India restrict SL to 28/1 at stumps in chase of 447

Shreyas Iyer top scored for India with 67 runs

India set Sri Lanka a massive target of 447 runs to win. In response, SL reached 28/1 at stumps.

In the first session, pacer Jasprit Bumrah and R. Ashwin picked up two wickets each in the first half an hour to help India bowl Sri Lanka out for 109 and gain a 143-run lead. Bumrah also bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests on home soil.

The hosts needed only 5.5 overs to close out the innings. Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal took India’s advantage past 180 with ease. Soon after, Agarwal fell prey to Embuldeniya on 22. Then, Hanuma Vihari and Rohit took the hosts to 61/1 at Tea on Day 2, extending the lead by 203 runs.

The two batters continue in the same vein by stitching a 56-run stand before Sharma fell on 46 to Dhananjaya de Silva.

Then, Vihari was cleaned up by Jayawickrama on 35. Rishabh Pant came in and unleashed fireworks straight away but lost Kohli (13) at the other end.

The wicketkeeper-batter went on to smash the fastest Test 50 by an Indian, off 28 balls, before being removed by Jayawickrama. Then Jadeja (10) and Iyer (18*) put on another 15 to take India to 199/5 at Dinner break.

The two motored to bring up a half-century stand before Iyer notched up another 50. Jadeja was cleaned up by Fernando on 22. Iyer (67) and Ashwin (13) were the next wickets to fall. Axar Patel (9) was the last wicket to fall before Rohit Sharma declared India’s innings. Bumrah removed Thirimanne on 0 before Mendis (16*) and Karunaratne (10*) played out the rest of the overs of the day.

(Hindustan Times)