SL Vs India, 2nd Test: Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne Steadied Host’s Sinking Ship

Aug 5, 2017 at 5:50 PM

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SL Vs India, 2nd Test: Kusal Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne Steadied Host’s Sinking Ship

Showing enough maturity and shouldering the responsibility after meek first innings show, the Sri Lankan batsmen have played quality innings while facing the uphill task against ranked No. 1 India, as the hosts are 209 for 2 in 60 overs, at stumps on Day three and are still trailing by 230 runs in the second innings.

After surrendering in the first innings, opener Dimuth Karunaratne was batting on 92 on 200 and night watchman on 2 off 18 balls when stumps were dislodged.

For the second wicket, Dimuth Karunratne and Kusal Mendis found visitors toiling hard for a wicket, as they forged 191-run stand for the second wicket to allow a sigh of relief for the hapless camp.

However, the patience from India was rewarded when Hardik Pandya provided a lucky breakthrough. in the form of Kusal Mendis, who brought up his third Test hundred before being caught by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha while diving full to his front after inside edge onto the pad balloons in the air saw Saha stretching full length to wrap the brilliant innings.

Before perishing at the brink of stumps, Mendis crunched 17 boundaries in his knock of 110 in 135 deliveries.

Coming to the bat, again Sri Lanka lost the first wicket on the final delivery of third over when Umesh Yadav steamed into rattle the stumps when the hosts were seven in the form of opening batsman Upul Tharanga.

The left-handed batsman Tharanga, who was undone on duck in the first innings returned to add just two off nine deliveries in his second when he got a peach of a delivery from Yadav.

Kusal Mendis was the highlight with the bat for Sri Lanka, who brought up his hard-fought fight. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

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After resuming the play on 50 for two Sri Lanka looked dismal with the bat again as the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals to allow the visitors enforce a follow on with the massive lead of 439 after being bundled out at 183 in 49.4 overs.
However, playing his first Test match, Malinda Pushpakumara remained not out on 15 off 22 balls after hitting a boundary and a six respectively.

Earlier, in the 96th innings of a 51st Test match, Ravichandran Ashwin bagged his 26th five-wicket haul when he clean bowled Nuwan Pradeep on nought off six deliveries – to complete the figures of 5 for 69 in 16.3 overs.

Getting in Groove: Five-wicket haul in the first innings after smashing a half-century. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

It’s pertinent to mention Pradeep came out to bat despite pulling his hamstring and was eventually ruled out of the remainder of the series.

The host’s batsmen were taken by surprise after the day three pitch has offered enough for the visitor’s bowlers, as the odd-balls kicked up before settling into the gloves of the wicketkeeper.

At the other end Ravindra Jadeja, who became the quickest left arm bowler to claim 150 wickets in fewer Tests and overall second after Ashwin, who achieved the remarkable feat in 29 Tests.

In the first innings of Sri Lanka with the bat, wicketkeeper batsman Niroshan was the only batsman, who posted a half-century.

However, Dickwella got a beauty from Mohammed Shami which rattled the stumps, as the batsman was batting on 51 off 48 deliveries. He smashed four boundaries and a six in knock.

In the morning, after adding ten to the overnight score of 50 for two, hosts lost skipper Dinesh Chandimal in 25th over, on the bowling of Jadeja was he was caught by Hardik Pandya after scoring 10 off 34 balls.

In the very next over, Kusal Mendis was caught by skipper Virat Kohli on the bowling of Umesh Yadav after scoring 24 off 64 deliveries.

Angelo Mathews (26 off 33), who aimed to rotate the strike and pace-up the innings was superbly caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at the leg slip while holding on to the cherry firmly just inches from the ground.

Dhananjaya de Silva, who came in as a replacement for injured Asela Gunaratne, perished on a first-ball duck when he got a beauty from Jadeja, as the ball pitched and then spun and kicked up to hit the top of the off stump.

Dilruwan Perera offered some resistance down the order, before being clean bowled by Ashwin after registering 25 off 34 deliveries, as Rangana Herath was bowled by Shami on 2 off five balls.

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