Ind vs SL: Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews partnership leave hosts on back foot
Kolkata: Lahiru Thirimanne (51) and Angelo Mathews (52) struck half-centuries after Sri Lanka bowled out India for a meagre 172 as the visitors closed in on a first innings lead in the opening Test against India, here on Saturday. When the bad light forced early stumps on the third day, Sri Lanka were 165 for four, trailing by seven runs, with skipper Dinesh Chandimal (13) and Niroshan Dickwella (14) at the crease.
Sri Lanka had taken a firm grip over the proceedings but paceman Umesh Yadav removed both Thirimanne and Mathews in the post-tea session to take off a bit of pressure from the hosts. Thirimanne and Mathews added 99 runs for the third wicket to negate the twin blows from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who removed both the Sri Lankan openers — Sadeera Samarawickrama (23) and Dimuth Karunaratne (8).
While the chips are already down for the hosts, they further received a setback when paceman Mohammed Shami walked off the field due to a right hamstring issue towards the end of the day. India resumed at a precarious 74 for five and managed to add 98 more runs to their overnight total, which was their second lowest score against Sri Lanka at home.
It is only the second time the Islanders have dismissed India in their own den below 200, after the hosts were dismissed for 167 in Chennai in December 2005. On the other side, everything seem to fall in place for the tourists as they bowled India out to be in an advantageous position, resisted the Indian attack nicely and successfully called two DRS reviews.
Having taken a review to overturn umpire Joel Wilson's decision which resulted in Ravindra Jadeja's dismissal, Sri Lanka took another review successfully to save Karunaratne even though the opener did not last long. The left-handed opener was given out trapped in front by Mohammed Shami but they reviewed the decision successfully. However, Bhuvneshwar bounced back to send back Karunaratne and Samarawickrama in successive overs. It was not the case to be as vice captain Thrimanne and former captain Mathews put on a composed approach in their left-right combination.
Scorecard
India (1st innings): K. Rahul c Dickwella b Lakmal 0, S. Dhawan b Lakmal 8, C. Pujara b Gamage 52, V. Kohli lbw b Lakmal 0, A. Rahane c Dickwella b Shanaka 4, R. Ashwin c Karunaratne b Shanaka 4, Wriddhiman Saha c Mathews b Dilruwan Perera 29, R. Jadeja lbw b Dilruwan Perera 22, B. Kumar c Dickwella b Lakmal 13, Mohammed Shami c Shanaka b Gamage 24, Umesh Yadav (not out) 6. Extras (B 6, LB 4) 10. Total (for 10 wickets in 59.3 overs) 172.
FoW: 1-0, 2-13, 3-17, 4 30, 5-50, 79-6, 127-7, 128-8, 146-9.
Bowling: Lakmal 19-12-26-4, Gamage 17.3-5-59-2, Shanaka 12-4-36-2, Karunaratne 2-0-17-0, Herath 2-0-5-0, Perera 7-1-19-2.
Sri Lanka (1st innings): Sadeera Samarawickrama c Saha b Bhuvneshwar 23, Dimuth Karunaratne lbw b Bhuvneshwar 8, Lahiru Thirimanne c Kohli b Yadav 51, Angelo Mathews c Rahul b Yadav 52, Dinesh Chandimal (not out) 13, Niroshan Dickwella (not out) 14. Extras (LB-4) 4.
Total (for four wickets in 45.4 overs) 165.
FoW: 1-29, 2-34, 3-133, 4-138.
Bowling: Bhuvneshwar 14.4-2-49-2, Shami 13.5-5-53-0, Umesh 13-1-50-2, Ashwin 4-0-9-0, Jadeja 0.1-0-0-0.
