Sri Lanka Vs India 1st Test, Day 3: Twitter Reacts As India Strengthens Grip On Match
Jul 28, 2017 at 6:03 PM
Half-centuries from Virat Kohli (76*) & Abhinav Mukund (81) cemented India’s strong position in the first Test at Galle as they pressed for taking the lead in the three-match series. India finished the day on 189/3 with their overall lead extended to 498 runs.
Galle Test: 15th Test fifty for Indian captain, @imVkohli, his first in eight innings, also 1000 runs as captain outside India. #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/5CxgMTJq25
— Sportzwiki (@sportzwiki) July 28, 2017
Even with a massive 309 runs at disposal, India captain Virat Kohli decided against enforcing follow-on but with still 2 more days to go and the wicket likely to deteriorate, it did not look a very surprising decision.
Seventh instance of Kohli getting a chance to enforce follow-on and fifth time he hasn't. He ended winning the four previous ones.#SLvIND
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) July 28, 2017
India, nevertheless, were deprived of yet another solid start as first-innings’ centurion Shikhar Dhawan departed after scoring run-a-ball 14. Another first-innings’ centurion Cheteshwar Pujara and Abhinav Mukund then built a steady partnership, fully capitalizing on the loose deliveries from the Sri Lankan bowlers. Nuwan Pradeep, who took 6 wickets in the first innings, was the most undisciplined bowler as he conceded 24 runs from his five overs.
With the bowlers hardly causing any trouble, Pujara and Mukund were looking set to play big knocks before the former flicked a Lahiru Kumara delivery straight to short fine-leg which ended the 37-run stand.
Both first innings centurions Dhawan & Pujara gone cheaply, but massive 309 runs first innings deficit limits extent of Sri Lanka delight
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 28, 2017
And as soon as Pujara was dismissed, the play was halted due to rain.
And…this happened just a few minutes back. Was pelting down at Galle #TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/vREqG0tDUT
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 28, 2017
Mukund and Kohli then batted India to a position of strength by adding _________ runs for the third wicket.
Earlier, barring Dilruwan Perera and Angelo Mathews none of the Sri Lanka batsmen could put up a good resistance against the Indian bowlers on day 3 as the hosts were restricted to only 291. Angelo Mathews and Perera began the day with the scorecard reading 154 for 5 and were looking comfortable, mixing caution with aggression before the former skipper was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja for 83. With very little support from the other end, Perera began playing the aerial shots but eventually ran out of partners and was the last man standing on 92.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the day’s play:
Kohli should be ruthless and bat big when easy runs are up for grabs. No shame in picking low hanging fruits. #SLvInd
— cricBC (@cricBC) July 28, 2017
Mukund doing exactly what one has seen of him in FC cricket. He rarely looks like he is in that rhythm but gets through. Resilient.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) July 28, 2017
Between Abhinav Mukund's two fifties in Test cricket, Virat Kohli has scored 30 fifty-plus scores (16 tons); the most by an Indian. #SLvIND
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 28, 2017
Virat Kohli has enforced follow-on only twice out of 7 times when it was available to him.
MS Dhoni enforced f/o 4 out of 5 times!#SLvIND— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) July 28, 2017
Plans for bowling to the tail for Indian bowlers: #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/N6tjeQi12Z
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) July 28, 2017