Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showed no mercy on a hapless Sri Lanka attack as India amassed 610 for 6 in their first innings before declaring on day three in the second Test match in Nagpur.
Vijay, Pujara make Sri Lanka toil
Mural Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara stroked centuries as India took control on the 2nd day of the 2nd Test…
Kohli smashed his 5th double ton, joint-most by a Test captain, other being Brian Lara of West Indies while Sharma slammed his 3rd Test ton, his first in four years to help the hosts take a 405-run lead. In reply, Sri Lanka lost Sadeera Samarawickrama in the second ball when he shouldered arms to an Ishant Sharma delivery and ended on 21/1 at stumps.
Sri Lanka are still 384 runs behind with two full days of cricket still left to play.
Earlier, India started the day on 312 for 2 with Cheteshwar Pujara requiring just 29 for his 150 and Kohli needing 46 for his ton. It was the latter who got to his milestone first, scoring effortlessly with the odd boundary and keeping Sri Lanka on their toes with quick running.
The Indian skipper picked the weak fielders to perfection, forcing misfields and overthrows as Dinesh Chandimal’s men became increasingly sloppy on the park.
Kohli kept rotating the strike, one such single off Suranga Lakmal taking him to his century. But Pujara’s 363-ball vigil was finally ended by a Dasun Shanaka yorker against the run of play.
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Soon, Ajinkya Rahane cut Dilruwan Perera straight to point to fall in a soft manner. But there was little joy for the Visitors as Rohit joined his captain for another big stand.
Rohit, playing his first Test since October last year, took the attack to the spinners, charging down to hit Rangana Herath and Perera for sixes down the ground.
Kohli and Rohit put on 173 runs for the fifth wicket to pound a deflated Sri Lanka attack that sent down 176.1 overs in about six sessions of play.
Kohli, smashed 17 fours and 2 sixes during his 267-ball knock before falling to Perera while looking for quick runs but Sharma continued to pummel the Lankans as India declared on 610/6 – right after Sharma reached his milestone.
