Sri Lanka v India, 2nd Test, Day 4: 5 Talking Points

Team India continued their sparkling form with the longest version of the game as they pick up yet another victory in the second Test against the Sri Lankans. With the imperious victory at the SSC Stadium, India have already bagged the series with a match left in hand. The Indian batting order lived up to its expectations with an incredible depth in it. Riding on centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Chteshwar Pujara India put up a staggering 622 runs on the board in their first innings. The Indian bowlers matched the batsmen equally as they bundled out a depleted Sri Lankan side for a mere 183 runs.

Riding on centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Chteshwar Pujara India put up a staggering 622 runs on the board in their first innings. The Indian bowlers matched the batsmen equally as they bundled out a depleted Sri Lankan side for a mere 183 runs. As the Sri Lankans fell 439 short of the Indian total, Virat Kohli went for the jackhammer. Though Kohli asked the hosts to follow on, the Lions were not going down without a fight. Two audacious knocks from Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne led a valiant Sri Lankan fightback but unfortunately could not quite the Indian gunfire. Here are the five talking points of the day which saw India extend their lead to 2-0:

1. Kusal Mendis’ century:

Losing Upul Tharanga early into the second inning Sri Lanka looked all set for another dismal batting performance. However, star batsman Kusal Mendis stepped onto the field with other intentions. Mendis gelled with opener Dimuth Karunaratne brilliantly to put on a partnership of 191 runs on the board. Mendis brought up his century in a sheer display of guts and character. His 110 run inning will be a one to remember for initiating a Sri Lankan comeback. Mendis also looked flamboyant with his trademark sweep shot and played an instrumental inning.

2. Dimuth Karunaratne as a pillar:

Karunaratne’s contribution in the second inning was of equal importance as that of Kusal Mendis’s if not more. While Kusal Mendis played a knock defined by elegant stroke plays. Karunaratne stood as a brick wall in front of the Indians. His knock of 141 runs kept the scoreboard ticking throughout and stabilized the Sri Lankan inning for a long period of time. Even after the dismissal of Mendis, Karunaratne continued to handle the Indian bowling attack cautiously. Unfortunately, the batsman finally fell victim to a brilliant Ravindra Jadeja, but not before playing a whopping 307 deliveries.

3. Sri Lankan fightback:

Despite the thumping loss, Sri Lanka had one positive to take from this Test match. the hosts showed signs of a fightback in their second inning which was not the case in the first Test at Galle. Led by Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne, they showed the eagerness and character to initiate a comeback into the Test match giving the Indian bowlers a tough time at the park. However, the team collapsed because of the lack of support from the other batsmen. A few more of these kinds of partnerships in the third Test might put an end to their batting problems but the series has been already grasped by the visitors. With nothing to lose, Sri Lanka will go into the third and final battle with less pressure and it will be a fight for their pride.

4. Ravindra Jadeja’s superb spell:

Ravindra Jadeja showed the world why he is topping the charts in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers. The all-rounder was magical with the ball as he ensured a 53 run victory for his team. Jadeja’s deliveries saw a lot of spin which became a headache for the Lions. The bowler picked up a 5 wicket haul in the second inning just like partner Ravichandran Ashwin did in the first. Both the bowlers finished the Test match with 7 wickets each and justified their positions as the top two bowlers in the longest format of the game.

5. India’s win:

Virat Kohli guided his team to yet another Test series victory and there is no stopping his fairy tale run. The bunch of players continue to grow as a Test team with each passing day and the team looks unbeatable at the moment. It is a moment to cherish for coach Ravi Shastri as well, as he kicks off his tenure with a series win. The coach has already started giving the results the board had asked for while handing over the responsibilities. Winning the second Test by 53 runs India marks their 8 consecutive Test series win. The emphatic victory was India’s 3rd win at the SSC ground in Colombo.