Press Trust of India
Galle, August 13: Riding on brilliant centuries by Shikhar Dhawan (134, 271b, 13×4) and skipper Virat Kohli (103, 191b, 11×4) and their 227 runs partnership for the third wicket, India put themselves in a position of strength against Sri Lanka at stumps on the second day of the first Test match here Thursday. India finished at 375 all out to take a lead of 192 runs and then sent back both the opposition openers to the hut to have the hosts reeling at five for two when the umpires called it a day.
With the pitch deteriorating by the minute it will no doubt be a difficult proposition for the home batters to save the Test. But then, if they apply themselves, can still do it. Even though there is variable bounce and a lot of turn, the ball is coming off the pitch slowly giving the batsmen the time to adjust as Dhawan and Kohli showed during the morning as well as a portion of the afternoon session.
Resuming at 128 for two, both Kohli and Dhawan carried on in the same vein. They played with a lot of circumspect and dealt each ball on its merit. Both cut out their usual free-flowing stroke play and waited for the loose ball and when it came along it was promptly dispatched to the boundary.
Kohli was strong in the arc between mid-wicket to mid-off while Dhawan was prompt in punishing anything short, square of the wicket on both sides. The left-hander completed his hundred with a regal cover drive off Dhammika Prasad, it was his fourth Test ton and second in succession as India went into lunch at 227 for two.
After lunch the Indian skipper brought up his 11th Test century, and fifth in six Tests driving off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal through the covers. But he fell soon after to the same bowler, caught plumb in front trying to work the ball to the leg side. There was more misery to follow as Ajinkya Rahane fell to the same bowler in the same manner, though he should have got the benefit of the doubt. TV replays showed that the ball would have missed the leg stump.
With India playing with five bowlers, the onus was on Wriddhiman Saha (60, 120b, 6×4, 1×6) to deliver and he did so in style. The glovesman got his maiden half century in Tests and it was due to his efforts that India could stretch the lead close to the 200-run mark.
Dhawan fell, bowled off the inside edge to Nuwan Pradeep (3/98) who bowled with a lot of zest with the second new ball taken after the 86th over. But by that time, he had put India firmly in control.
The tail did not wag much though Harbhajan Singh (14) and Amit Mishra (10) did hang around a bit with Saha. Kaushal (5/134) emerged the most successful bowler for the hosts.