id=“attachment_2390780” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli had an unbeaten century partnership at the ends of Day 1. Reuters[/caption] Opting to bat after winning the toss, Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews hoped to see his team get a good start on a sunny morning, but the Indian bowlers had other plans. Sri Lanka were in trouble right from the start of their innings, losing their first wicket in the seventh over of the day. Keeping in mind the hard and dry pitch, India skipper Virat Kohli decided to go in with five bowlers (three spinners and two pacers) which worked perfectly for the visitors. Apart from pacers Ishant and Aaron, Ashwin, Harbhajan and Amit Mishra were the three spin options. Ishant and Aaron struck once each within the first eight overs to push the hosts on to the back foot. While Ishant struck the first blow for India by dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne (9), Aaron scalped the other opener Kaushal Silva (5) with a bouncer. Ashwin then joined the party, claiming the vital wicket of veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara (5), who is set to retire after the second Test of the three-match series. The experienced spinner then struck twice in quick succession, removing Lahiru Thirimanne (13) and Jehan Mubarak (0) to send the hosts reeling at 60/5 after 21.3 overs. Sri Lanka skipper Mathews (64) and Dinesh Chandimal (59) held on to put up a 79-run partnership to take the score close to 140. But Ashwin struck once again to get rid of Mathews. Incoming batsman Dhammika Prasad too surrendered at the hands of Ashwin, to hand the spinner his second five-wicket haul in away Test matches. Sri Lanka were 155/7 in 43.3 overs at that stage. Mishra, who has made a comeback into the Test side, claimed two wickets in successive deliveries to dismiss batsman Chandimal and Tharindu Kaushal (0), to push the home team on the brink, at 179/9 in 48.2 overs. Ashwin then completed the formalities, claiming his sixth as he clean bowled Rangana Herath (23). In reply, India got off to a bad start, losing opener Lokesh Rahul (7) in the third over of their innings. No.3 batsman Rohit Sharma (9) too didn’t last long. Two quick wickets within the first 10 overs gave the hosts something to cheer after a poor batting performance. From there on, Dhawan and skipper Kohli took charge, scoring at a slow pace to take the visitors past the 100-run mark to finish Day One on a promising note. For the hosts, Dhammika Prasad and Angelo Mathews took one wicket each. IANS
Sri Lanka vs India, First Test, day 2 as it happened: SL lose openers after India take big lead
Live updates from First Test in Galle as India and Sri Lanka resume action on Day 2
 "Sri Lanka vs India, First Test, day 2 as it happened: SL lose openers after India take big lead")
That’s it from here us at Firstpost. Join us tomorrow for the third (and possibly the last) day of the first Test. I think I speak for a lot of cricket fans, however, when I say I’d like Sangakkara to play a special knock tomorrow to bring Sri Lanka back into this.
On that note, have a good evening, folks!
Sri Lanka's vulnerability against spin getting unbelievable. If Sangakkara falls in the first session, Test should be over tomorrow itself
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 13, 2015
Even Indian fans might want Sangakkara to play a good knock tomorrow.
Sri Lanka's vulnerability against spin getting unbelievable. If Sangakkara falls in the first session, Test should be over tomorrow itself
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 13, 2015
Day 2 Stumps: Sri Lanka 5/2 trail India's 1st inn by 187 runs. Sanga at the crease on 1* with Prasad 3*. #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/qdZX23650j
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) August 13, 2015
STAT ALERT: Karunaratne & Silva become only 4th opening pair in Test history to be bowled for ducks in same innings. http://t.co/THX78CZEkW
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) August 13, 2015
Well, a wicket-less over finally. Dhammika Prasad plays out a maiden over to Ashwin. A couple of inside edges on to the pads that stayed away from the fielders.
Its Harbhajan Singh at the other end. Kohli is going all-out with his experiment!
Self-deprecating humour, there?
Might as well extend play by 30 mins today. Come on three days break. #SLvInd
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) August 13, 2015
OUT! Another one for India’s all-spin new ball attack and its the other opener back in the pavilion. Kaushal Silva misses the googly completely and it hits the pad and clips the stump. Horrendous start for Sri Lanka.
In walks Kumar Sangakkara for the last time at Galle.
After 2 overs, SL 1 for 2
OUT! Well well well. What a move by Virat Kohli. Ashwin gets a wicket off the fourh ball as Karunaratne is castled by a brilliant skidder. The ball that spun and beat him set him up for that. Take a bow, Ashwin!
Dhammika Prasad is the night watchman.
And Amit Mishra from the other end.
Kohli will be happy with the effort. Sri Lanka have a tricky little phase coming up.
India 375 all-out (Shikhar 134, Virat 103). We've taken a 192-run lead in the first innings #SLvsInd pic.twitter.com/iPhwRAvRnV
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 13, 2015
OUT! India all-out for 375. Kaushal gets his fifth of the innings and considering how he started, he’ll be chuffed that. Aaron fails to read the doosra and the edge is taken at first slip.
Ishant remains unconquered, what a player!
After 117 overs India 374-9 (Ishant 3, Aaron 4)
Pradeep peppers Ishant with a barrage of bouncers. Three too many and umpire signals a no-ball. Ishant finally moves on from 1 as he manages a couple off the last ball down third man.
Kaushal gets a full over at Aaron now.
After 116 overs India 371-9 (Ishant 1, Aaron 4)
Kaushal cannot get his five-for there as Ishant and Aaron play out three balls each. Ishant is now 1 off 32 balls. Dogged, but could India use a couple of overs at the SL batsmen tonight? Plenty of time left in the game though.
After 115 overs India 370-9 (Ishant 1, Aaron 4)
It has taken one ball for Aaron to go past Ishant as he begins his innings with a beautiful cover-drive. The lead is now 187.
After 114 overs India 364-8 (Saha 58, Ishant 1)
Delightful maiden over from Herath, as Ishant plays 6 perfect defensive shots – 4 on the backfoot, 2 on the front-foot. Looked for a while the ball might skid and beat his high back lift on a couple of occasions but he deals with it expertly.
After 113 overs India 364-8 (Saha 58, Ishant 1)
Another maiden, this time from Pradeep as Saha couldn’t rotate this time. Don’t think he minds by now, Ishant has proved himself to be quite handy in defence already
This has been going on Twitter all day with some suggesting Sachin Tendulkar – a natural lefty!
Left handers day today? Anyone looking beyond Sir Garfield Sobers as the greatest? You are welcome to stand in a corner!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 13, 2015
After 112 overs India 364-8 (Saha 58, Ishant 1)
Herath with another tight over. Ishant gets to face two balls and plays them out safe. He is now on 1 off 23 balls.
You have got to love watching Ishant bat in Tests!
Saha has been brilliant today. Fighting Test innings.
Good, attritional half century from Saha means India have the lead they will be happy with.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 13, 2015
After 111 overs India 363-8 (Saha 57, Ishant 1)
Saha hits the first six of the innings as he walks into a full ball from Pradeep and lofts it – almost chips it – over long off for a maximum. And what’s more – a single off the last ball to keep strike.
Apologies for that brief blackout – I blame it on Mr. Sundar Pichai for not making Chrome stable enough on my system (I couldn’t reach my IT helpdesk is besides the point)
Anyways, Saha has reached his maiden Test fifty and continues to extend the lead. Ishant is giving a good account of himself, surviving a couple of close LBW shouts but overall looking solid in defence. And Kaushal finally managed to bowl a maiden over!
After 110 overs India 356-8 (Saha 50, Ishant 1)
After 106 overs India 346-8 (Saha 42, Ishant 0)
Maiden from Prasad. Was going well for Saha for the first five balls, but couldn’t steal a single off the last ball. Kaushal gets a shot at Ishant.
After 106 overs India 346-8 (Saha 42, Ishant 0)
Saha protects Ishant from Kaushal, playing 5 dots and taking the single of the last ball. Can he play a Laxman-esque innings with Ishant?
After 105 overs India 345-8 (Saha 41, Ishant 0)
Saha, rather surprisingly, takes a single off the very first ball and exposes Ishant to Prasad for the next 5 balls. A yorker, bouncers and a length ball are well negoitated by Ishant. But the full ball outside the offstump induces Ishant to drive, but Sangakkara drops it at first slip – diving to his left as the ball was dying on him. Should have been keeper’s call? And why such big gap between the keeper and first slip?
After 104 overs India 344-8 (Saha 40, Ishant 0)
Kaushal is proving a handful for India’s lower order as Saha is running out of partners. Just two runs from that over. Time for Saha to start farming the strike?
After 103 overs India 342-7 (Saha 39, Mishra 9)
Just three runs from the Prasad comeback over. Nothing wild from Mishra there.
After 102 overs India 339-7 (Saha 38, Mishra 7)
Mishra comes down the track to Herath and smacks him over long on for his first boundary. Six from that over. Kaushal goes for two in the next.
Mathews decides its time to bring back Prasad.
After 100 overs India 331-7 (Saha 36, Mishra 1)
Another wicket-taking over from Kaushal. Mishram, the new man, shows some aggressive intent early on but not much comes out of it. Just one from that over.
India’s lead 149.
After 99 overs India 330-6 (Saha 36, Harbhajan 14)
Steady over from Herath to Saha, just a couple from it.
After 98 overs India 328-6 (Saha 34, Harbhajan 14)
Kaushal continues to be inconsistent. Saha handsomely drives a full ball against spin followed by a few singles.
Kaushal no-ball count: 8
After 97 overs India 320-6 (Saha 28, Harbhajan 13)
First signs of aggression from Harbhajan in the last couple of overs. Goes down the track to Kaushal and swings over mid-wicket by SL have a fielder there. Repeats it against Herath and hits it straight to deepish mid-on. Connects one though, as a slog sweep flies for four. Eight runs of the last two.
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