Sri Lanka on top as Mathews, Thirimanne knocks leave India struggling

Sport360 staff 20:11 18/11/2017
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  • Thirimanne stood tall to give Sri Lanka the upper hand on day three.

    At the end of a day three which saw the most amount of cricket take place in the first Test, Sri Lanka were well poised in their quest for their first Test victory on Indian soil.

    The visitors were just seven runs shy of India’s first innings total with skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella stationed at the crease when play was called-off slightly early due to bad light.

    Earlier, the islanders had bundled out the Indian batting line-up for 172 as their bowlers once again made the most of the seaming conditions at the Eden Garden in Kolkata.

    Cheteshwar Pujara continued from his overnight score of 47 to register a half-century but he departed soon after as a Lahiru Gamage in-swinger found the gap between his bat and pad to uproot his off-stump.

    India soon found themselves at 128-8 before some lusty blows from the tail-enders enabled the hosts to 172. Virat Kohli’s men would have felt they were way below par after seeing the islanders display much more application as they nearly wiped out the first innings deficit with a score of 165-4 at the end of day three.

    Pujara reached his half-century but departed soon after.

    Pujara reached his half-century but departed soon after.

    India’s pacers also found the swing and movement the Sri Lankan seamers had enjoyed as Bhuvenshwar Kumar removed openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Sadeera Samarawickrama fairly early into the innings.

    However, a solid 99-run stand between Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne ensured that the visitors were able to take the ascendancy in the first Test. The two were watchful on a menacing pitch and left the non-threatening deliveries well, not taking any undue risks.

    They were beaten on multiple occasions by the moving ball but soldiered on steadily, defying India’s pacers. Both batsmen registered half-centuries before Umesh Yadav came back towards the end of the day to remove the pair before play was called off.

    Scores (At stumps on Day three)

    India 1st innings – 172 all out

    Cheteshwar Pujara – 52

    Suranga Kalmal – 4-26

    Sri Lanka 1st innings – 165-4

    Lahiru Thirimanne – 51

    Angelo Mathews – 52

    Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 2-49

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