Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test Match, Day 2: 5 Talking Points

Day 2 of the Colombo Test match between India and Sri Lanka was no different than the First Day as the visitors continued to consolidate their dominance over the home side. During the start of the day, the primary objective of Kohli and co. would have been to reach 600 run mark, but few early dismissals hampered their chances of reaching the score. However, late order contribution from the batsmen at 6,7, and 9 powered the Indian score to 622-9 as Kohli decided to declare the innings, looking to have a go at the Sri Lankans later in the evening. The Lankans lost their openers at the end of the day and are now looking to save the follow-on primarily with Mendis and Chandimal in the middle and the score at 50-2. Let us go through the five talking points in the days play. 1. Lanka managing to see the back of Pujara and Rahane early Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. (Photo Source: Twitter) After the dominance of the Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane on Day 1, it was expected that the duo would continue to fill in their boots with runs as they looked unperturbed at the crease. Pujara has the reputation of scoring the daddy hundreds while Rahane would have wanted to make most of the opportunity and score as many runs as possible. However, it was not to be as Pujara could only manage to add 5 runs to his overnight score and his partner added 20 more to his total. Both Pujara and Rahane were the maiden Test wickets of rookies Karunaratne and Pushpakumara. Sri Lanka would have taken a sigh of relief to see the back of the two prolific run scorers of India. The two quick wickets stemmed the flow of runs in the morning session and gave a hope to the home side to dismiss the Indians within 450-500. Sri Lanka then had their task out post lunch to keep chipping in with wickets and restrict the Indian lower order. 2. Late order contribution deflating the morals of SL Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin.(Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) One of the major reason for India’s success in the whites is the late order resurgence and depth in the batting. There have been times in the recent past when the oppositions have removed the majority of the Indian Top and Middle order but still conceded mammoth scores. This is only due to the depth of the Indian batting line up. Even though the bulk of the scoring was done by the top and the middle order which put India into the driving seat, the lower order managed to stretch the first innings score even more with handy contributions from the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin(54), Ravindra Jadeja(70*) and Wriddhiman Saha(67). The trio managed to pick up half centuries to take India past 600. Few lusty blows from Pandya and Shami entertained the ones who were watching the match. Sri Lanka reduced the visitors to 413-5 after dismissing Rahane but still had to wait for the declaration from Kohli at 622-9. 3. Indians making a habit of scoring 600 Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli celebrates. (Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) India posted their second highest score against Sri Lanka today at Colombo. 7 years back they scored a mammoth score of 707 on this very ground, which still remains as the highest score against the home side. The match is fondly remembered for the double century from Sachin Tendulkar and a century on debut for Suresh Raina. India also becomes the first team to score successive 600s in two Test matches in Sri Lanka, following their mammoth score at Galle. Apart from that, since February 2016, India has reached the 600 mark in Test Cricket the most number of times (6 occasions), when compared to other teams (Australia-once). With this effort, Virat Kohli holds the record of most number of 600+ totals from a team, under his captaincy. It is only fair to say that India has made a mockery of the 600 mark totals, which was once looked upon as a terrific achievement from a team. 4. Rangana Herath-one man army Sri Lankan cricketer Rangana Herath is congratulated by his captain Dinesh Chandimal.(Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) After the blow to the Lankan bowling line up, with Nuwan Pradeep pulling his hamstring in the evening yesterday, the onus was then on Rangana Herath and his toothless spin attack featuring Pushpakumara, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Dilruwan Perera. Debutant Pushpakumara continued to deliver boundary balls every over to make matters worse for his side. Even though he picked up a couple of wickets in the innings, he went for an economy of over 4. Herath managed to hold his end up somehow and picked up four wickets by bowling 42 overs in the innings. 5. Ashwin removing the openers early Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin.(Photo by LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) Sri Lankans, yet again, had their backs to the walls, chasing a score of 622. A good start from Karunaratne and Tharanga was required and it remained an issue of utmost importance to see off the last 20 overs of the day without losing a wicket. However, it was not to be as KL Rahul pulled off one of the most spectacular catches in Cricket at forward short-leg. Tharanga tried to pull a short one from Ashwin, only to receive a shock. The ball managed to stick into the thighs of Rahul and the image of him running towards at mid wicket and dabbing with Captain Kohli would remain in the memory of cricket fanatics for a long time. Karunaratne too did not trouble the scorers much and was deceived by the flight and spin by Ashwin again, as he handed a catch off a nick to Ajinkya Rahane placed at Slips. Sri Lanka now has their task cut out tomorrow at Day 3 to avoid follow on.

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Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd Test Match, Day 2: 5 Talking Points

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