Sri Lanka v India 1st Test day 2 review: Kohli, Dhawan help India take big lead

Sri Lanka v India 1^st Test day 2 review: Kohli, Dhawan help India take big lead: As the second day of the Galle Test between India and Sri Lanka commenced on Thursday, expectations were high from the Sri Lankan bowlers to help the home team fight back after being bundled out for a below par score. India still had a long way to go but Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan showed just why it wasn’t a 183 run pitch. The duo decided to inflict more misery on Mathews and his men and scored their respective tons to give the visitors a considerable lead. Kohli and Dhawan displayed sumptuous strokeplay and were involved in a partnership of 227 runs which left the Lankans on the mat.

Without much delay after the day’s play began Virat Kohli registered his 11th Test 50 and along with Shikhar Dhawan looked to press home the advantage. India were moving along nicely without much trouble. Dhawan was the more aggressive of the two, but Kohli too, chipped in with some fine shots to keep the scorecard ticking. The left hander also got a reprieve on 79 against an LBW appeal. He had missed the flick and was rapped on the pads. Kaushal, made a loud appeal but the umpire was not interested. This was another instance where having the DRS would have ensured fairplay and Shikhar making his way to the pavilion. As it turned out Dhawan made a century and the Lankan’s would be justified in thinking that this was a game changing moment. With captain Angelo Mathews off the field with fever, Sri Lanka were looking at long sessions in the field.

India was going strong, and now looking to press home the advantage and pump up the lead to a sizeable amount so that they did not have to bat again. Kohli hit his 4^th hundred in as many matches as India’s Test skipper. Sri Lanka finally got the much-needed breakthrough when Kohli was dismissed soon after he got his 11th Test ton. Rahane then fell soon in the next over for a duck to Kaushal.

India had slumped from 255/2 to 257/4 but the good news was that Dhawan was still going strong. Sri Lanka bowled with intent after opting for the second new ball. They brought Nuwan Pradeep back into the attack and he rewarded their faith with two quick wickets. He first dismissed Shikhar Dhawan for 134, and then removed Ashwin by castling him on 7. Though India lost wickets at regular intervals after Kohli’s departure they were not too concerned as the lead went past 150.

During the post-tea session, the visitors lost Bhajji and Mishra early, but Ishant stuck around and helped Saha register his maiden Test fifty. The wicket-keeper looked composed and took his time to reach the landmark before he got a harsh one from the umpire. The ball went off the helmet as Oxenford gave him out caught behind. Kaushal improved as the innings progressed and completed his second 5-wicket haul in Tests while Pradeep was rewarded for his hard work with 3 wickets. On Day 1, the off-spinner had struggled for rhythm but put up a better show today.

When the last wicket fell India lead by 192 runs and had around 4 overs to have a crack at the Sri Lankan openers. To make it a great day for India, Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva were cleaned up by Ashwin and Mishra for no score, respectively just before the close of play. While Karunaratne misread the quicker one from Ashwin, Silva was totally foxed by Mishra’s googly.

India will be pleased with how the first two days have progressed and are right on top in this game. They couldn’t have asked for a better start to the series. If they can get Sangakkara and Mathews early tomorrow, surely they can wrap things up inside three days and take a 1-0 lead.

Brief Scores: 

India 1st innings – 375-10 (Dhawan 134, Kohli 103; Kaushal 5-134)

Sri Lanka 2^nd innings 5-2, (Ashwin 1-0) trail by 187 runs.