Heavy downpour limited first day’s play between Sri Lanka and India to only 15 overs as the series-decider commenced at SSC grounds on Friday.
India faced a tough 75-minute rain-curtailed first session on a grassy surface and made 50 for 2 after Sri Lanka’s bowling spearhead, Dhammika Prasad struck in the first over for the 8th time in the last 11 innings when he got the ball to jag back off the surface and rattle KL Rahul’s stumps in the second ball of the match.
The new Indian no.3 batsman Ajinkya Rahane completely missed out a full length delivery from Nuwan Pradeep and was given LBW for 8 as the visitors were restricted to 14 for 2 in the 4th over.
Sri Lanka got the best opportunity to remove the dangerous Virat Kohli early when a terrific Pradeep delivery induced an inside edge but the debutant wicket-keeper, Kusal Perera squandered the chance, diving to his left. The Indian score was only 28 and their skipper was 8 when he was dropped.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli negotiated the seam and swing of the Lankan attack adding 36 runs for the 3rd wicket before heavy rain interrupted play at around 11.15am and drowned the ground. The play was called-off for the day at around 3.50pm. Play will commence at 9.45 am on all remaining four days.
India – 50/2 in 15 overs: Cheteshwar Pujara 19*, Virat Kohli 14*, Dhammika Prasad 1/16, Nuwan Pradeep 1/16.
Earlier, Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected to field first on a re-laid SSC pitch which had a good covering of grass.
The hosts’ made three changes to their team. Wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Janith Perera became the 130th Sri Lankan Test player to replace out-of-form Jehan Mubarak while Kumar Sangakkara’s retirement prompted the inclusion of Upul Tharanga. The young fast-bowler Dushmantha Chameera missed out for Nuwan Pradeep.
Naman Ojha became the 285th Indian Test cricketer when he replaced injured Wriddhiman Saha while Cheteshwar Pujara got his first Test match in 2015.
Sri Lanka XI– Dimuth Karunarathne, Kaushal Silva, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews*, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Tharindu Kaushal, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Pradeep.
India XI – Chetheshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli*, Rohit Sharma, Naman Ojha, Stuart Binny, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.
