Sri Lanka v India 2nd Test Day 3 – 5 talking points

Sri Lanka v India 2nd Test Day 3 – 5 talking points: The 3^rd day at P Sara Oval was expected to be a belter of a day as till now both the teams had fared up equally in the first two days of the match. Indian’s were slightly ahead of their Asian counterparts as they had got the prized scalp of Kumar Sangakkara and the other set batter Kaushal Silva yesterday. On the other hand Sri Lankan’s started the day with the aim of getting as close to the India’s 1^st innings total of 393 runs as possible. Angelo Mathews continued his purple patch with the bat as the Lankan skipper played a gritty knock of 102 runs.

But in the 2nd session of the day the match tilted in favor of the tourists as Ishant Sharma grabbed two scalps in quick succession. And by the end of the day Indian’s were in a commanding position as they were leading by 157 runs with 9 wickets in hand.

Here is Sri Lanka v India 2nd Test Day 3 – 5 talking points:

1. Sri Lanka’s batting collapse:

From 241/3 to 306 all-out, the momentum and progress of Sri Lanka’s innings took a havoc U-turn after the first session. Today, Mathews and Thirimanne started steadily and as a result Indian’s were wicket-less in the 1^st session of the day. But, then Ishant outclassed Thirimanne and the match turned on its head from there on. Suddenly, the Lankans who were going strong in chasing India’s 1^st innings total seemed frozen. They lost their last 7 wickets for a mere total of 65 runs which summed up their poor day. Amit Mishra picked up 4 wickets while Ishant and Ashwin scalped 2 wickets each.

2. Thirimanne – Mathews partnership:

After the duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Kaushal Silva got out yesterday, the Sri Lankan team was left reeling. But today Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews put up a solid show with the bat in the 1st session. They knew that if they faltered then the team might well be heading towards a loss in Sangakkara’s farewell Test. They rose up to the occasion and added 127 runs for the 4^th wicket. As a result of their resilient efforts Sri Lanka reached a somewhat respectable total.

3. Angelo Mathews captain’s knock:

As they say cometh the hour cometh the champion. Mathews played a typical captains’s knock and once again proved that Sri Lankan cricket is in safe hands. Mathews scored his 6th Test century. Though he had his troubles against Umesh Yadav’s probing off-stump line but he took his time and battled out the tough phase with determination. As and when the opportunity arrived he latched on to the lose deliveries. It was a characteristic Mathew’s knock and a fair reflection of his astute character. As a skipper he averages in excess of 70 while before that it was nearing 40 only.

4. Ishant Sharma’s twin strikes:

Sri Lankan innings was sailing smoothly until India’s pace spearhead Ishant Sharma came to the party. First he removed the well set Lankan southpaw Thirimanne who got deceived trying to drive the ball which held its line. Sharma’s animated celebrations said it all as to what the wicket meant for the team. And then he outfoxed the hero of previous match Dinesh Chandimal. Sharma bowled on the fourth stump line to Dinesh who played the ball with hard hands and the the ball took a meaty edge. KL Rahul held on to a juggling catch in the slip cordon.

5. Stuart Binny’s 1st Test wicket:

The Indian all-rounder Stuart Binny finally grabbed his 1^st scalp in Test cricket. It is the 4^th Test match of his career. Till now he has been very unlucky. As in Lord’s one edge was not taken by MS Dhoni while yesterday when he got rid of Kaushal Silva, the umpire ruled it not-out as he had overstepped which made it a no-ball. Binny took the crucial wicket of the Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews who was looking in ominous touch. Mathews perished on 102 runs. And finally Stuart Binny heaved a big sigh of relief.