Sri Lanka lose early initiative as Pujara-Rahane tons take India to 344/3
India had mounted 344 for 3 wickets on the opening day of the second test with Cheteswar Pujara and A. M. Rahane striking centuries at the SSC yesterday. Sri Lanka failed to exploit the early seam movement the pitch offers going with just one paceman in Nuwan Pradeep who shared the new ball with wily spinner Rangana Herath as India, opting to bat first, dug in intent on tiring out the Sri Lankan bowling attack in a progressive sedate run grind. Unlike at Galle, Sri Lanka, opting for three spinners with Malinda Pushpakumara given his debut test cap, did have a tight rein with particularly right arm spinner Dilruwan Perera worrying the Indian batsmen by generating more flight and turn. His effort did earn him the reward of scalping Sikhar Dhawan, the first Test centurion who was trapped leg before wicket. Perera won the third umpire referral after his appeal was negated by the head umpire.
From there India progressed to 109 before losing K.L. Rahul for 57 when the batsman was run out. Rahul timed a delivery to short cover and called Pujara for a single. Pujara responded and went back to his crease stranding Rahul in the fourth ball of the 31st over. Skipper Virat Kohli joined Pujara and added 30 runs for the third wicket with Pujara before edging one to first slip to be well held by Angelo Mathews who dived to his right off the bowling of Rangana Herath. Literally, Sri Lanka did succeed in pinning India to a point, but lacked the fire power to drive home the advantage as the fourth wicket pair of Pujara and Rahane combined in an unfinished 211-run partnership. Pujara, who brought up his eighth Test ton, struck nine boundaries and a six to reach three figures off 164 balls. As the pair bore down on the mainly three-pronged spin attack, Rahane brought up his century off152 balls inclusive of 12 boundaries.
Perera’s one wicket cost him 68 runs off 18 overs, and Herath’s wicket cost 83 off 24 overs.
The Sri Lankan fielding was much improved, but for a couple of tough half takes that beat the close in fielders. The home team made three changes with skipper Dinesh Chandimal back from a bout of pneumonia that kept him out of the first test, and Dhananjaya De Silva coming in for the injured Asela Gunaratne, and Malinda Pushpakumara for Lahiru Kumara.
-By Srian Obeyesekere-
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-
