Sri Lanka Vs India, 2017: Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane Lead The Way For Visitors In Colombo 1

At the stumps on the Day One of the second Test, India posted 344 for three on board following superb centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who further piled up the miseries for the hosts’ bowlers while rotating the strike and finding the gaps in between to dominate the day owing to the sheer brilliance from the quality batsmen.

For the fourth wicket Pujara and Rahane forged a partnership of 211 runs which further saw the Dinesh Chandimal-led side losing both their reviews, before taking a new ball.

Pujara remained unbeaten on 128 off 225 deliveries, as Rahane is batting on 103 off 168 balls, who was given out before the close of the day, as the replays suggested a massive inside edge, before ball thudded on his pad.

The middle-order batsman Rahane scored sixth hundred outside home and overall ninth and second against Sri Lanka which help India to set a firm grip in the ongoing Test, as the visitors are on their way to register yet another massive score.

Sri Lanka Vs India, 2017: Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane Lead The Way For Visitors In Colombo 2
Ajinkya Rahane was dropped by debutant Malinda Pushpakumara on his own bowling when Maharashtra-born was batting on 80, as the ball almost burst through his left hand — to roll down towards mid-off. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

While playing his 50th Test hundred Chesteshwar Pujara, who crossed past 4,000-run mark, has registered his 13th hundred in the format and second in the ongoing three-match series against Islanders.

Earlier India skipper won the toss and opted to bat first on a drier surface as Dinesh Chandimal returned to the Playing XI after suffering from pneumonia that forced him to miss Galle Test last month.

As left-handed Shikhar Dhawan came out to the ground with a new opening partner in the form of KL Rahul after recovering from viral fever, as Abhinav Mukund has had to make a way for right handed batsman.

Dhawan and KL Rahul gave a 56-run stand for the first-wicket before Dhawan was trapped in front of the stumps by off-spinner Dilruwan Perera.

Interestingly, the On-field umpire dismissed the appeal of the bowler, as the hosts opted for a reply which showed the ball was clearly hitting the leg stump suggested by TV replays revealed by Richard Illingworth, who is serving as the third umpire.

The centurion in the last Test scored 35 off 37 balls, as he smashed five boundaries and a six.

KL Rahul and Pujara registered 53 runs for the second wicket which further saw the Karnataka-born batsman Rahul piling up his sixth consecutive half-century in an innings in Tests, as he is averaging 44.89, in 29 innings of 18 Tests.

At lunch, the visitors were 100 for one in 28 overs which saw Dinesh Chandimal looking at other resources in its bowling arsenal.

In 31st over, India lost second wicket when error of judgement cost the wicket of promising prospect Rahul, who looked settled during the batting.

Rahul perished on 57 off 82 balls, after mix-up saw him middle of the pitch, as skipper Dinesh Chandimal moved swiftly to throw the ball towards wicketkeeper, who dislodged the bails which saw Rahul walking off the ground walking nodding his head.

Showing the class in his short Test career, Rahul hit seven boundaries before skipper Virat Kohli walked in to join Pujara.

At the score of 133 India lost third wicket in the form of Kohli when he was batting on 13 off 29 deliveries.

The 28-year-old opted for a cut on the bowling of left-arm wily customer Rangana Herath, before the ball took a edge of a bat which further saw Angelo Mathews claiming a splending catch at the first slip after it almost bobbles of out his bucket-like hands.

(Watch Video: How Virat Kohli Dismissed Cheaply At Colombo By Rangana Herath)

Earlier, Sri Lanka all-rounder Malinda Pushpakumara was handed over an international cap which further saw Dhananjaya de Silva breaking into the Playing XI after Asela Gunaratne picked a hand injury in the first Test at Galle.

Here’re some of  the Twitter reactions for the Day 1 of the Second Test in Colombo:

https://twitter.com/ynakg/status/892976624475422720

https://twitter.com/SPN_Cricket/status/893020603229372417

Tahir Ibn Manzoor

Tahir Ibn Manzoor, who tweets @TahirIbnManzoor (https://twitter.com/TahirIbnManzoor) - works as an editor for Sportzwiki.com. He has a great affection for longform feature writing. He completed his masters...