Sri Lanka v India 2nd Test day 2 review: India slightly ahead on a tough day

Sri Lanka v India 2nd Test day 2 review: India slightly ahead on a tough day: India had 319 runs on the board but only 4 wickets remaining when the 2nd day in Colombo began. The pitch had no demons so Virat Kohli would have envisioned a minimum of 400 runs. Wicket-keeper Saha and the lower order did not disappoint as India got to 393. Sri Lankans ended the day on 140/3 with plenty of cricket to be played over the next 3 days.

The morning began with Saha getting two close escapes. The first was where the bails refused to go down when Prasad had clearly hit the stumps while on the other occasion Chandimal’s catch was adjudged inconclusive by the third umpire. Sri Lanka’s quest to wrap the Indian innings early on Day 2 received a boost when Ashwin attempted an ambitious on-the-up drive only to find the fielder at short cover.

Amit Mishra frustrated the Lankans when he attempted a series of audacious shots but seldom made contact. The Mishra – Saha association that had struggled to lay bat on ball grew in confidence once Tharindu Kaushal was introduced. Mishra even pulled out the reverse-sweep to good effect as Mathews packed the leg-side with run-saving fielders.

Dushmantha Chameera ended the 46-run stand when he had Mishra caught behind with a length delivery. After the early impulse to attack the bowlers following Ashwin’s dismissal, Saha remained largely compact and helped himself to a useful half-century, his second in successive Tests, as India headed into lunch at 386-8.

India’s hopes of getting to the 400 mark lasted just three overs as Herath sent back Saha on just the third ball of the afternoon session. The left armer completed his fourth wicket of the innings when Ishant fell in his very next over to end the Indian innings on 393. It was a par score on a good pitch.

The Sri Lankan innings began with the vindication of Virat Kohli’s decision to pick Umesh Yadav ahead of Aaron. Umesh surprised Karunaratne with a fast and full delivery, swinging in to his pads to trap him in front.

Karunaratne’s early dismissal meant Kumar Sangakkara, playing his last Test match, came out. In a touching gesture, the veteran was welcomed to the crease in his final innings by a guard of honour from the visitors. The respect and adulation soon made way for some hostile stuff as promised by Ishant ahead of the series.

Stuart Binny, introduced in to attack, should have had Kaushal Silva as his first Test wicket but his joy after dismissing the right hander was short-lived when TV replays confirmed that he had overstepped. Sanga and Silva steadied the Lankan ship and survived a probing spell from Ashwin just at the stroke of Tea. Sri Lanka went into the last session at a solid 65 for 1.

Ashwin gave India the big breakthrough straight after Tea when he had Sanga poking tentatively at a delivery only to be expertly taken by a diving Rahane at slip. Sangakkara walked off to a standing ovation from the ground.

Kaushal Silva completed a fighting half-century in a phase of play late in the second day when India began attacking following Sangakkara’s dismissal. Silva’s patient vigil came to an end soon after his fifty as he tried to sweep Amit Mishra only for the ball to take the top-edge and balloon to the man at short fine-leg.

The Lankan pair of Thirimanne and Mathews, grinded it out, not looking pretty at times but the key was they returned undefeated at stumps with the hosts on 140/3. Sri Lanka are a further 253 runs behind but with the pitch still playing true, they should fancy themselves to match India’s effort.

With the ball, India were highly disciplined. They went over 18 overs without conceding a boundary in that post-tea session and Virat Kohli will be particularly pleased with that effort. The visitors have their noses slightly ahead for now but Day 3, which is so often the moving day in a Test match, will give a much clearer picture.

Brief Scores:

India 1^st innings – 393/10 (Rahul 108, RG Sharma 79; Herath 4-81)

Sri Lanka 1^st innings – 140/3 (Silva 51, Sangakkara 32; Mishra 1-9) trail by 253 runs.