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28 March 2024

India leave Sri Lanka reeling at 154-5 in first Test

Published
By Reuters/AFP

India's bowlers tore through the Sri Lankan top order to put the visitors firmly on top on the second day of the first Test in Galle on Thursday.

Paceman Mohammed Shami picked two wickets in the same over and Umesh Yadav got rid of opener Dimuth Karunaratne after India posted a commanding 600 all out, their biggest total in Sri Lanka.

Former captain Angelo Mathews was batting on 54 with Dilruwan Perera on six when stumps were drawn for the day, with Sri Lanka still trailing by 446 runs with five wickets in hand.

Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who struck a solid 153, said he was pleased that India had lived up to its billing as the number one Test side in the world.

"We would like to maintain that standard. We have scored enough runs, and we've got five wickets today. We are very well poised at this stage.

"I think the key for us, even in the last season, was that we've bowled really well. Our bowlers are bowling good lines and lengths," he said referring to India's 10 wins in the last 13 Tests.

Sri Lankan opener Upul Tharanga struck a defiant 64 off 93 balls but was run out thanks to a quick piece of fielding by Abhinav Mukund.

Mukund, fielding at silly point, also took a fine one-handed catch off Ravichandran Ashwin to send back Niroshan Dickwella (eight) and reduce the hosts to a shaky 143-5.

Yadav gave his side an early breakthrough after the Indian lower-order batsmen scored at a quick pace despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Yadav had Karunaratne trapped leg before and although the batsman went for a review, the decision was upheld after replays showed the ball pitching on the middle stump.

Shami, making his Test comeback after an injury layoff, then dismissed debutant Danushka Gunathilaka for 16 and Kusal Mendis for a duck in the space of four balls.

- Pradeep heroics -Earlier, paceman Nuwan Pradeep clinched his maiden five-wicket Test haul, putting the brakes on India's free scoring.

Pradeep (6-132) dismissed Pujara for 153, triggering a batting collapse which saw the tourists lose four wickets in a lively first session after resuming the day at 399-3.

"Though I didn't start well, I thought I got better as I kept bowling. I got some rhythm," said Pradeep who last played a Test in January.

"We came to the match with a plan. But the way the match went and given the state of the pitch, we had to change our plans.

"A lot of our plans didn't work... But cricket is like that, at least we could get them out for 600."

Pujara hit 13 fours in his 265-ball knock to match his previous Test best of 153 against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2013.

Hardik Pandya struck a half-century on debut as India's last two wickets added a quickfire 83 runs in 71 balls to lift the side from 517 for 8.

Shami hit Rangana Herath for three sixes while Pandya lofted Pradeep for as many sixes in an attacking batting display by India's lower order batsmen.

Ajinkya Rahane (57) looked solid but was sent back to the pavilion after Karunaratne dived for a low catch on his right off fast bowler Lahiru Kumara.

Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha struck back with a sixth-wicket stand of 59, but India's counter-attack unravelled as Sri Lanka dismissed the duo in the space of six balls.

Ashwin (47) fell short of a well-deserved half-century while Saha (16) became the first victim of skipper Herath (1-159).

Things got worse for Sri Lanka, with a statement from the nation's cricket board saying that doctors had confirmed all-rounder Asela Gunaratne was out for the remainder of the Test series with injury.

Gunaratne suffered multiple fractures on his left thumb while trying to take a catch off Shikhar Dhawan on the first day of the match Wednesday. He is expected to return to full mobility after a period of rehabilitation.

Sri Lanka 154-5 in first India Test

Sri Lanka were reeling at 154-5 at the end of day two after India posted 600 in their first innings in the opening Test at Galle on Thursday.

Angelo Mathews (54) and Dilruwan Perera (six) were not out at stumps, as the hosts still trailed by 446 runs with five wickets in hand.

India posted a commanding 600 in their first essay, thanks to centuries from Shikhar Dhawan (190) and Cheteshwar Pujara (153).

Paceman Nuwan Pradeep was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler, taking six wickets for 132 runs.

Yadav removes opener after India make 600

Paceman Umesh Yadav gave India an early breakthrough after the lower order helped the visitors post a strong 600 on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Thursday.

At tea, Sri Lanka were 38-1 after losing opener Dimuth Karunaratne who was trapped leg before off Yadav in only the second over of their innings.

Karunaratne went for a review but the TV umpire upheld the decision after replays showed the ball pitching on the middle stump.

Earlier, paceman Nuwan Pradeep clinched his maiden five-wicket haul to help bowl out top-ranked India for 600 shortly after lunch.

Pradeep (6-132) dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara for 153, triggering a batting collapse which saw the tourists lose four wickets in a lively first session after resuming at 399-3.

Pujara hit 13 fours in his 265-ball knock to match his previous Test best of 153 against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2013.

Hardik Pandya struck a half-century on debut as India's last two wickets added a quickfire 83 runs in 71 balls to lift the side from 517 for 8.

Mohammed Shami hit Rangana Herath for three sixes while Pandya lofted Pradeep for as many sixes in an attacking batting display by India's lower order batsmen.

Ajinkya Rahane (57) looked solid but was sent back to the pavilion after Karunaratne dived for a low catch on his right side off fast bowler Lahiru Kumara.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha struck back with a sixth-wicket stand of 59, but India's counter-attack unravelled as Sri Lanka dismissed the duo in the space of six balls.

Ashwin (47) fell short of a well-deserved half-century while Saha (16) became the first victim of skipper Herath (1-159).

Sri Lanka Cricket meanwhile confirmed that all-rounder Asela Gunaratne will not return to the side for the remainder of the Test series.

Gunaratne suffered multiple fractures on his left thumb while trying to take a catch off Shikhar Dhawan on the first day of the match Wednesday.

"Medical experts have indicated Gunaratne will be out of action for a minimum of 6-8 weeks, and will be returned to full mobility under a strictly managed rehabilitation regime over the period," it said in a statement.

India all out for 600 in first Sri Lanka Test

Hardik Pandya struck a half-century on debut to help India post a strong 600 all out in their first innings on the second day of the first Test in Galle on Thursday.

India's lower order batsmen added runs at a quick pace to ensure the visitors remained in control despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan top-scored with 190 and Cheteshwar Pujara struck a solid 153 to lay the foundation for India's commanding total.

Paceman Pradeep was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, taking six wickets for 132 runs.

India reach 503-7 at lunch despite Pradeep five-for

Sri Lanka paceman Nuwan Pradeep claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in a lion-hearted bowling effort as India reached 503 for seven at lunch on day two of the first test on Thursday.

After bleeding 399 runs on a punishing opening day, Sri Lanka finally managed more than one wicket in a session with pace duo Pradeep and Lahiru Kumara bending their back at the Galle International Stadium.

Debutant Hardik Pandya was batting on four with Ravindra Jadeja on eight at the end of the four-wicket session which yielded 104 runs.

Resuming on his personal score of 144, Cheteshwar Pujara duly brought up his sixth score of 150 or more before fellow overnight batsman Ajinkya Rahane straight drove Rangana Herath to complete his fifty in the next over.

Pradeep was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers claiming all three wickets on Wednesday, and the 30-year-old dismissed Pujara with a good length ball that bounced and seamed away.

Pujara batted nearly six-and-half-hours for his 153, raising 137 runs with Rahane after featuring in a 253-run partnership with centurion Shikhar Dhawan on Wednesday.

Kumara tasted success when he got Rahane to drive away from his body to be caught at slip for 57.

Sri Lanka's stand-in skipper Rangana Herath dismissed wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha for 16 but Ravichandran Ashwin scored freely to help India pile on the runs.

Ashwin hit seven boundaries before gloving a Pradeep delivery to give wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella his fourth catch of the innings.

Sri Lanka will have one batsman less after Asela Gunaratne was ruled out after the middle-order batsman fractured his thumb while fielding on Wednesday.