SL v IND, 3rd Test, Day 2 Review: Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav ensure enormous Indian dominance

After making a stunning comeback with the ball on Day 1, the hosts went into the second day hoping for the positive. The Indians had promising all-rounder Hardik Pandya and the composed Wriddhiman Saha at the crease as the score stood at 329-6. The Sri Lankans intended bundle out the Indians within the 400 run mark and got off to a pretty good start. Left arm pacer Vishwa Fernando was right on the money as he struck in the very second over. Wriidhiman Saha had to walk back to the pavilion as he sliced one back to silly point into the safe hands of Dilruwan Perera.

Left arm pacer Vishwa Fernando was right on the money as he struck in the very second over. Wriidhiman Saha had to walk back to the pavilion as he sliced one back to silly point into the safe hands of Dilruwan Perera. While the Sri Lankans looked to capitalize on the early breakthrough, 23-year-old Hardik Pandya had other intentions. In an innings of a lifetime, Hardik Pandya showed the world why picking him for the Test series was not a bad decision.

Hardik Pandya’s carnage:

Pandya, who started the day with a single run under his belt, played an outrageous knock of 108 runs which left the whole Indian team standing on their feet. Pandya dealt with the Test format just like a T20 international as he took the attack to the bowlers. The unfortunate Malinda Pushpakumara was chosen as the victim as Pandya hammered him for 26 runs in an over. The over consisted of 3 maximums and 2 fours as Pandya entered the history books for scoring the most runs in an over by an Indian batsman.

Pandya also bludgeoned the likes of Lakshan Sandakan and Lahiru Kumara in the process of bringing up his hundred. Virat Kohli along with his team mates gave the youngster a standing ovation as Pandya pulled off a Shikhar Dhawan type celebration on reaching the century run mark. The exciting cricketer brought up his century in just 86 balls making it delightful to watch for the Indian fans. Kuldeep Yadav also played a crucial supporting role which allowed Handya to unleash himself at the other end. The Indian innings finally collapsed after lunch as they got bundled out for a total of 487 runs.

Sri Lankan first innings: Kuldeep Yadav weaved magic

Miseries piled upon the Lions as they came onto bat. The day marked another horrific display of batting from the hosts as they saw the Indians rattle their batting order with ease. Skipper Dinesh Chandimal was the top scorer with a score of 48 as his team made a mere total of 135 runs before losing all the 10 wickets. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav was brilliant with the ball as he teased and played with the Sri Lankans on their own turf. The Chinaman completely justified the opportunity he got in place of the suspended Ravindra Jadeja picking up 4 wickets in the inning.

Among the pacers, Mohammad Shami was effective with the ball up front as he helped remove the openers. Mohammad Shami’s brilliant spell set the tone for the spinners to apply pressure on the middle order which they did with perfection. After restricting the Sri Lankans 352 runs of the Indian target, skipper Virat Kohli and his players were seen having a chat at the middle of the field. Shikhar Dhawan was quite vocal in the conversation and Kohli asked the Lions to follow on.

Follow on for Sri Lanka:

Coming to follow on, Sri Lanka found themselves at the end of shaky start once again as Upul Tharanga lost his wicket for the second time in a day. The left handed batsman looks drastically out of form at the moment. Tharanga played down a slightly wide Umesh Yadav delivery as it went on to rattle the timber. He had to make a long walk back to the pavilion after scoring just 7 runs from 31 deliveries. With the Test series coming to an end, Tharanga’s future will be brought under scrutiny and it seems to be approaching a dead end.

Sri Lanka ended the day’s play with 19 runs on the board in their second innings. they are also one wicket down with Dimiuth Karunaratne and nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara on the crease. After an action packed Day 2 it can be concluded that the visitors are on their way to a comprehensive whitewash over the Sri Lankans at the island nation.

Brief scores:

India 487/10 (Shikhar Dhawan 119, Hardik Pandya 108, Lakshan Sandakan 5/132)

Sri Lanka 1st innings 135/10 (Dinesh Chandimal 48, Niroshan Dickwella 29, Kuldeep Yadav 4/40)

Sri Lanka 2nd innings 19/1 (Dimuth Karunaratne 12*, Upul Tharanga 7, Umesh Yadav 1/3)

Sri Lanka trail by 333 runs.