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Day Two Report Galle, Sri Lanka: Opener Shikhar Dhawan (134) and skipper Virat Kohli (103) struck fluent centuries to help India finish Day 2 with a 187-run lead over Sri Lanka at stumps on Thursday in the first Test being played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium here. After skittling out the hosts for 183 on Day 1 thanks to an impressive six-wicket haul by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, India were bowled out for 375 in the first innings following which Sri Lanka struggled at 5/2 in their second innings. [caption id=“attachment_2390226” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledges after taking five Sri Lankan wickets during the first Test. AP[/caption] Resuming at 128/2 on a sunny Thursday morning, overnight batsman Kohli and Dhawan found it difficult to score freely early on as Lankan pacers and spinners bowled in tandem. The visitors hit their first boundary only in the 13th over of the day. However, as the first hour of play progressed, the batsmen slowly settled down and took a vital 44-run first innings lead when the first session ended. Coming on to the field after lunch, India played on an aggressive note as skipper Kohli brought up his 10th Test century in style. Dhawan and Kohli looked settled for even bigger knocks but both fell in the second session, thus ending their 227-run third-wicket partnership. Kohli was dismissed soon after he reached the three-figure-mark, going back to the pavilion with the score at 255. India received a double blow when incoming batsman Ajinkya Rahane was out for a duck on his fifth delivery with India at 257. Set batsman Dhawan and Ashwin (7) also fell soon after to give Sri Lanka something to cheer about before tea was called. The final session saw a see-saw battle between the two subcontinent teams. Couple of wickets fell as well as runs were scored by the visitors which ensured them a vital first innings lead with three days still to go. Harbhajan Singh (14) and Amit Mishra (10) fell victims to spinner Tharindu Kaushal as the Sri Lankan claimed his fourth wicket of the innings. Wriddhiman Saha (60) chipped in with a handy half-century to become the second Indian wicketkeeper after former India Test skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to score a 50-plus score in Sri Lanka. For the hosts, Kaushal (5/134) and Nuwan Pradeep (3/98) were the pick of the bowlers. In Sri Lanka’s second innings, they got off to the worst possible start, losing both openers – Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva – for ducks inside two overs. Ashwin and Mishra struck in successive overs to leave Lanka at 5/2 at stumps with a daunting task ahead of the hosts to save the Test with three days remaining. IANS
Sri Lanka vs India, First Test, Day 3, as it happened: India need 153 runs; Sri Lanka need 9 wickets
Live updates from Day 3 in Galle as India look to wrap things up versus Sri Lanka
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That’s it from us here at Firstpost. This is Vinayakk signing off – absolutely chuffed that Sri Lanka showed some fight finally and are making a game out of this.
Join us tomorrow for what should be the last day. Adios!
Hero of the day – undoubtedly – was Dinesh Chandimal who played one of the best counter-attacking innings in recent times – up there with some of Adam Gilchrist’s efforts. 162 off 169 balls, 19 fours and 4 sixes – pick off the lot being the reverse sweep over covers for a maximum. It was an absolute delight to watch and has given Lanka an outside chance of pulling off a miracle win on a wearing wicket.
For India, Rahane was sensational in the slips with stunning catches to dismiss Sangakkara – who was looking solid in his innings of 40 – and Thirimanne. Ashwin was some by distance India’s best bowler again, picking up four wickets to take his match tally to 10.
After 8 overs India 23/1 (Dhawan 13, Ishant 5)
Dhawan takes Herath and Ishant takes Kaushal as the two see off the 8-over spell without further loss. Ishant farms the strike off the last over – doing his job of protecting Dhawan. Gets almost undone by a doosra of the last ball but missed the outside edge.
STUMPS on Day 3. India will resume their chase of 176 on Day 4.
After 6 overs India 19/1 (Dhawan 9, Ishant 5)
Ishant is in as the night watchman as its spin from both ends for Sri Lanka now. Kaushal continues around the wicket for Dhawan and hurried him again with a quicker one. A mad scramble for a single off the fifth ball could have seen Dhawan dismissed early but the throw is wayward. Ishant finishes the over with a copy-book cover drive through the vacant region.
After 4 overs India 12/0 (Rahul 5, Dhawan 7)
Kaushal with a good start as he troubles Dhawan with a couple of straighter balls from around the wicket. Three runs.
Change of ends for Herath..
Coincidence, eh?
After 3 overs India 9/0 (Rahul 4, Dhawan 5)
A maiden over from Dhammika, as Dhawan is not showing any signs of discomfort yet.
Off-spinner Tharindhu Kaushal from the other end.
After 3 overs India 9/0 (Rahul 4, Dhawan 5)
A maiden over from Dhammika, as Dhawan is not showing any signs of discomfort yet.
Off-spinner Tharindhu Kaushal from the other end.
After 2 overs India 9/0 (Rahul 4, Dhawan 5)
There is spin from the other end as Herath starts from the other end. Almost has the perfect start as he gets the outside edge from Dhawan which goes between the ‘keeper and first slip. Chances like that need to be taken defending a target like 176. It goes for a boundary. Rahul finishes the over with a flick off the pads coming down the track.
After 1 over India 2/0 (Rahul 2, Dhawan 0)
No spin experiment from Mathews as Prasad starts with the new ball. Rahul begins with a confident push off the backfoot through point for a couple. Just a hint of movenent off the fifth ball but Rahul leaves it well.
Like I was saying, a tricky chase for India. Big question: Will (can?) Dhawan come out to bat?
Sri Lanka all-out 367 (Chandimal 162*): A target of 176 is in the “well-this-could-get-interesting” category but Sri Lanka will and must be proud of that effort. Brilliant knock by Dinesh Chandimal – that innings was all about him as Sangakkara takes the back-seat for a while.
A word of praise for Ajinkya Rahane who set a new world record for 8 catches by a non-wicket keeper.
After 81 overs Sri Lanka 360-8 (Chandimal 158, Kaushal 7)
The last over with the old ball was bowled by Mishra, it goes for just 1. Aaron gets the new ball and Chandimal continues his rampage – pulls a well-directed bouncer to fine leg and dumps an over-pitched ball over long-off for brilliant boundaries.
Ishant from the other end – no spinners with the new ball..
After 79 overs Sri Lanka 351-8 (Chandimal 149, Kaushal 7)
Ishant Sharma is struggling with no-balls again. Two in that over. Ashwin gets a shot at Kaushal but the tail-ender shows his mettle pulling a short ball for four over mid-wicket. Chandimal one short of a magical 150.
Meanwhile, India A win the triangular series which seemed unlikely given the form Australia A were in
Personall yes, but the Thirimanne catch comes a close second.
After 77 overs Sri Lanka 337-8 (Chandimal 142, Kaushal 2)
Ishant’s over goes for 6 runs despite Chandimal’s reluctance to take a single. A good bouncer is followed by a poor short ball as Ishant gets pulled to the fine leg for four. On the downside, Kaushal gets to face Ashwin for 6 balls (yes Ashwin from the other end, another bowling change). A maiden over ensues as Kaushal reads his fellow off-spinner quite well, leaving well outside off stump.
Ishant to continue..
Yes, yes and a thousand times yes. If the technology can’t be trusted at least have plain old video replays for referral. Ridiculous!
After 75 overs Sri Lanka 331-8 (Chandimal 136, Kaushal 2)
Ashwin is taken to the cleaners by Chandimal. Errs on the shorter side on a couple of occasions brings about two big pulls from Chandimal – first one sails over midwicket for a six and the second one falls just shot. Mishra gets a shot Kaushal and he tries a few variations, tempting the tail-ender with slow – really slow – turners. Kaushal survives.
More chopping and changing from Kohli as Ishant comes back..
After 73 overs Sri Lanka 319-8 (Chandimal 126, Kaushal 0)
Ishant and Mishra came back into the attack and the double change worked for Kohli. Ishant was hit for a brilliant cut by Chandimal. Mishra has three wickets in the innings but that was a lucky break. The bat hit pitch and the ball missed the gloves by a whisker.
Just one over for Ishant as Ashwin is back…
Well done, Jinks. Well done.
Greg Chappell, Matthew Hayden in that list..
Comfortably India’s best catcher right now.
After 71 overs SL 312/7 (Chandimal 120, Herath 1)
Herath plays out a maiden over to Ashwin but Chandimal has decided to take the attacking route again. Hits an incredible reverse-sweep six off Harbhajan as he flgihred one on the middle stump. Follows that up with a chip reverse-sweep to for a couple towards third man. India pushing the field back for Chandimal to have a go at Herath.
OUT! Harbhajan’s patience pays off – gets his first wicket of the match with a brilliant off-break that spins away from off-stump, gets the outside edge as Mubarak went driving. Simple catch for Rahane at first slip – his 7th of the match. Mubarak falls for a fighting 49.
After 68 overs SL 303/7 (Chandimal 111, Herath 1)
After 67 overs SL 292/6 (Chandimal 105, Mubarak 45)
Ashwin lost his length a little bit in his over as he went too short, enabling Mubarak to steal a couple of couples. Harbhajan keeps him quieter as he bowls 5 dot balls, from over the wicket.
After 65 overs SL 287/6 (Chandimal 103, Mubarak 41)
Ashwin looks his usual threatening self in his first over back. Goes over the stumps for both the batsmen. Three runs of his over. Mubarak tries to unsettle Bhajji’s rhythm by dancing down the track and getting the maximum result out of it. Still gets a couple past outside edge.
After 63 overs SL 278/6 (Chandimal 102, Mubarak 34)
Chandimal steadying himself a bit after the 100. Three singles of Mishra’s over. Harbhajan continues from the other end and he is in the midst of his best spell of the match. Mubarak gets a lofted sweep away for a boundary but Bhajji varies his angle from over and around the wicket – beating Mubarak with two classic off-breaks. The last ball was a peach as it kicked up from off-stump line and beat Mubarak. Saha collected it hip-high.
Ashwin back into the attack, can he get another breakthrouhh?
After 61 overs SL 269/6 (Chandimal 100, Mubarak 27)
Chandimal plays out rare maiden off Amit Mishra – who starts from the other end and not Ashwin. Mubarak takes three runs from Bhajji’s over where the Turbanator looked threatening. A skidder almost trapped Mubarak on the backfoot and got a couple to bounce from outside off.