Sri Lanka living on the edge after India 600

Sri Lanka have put themselves in grave danger of an innings defeat after Indian bowlers removed the hosts top order after posting 600 on day two in the first Test match in Galle.

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Playing his 25^th Test, Nuwan Pradeep was the stand out bowler for the hosts as he became the third Lankan seamer to register his best figures, 6 for 132 to restrict the visitors to 600. Sri Lanka in reply were 154 for 5, effectively 6 down at close of play with injured Asela Gunaratne not being able to bat.

With only recognized batsman Angelo Mathews and spinner Dilruwan Perera at the crease, Sri Lanka need further 247 runs to avoid the follow-on as world number 1 ranked India carved up the Lankan top order in the final session.

Nuwan Pradeep is our number one seamer – Gurusinha

The only wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in Galle on the first day’s play against IndiA..

Earlier, India resumed day two on 399/3, the two overnight batsmen – Chesteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane added only 24 runs and reached their personal milestones of 150 and 50 respectively.

Pujara got a beauty of a delivery from Pradeep which nipped off on a good length and took the outside edge. Lahiru Kumara’s first ball of the morning resulted in Ajinkya Rahane edging to first slip where Dimuth Karunarathne grabbed a smart catch diving to his right.

Wriddhiman Saha and Ravinchandra Ashwin added 59 runs for the 6^th wicket but both batsmen fell just before lunch making it Sri Lanka’s session. Saha danced down the track and lobbed it to mid-on off skipper Herath. Ashwin played beautifully, crisping 7 fours for his 47 before he was bounced off down the leg side by Pradeep.

Photo Album – Sri Lanka vs India 2017 – 1st Test Day 2

After lunch, Pradeep bowled a brilliant bouncer to Jadeja which almost got the head of the left-hander and backed it up next ball with a toe-crushing Yorker which castled the batsman.

Hardik Pandya was dropped on 4 at first slip by Dimuth Karunarathne off Herath and went onto hurt the hosts scoring a fifty on debut before falling to Kumara as the final wicket. He added 62 for the 9^th wicket with Mohammed Shami which ensured India reach 600.

Pandya smashed a couple of huge sixes with the help of the wind off Pradeep and Kumara when the Lankans tried out the ‘bouncer’ as his 49-ball 50 consist 5 fours and 3 sixes. Shami took on the spin of Herath to smash 3 sixes but fell to the short-ball trap of Kumara.

Dimuth Karunaratne was beaten for pace by Yadav, struck plumb in front and was given out as Sri Lanka got off to a disastrous start. Karunaratne opted for a ‘poor’ review to no avail which even third-umpire Rod Tucker termed on air, ” Doesn’t look the greatest of reviews”.

Debutant, Danushka Gunatilaka looked promising, punching from the back foot along with Tharanga to add 61 runs for the 2^nd wicket. Mohammed Shami pegged Sri Lanka back in the 15^th over, bowling a double-wicket maiden. Gunthilaka and Kusal Mendis, both edged to first slip in space of 5 balls as the latter recorded his first duck at home.

Tharanga cut and drove elegantly to score his fastest fifty of his 9 half-tons in Tests. He reached his fifty in 44 balls with 10 fours. Then, he used 49 deliveries for his next 14 runs before yet another freak run-out ended his innings.

He jumped out of the crease to Ashwin, jabbed the ball straight to silly point where Abinav Mukund threw it back to wicket-keeper who whipped the bails off in a flash. Tharanga came back to the crease in time but the bat was on air when the wickets were disturbed.

Niroshan Dickwella was sent back quickly courtesy a cracking catch by Abhinav Mukund at silly point off Ashwin as India continued their dominance. Angelo Mathews played sensibly under pressure to keep Sri Lanka alive registering his 27^th Test half-century and remained unbeaten on 54*.

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