Press Trust of India
Colombo, August 21: Retiring legend Kumar Sangakkara failed to get a big knock in his swansong Test appearance but Sri Lanka overcame an early jolt to reach 140 for three after dismissing India for 393 in the first innings of the second Test at the P Sara Oval, Friday.
Resuming at the overnight score of 319 for six, India were bowled out shortly after the lunch break and the hosts treaded cautiously to keep the match on an even keel at the end of the second day’s play.
Opener Kaushal Silva (51, 118b, 8×4) played a watchful innings to ensure that the early loss of fellow opener Dimuth Karunaratne (1) did not trigger a top-order collapse.
His dismissal towards the fag end of the day, however, put the side slightly on the back foot given that the home team is still 253 runs behind.
Sangakkara was given a guard of honour by the Indians as he walked in to bat when the hosts lost their first wicket with just one run on the board.
However, it did not quite turn out to be a fairytale knock for the veteran batsman, who was dismissed by off- spinner Ravi Ashwin for 32 (87b, 4×4).
After Sangakkara’s departure, Lahiru Thirimanne (28 batting) and Silva added 39 runs for the third wicket before India took the slight edge by snaring the latter.
Earlier, India were bowled three overs after lunch as Rangana Herath (4/81) starred with the ball.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who had scored a 60 in the first Test, played a 56-run knock (117b, 6×4) to take India close to the 400-run mark.
The Indians were lucky to survive on more than one occasion. Saha was fortunate not to be bowled off Dhammika Prasad’s delivery as the ball kissed the off-stump but didn’t dislodge the bail.
Saha survived another close call in the 91st over, Prasad again the unlucky bowler, as his loose shot didn’t quite carry to the keeper. TV replays proved sufficient doubt to rule the batsman not out.
Amit Mishra (24) joined Saha at the other end and he too was lucky to survive, without opening his account, when in the 94th over, umpire Bruce Oxenford failed to detect a faint edge to the keeper off Mathews’ delivery.
Saha and Mishra built a sluggish partnership of 46 runs for the eighth wicket and it helped India past the 350-mark in the 101st over of the innings.