Dhawan and Pujara centuries torment hapless Sri Lanka

Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara stroked fabulous centuries creaming the hapless Sri Lankan bowling attack as India posted 399 for 3 on day one in the first Test match in Galle.

Dhawan’s aggressive approach together with Pujara’s ever-calm solidity resulted in a massive 253-run stand in 280 balls for the 2^nd wicket which provided the base for the visitors. Dhawan blasted a career-best score of 190 in 168 deliveries with 31 fours.

Pujara wearied the bowlers to post his 12^th century and remained unbeaten on 144 off 247 balls with 12 boundaries along with calm Ajinkya Rahane who is not out on 39.

Photos: Sri Lanka vs India 2017 – 1st Test Day 1

After opting to bat first on a healthy surface, Abhinav Mukund was caught behind by Niroshan Dickwella off Nuwan Pradeep when the left-hander poked at a perfect length delivery and it brought the end to the opening stand which produced only 27 runs.

Sri Lanka’s fielding woes continued this series as well when Dhawan was dropped on 31 at second slip by Asela Gunarathne off Lahiru Kumara’s bowling. The impact of the ball while attempting the catch resulted in a fractured thumb and was rushed to an immediate surgery in Colombo. He is uncertain to play any further part in the Test match and might be out for the series as well.

After a 10-month hiatus from the Test team, Dhawan was given an opportunity due to the injuries to regular openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay. He swept the spinners ferociously when the Lankans employed the leg-side tactic and collected 65 runs behind square leg.

He used the feet excellently against Herath and slapped hard through the off-side when the seamers strayed. Dhawan’s total dominance over the Lankans during his 5^th century was a treat to watch as his 190 had 126 runs in the post-lunch session, the highest in Tests by any batsman between Lunch and Tea in 63 years.

India raced to 167 runs in 28 overs at 5.96 in the post-lunch session before Dhawan fell at the stroke of tea when he mistimed a drive to mid-off handing the second wicket to Pradeep.

By far Sri Lanka’s most successful seamer, Pradeep removed Indian skipper Virat Kohli, second over after the tea break with a perfect short ball which took a slight nick off the bat as Dickwella collected above his head. The on-field decision was not out but thanks to DRS, the decision was overturned in favour of the hosts.

Since Kohli’s dismissal in the 57^th over, Rahane and Pujara drained the Lankans, slowly and steadily on a pitch which had nothing for the bowlers in the final session. They added 113 unbroken runs for the 4^th wicket. The highlights of Pujara’s innings were the temperament in playing the ball late and putting away the loose ball.

Both teams fielded debutants for this match, batsman Danushka Gunathilaka for Sri Lanka and all-rounder Hardik Pandya for India.

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