Galle, July 27:
Bowlers put their foot on the pedal after a flamboyant innings from debutant Hardik Pandya enabling India to be in firm control of the proceedings in the first Test against Sri Lanka, here.
At stumps on the second day, Sri Lanka were struggling at 154 for 5 after Pandya’s 49-ball-50 helped the visitors reach a mammoth first innings score of 600. Shikhar Dhawan with 190 and Cheteshwar Pujara’s 153 were the cornerstone of the gigantic total.
Sri Lanka need another 246 runs to avoid the follow-on with former skipper Angelo Mathews batting on 54.
Mohammed Shami (2/30) had an impressive comeback to Test arena while Umesh Yadav (1/50 in 8 overs) was erratic unable to hit the right length. Ravichandran Ashwin (1/49 in 18 overs) was economical and Abhinav Mukund’s alertness in the field contributed to a run-out.
“I think the key for us, even in the last season, was that we have bowled really well. There is some assistance as well for the spinners. Ashwin and Jadeja both have been bowling really well even in the last season,” senior batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said at the end of the day.
“I think our bowlers, they have bowled better lines and lengths (thank Sri Lankan bowlers) and I think tomorrow onwards, we will see a little more turn on this wicket. The pitch is drying up, so there will be more assistance tomorrow onwards,” he added.
The Lankan slide started with opener Dimuth Karunaratne (2) being trapped leg before by Yadav in the second over of the Lankan innings and the batsman wasted a DRS review in a bid to reverse the decision.
The Indian team upped the ante in the final session where they got four wickets. Post tea break, Shami got reward for hitting the right length.
First Shami accounted for Danushka Gunathilaka (16) in the 15th over and then four balls later, he sent back Kusal Mendis (0), with both batsmen caught at first slip by Shikhar Dhawan.
Veteran opener Upul Tharanga (64 runs, 93 balls, 10 fours) stroked his way to an attacking eighth Test half- century.
He reached 50 in 44 balls, which included 10 fours, and put on 61 runs for the second wicket with Gunathilaka before the latter was out caught.
Afterwards, he put on another 57 runs for the fourth wicket with Mathews (54 batting, 91 balls, 8×4) as the duo battled hard against Ashwin.(PTI)
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