Second day of the opening Test between India and Sri Lanka at Galle belonged to the tourists. First, skipper Virat Kohli and opener Shikhar Dhawan hit tons and then a gritty 60-run knock by wicket-keeper batsman Saha made sure that India took a healthy first innings lead of 192. But sending both the Lankan openers — Silva and Karunaratne — by the end of the day was icing on the cake for Kohli & Co.
Virat Kohli’s decision to open with R Ashwin and Amit Mishra after securing a 192-run lead proved a masterstroke and both removed a Sri Lankan each to give India control of the driving wheel.
Tharindu Kaushal’s five-for after twin centuries by Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli gave the hosts some hope of making a comeback, but it was quickly dashed by Ashwin and Mishra who removed the Lankan openers for nothing after India’s 375.
At close of play, nightwatchman Dhammika Prasad and Kumara Sangakkara, playing his last innings at the venue, were at the crease, with the hosts reeling at 5 for 2, still 187 behind India.
The most significant play of the day transpired in the opening session where Dhawan and Kohli, resuming at overnight 128 for 2, ensured India didn’t lose any wicket and scored 99 runs as well to cross out Lankan hopes of an early comeback.
It was significant because Sri Lanka had lost five wickets on the opening morning and India may have suffered the same pain; however, a dry day-two wicket and the resolve of Delhi duo won the first session.
That was, in fact, four sessions in a row to India, which is huge at the start of a Test.
But Sri Lanka did strike back taking four wickets each in the second and third sessions on Thursday to dismiss India for 375, when they looked good to cross 400 with the score reading 227 for 2 at lunch.
Kaushal did an Ashwin for Sri Lanka, but in hindsight, the hosts would have loved the end of Indian innings to be delayed by another 5-7 minutes, which wouldn’t have required them to play the four overs where they lost their openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva without scoring.
Dhawan lived a charmed life, surviving a close LBW appeal and dropped catch from Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal being the unlucky bowler on both occasions, before cover-driving his way to a fourth Test hundred. Kohli too survived an umpire’s call off Rangana Herath after lunch before raising the 200-run partnership with Dhawan.
Kohli took 187 balls to reach his 11th Test ton, which included 11 boundaries, but he was out sweeping Kaushal soon after for 103 as the umpire upheld the LBW shout to end the third-wicket partnership of 227 runs.
A lot was expected of Ajinkya Rahane with a strong platform in place, but Kaushal was able to eject the promising right-hander for a duck – again LBW. That showed the nagging off-and-middle line Kaushal was bowling to ask questions regularly.
Things got better for Sri Lanka after they took the second new ball at the end of 86 overs.
Nuwan Pradeep made the red cherry count as he induced an inside-edge off Dhawan’s bat that hit the stumps to force the left-hander walk out for 134. India crossed 300 for the loss of five wickets, with Wriddhiman Saha beginning well, but he soon lost Ashwin, Pradeep again disturbing the timber, as Sri Lanka won the second session with India losing four wickets for 77 runs to reach 304 for 6.
Once the ball was a bit rough, Kaushal returned to the attack and mopped the tail up.
The offspinner with a side-on action removed Harbhajan sweeping. The Indian veteran was declared out bowled with the help of the video replays, which showed the ball flicking the bail. He made 14.
Saha, meanwhile, marched on to impress with a half-century and must be feeling hard done by when ruled out pulling Pradeep, who ended with figures of 3 for 98. Replays showed the ball had brushed Saha’s (60) helmet without making contact with any part of the bat or gloves.
Kaushal then got a nick off Mishra’s bat to get him out in the slips and end the Indian innings with his five-for that read 5 for 134.
Kohli would certainly have liked a lead of more than 192, but he got his team together and came out with a masterstroke that left Sri Lanka in dire straits.
