A draw was the ultimate result of the opening Test much interrupted by rain and weather conditions at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Hosts India had come back strongly in the second innings after being outplayed by the visitors in the first half of the match though Sri Lanka were able to resist a late onslaught of pressure to share the spoils.
We look at two good, two bad performances from a hard fought Test which sets up the rest of the series nicely.
THE GOOD
VIRAT KOHLI’S 50TH INTERNATIONAL CENTURY GIVES INDIA HOPE
After the visitors had rocked India in the first innings and gained a substantial 122-run lead, it looked like a battle of survival for the hosts heading towards the fourth day of the Test. A breezy and fluent century stand from India’s openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan erased the deficit with ease to bring Kohli’s men back into the game.
A mini middle and lower order collapse though meant that India were not out of the woods just yet but the skipper took control of the innings as he turned on the accelerator towards the fall of Wriddhiman Saha’s wicket. The 29-year-old put on a display of some terrific clean hitting as he notched up his 18th Test ton, breaching the 50 international centuries mark in the process.
Kohli’s late assault and declaration meant India went from seeking safety in the morning to dreaming of an improbable victory by the afternoon.
18th Test century for @imVkohli followed by the declaration. Sri Lanka need 231 runs to win the 1st Test #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/J0Lqp650SZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 20, 2017
BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR PUTS ON A SEAM MASTERCLASS
The right-arm medium pacer kept the hosts in the game after Kohli’s men had been bundled out for just 172 runs in their first innings. The 27-year-old bowled with some excellent line and lengths, making full use of the swing and seam on offer throughout the Test.
While not quite possessing any express pace, Kumar’s sublime control of the red-ball and excellent consistency makes him a threat on almost any wicket let alone one which greatly aided the pacers.
His four wickets in the first innings ensured the visitors did not garner a huge lead and he turned it up once again on the final day to put Sri Lanka in all kinds of trouble. Kumar removed opener Sadeera Samarawickrama in the very first over of the final innings to register his 50th Test scalp in his 19th game for India.
He then had Lahiru Thirimanne edging to slip soon after, ruffling the feathers in the Sri Lankan dressing room as the visitors found themselves batting to save the Test after dominating much of it. Kumar kept up the pressure on the batsmen and was rewarded with two more wickets as he nearly carried India to a famous victory at the Eden Gardens.
Bhuvi at Eden… red ball, lights, five slips… Remember this! #IndvSL pic.twitter.com/sQ9gWU74vW
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 20, 2017
THE BAD
AJINKYA RAHANE HAS A TEST TO FORGET
The deputy Indian skipper was all at sea against the swinging ball in the first innings as Suranga Lakmal extracted every ounce of juice on a wet pitch. After a scratchy and fidgety 21-ball vigil at the crease, Rahane was undone by a gentle seam up delivery from Dasun Shanaka which held its line, taking a thin outside-edge before resting in the hands of the wicket-keeper.
His misery in the first-innings over, the 29-year-old would find that there would be no upturns in his fortune in the second. The right-hander was caught in his crease as a beautiful in-swinger from Lakmal had him plumb in front of the wicket. A DRS review wasn’t enough to save Rahane’s blushes as a dismissal for a duck capped off a Test he would quickly like to leave behind.
Three ducks in last 5 first-class innings for Ajinkya Rahane! #INDvSL
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) November 20, 2017
WEATHER GODS DEPRIVE CROWD OF FITTING FINALE TO THRILLER
Heavy rainfall had watered the Eden Garden’s pitch in the lead up to the Test and a combination of a wet outfield, bad light and poor over rates from both sides meant that a result was hard to come by.
Despite the massive loss of overs within the first two days, the Test came alive in the final day as the hosts turned the tables over Dinesh Chandimal’s men in front of a vociferous Kolkata crowd. After Kohli’s century, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s heroics with the ball had brought the crowd to its feet as it sensed an improbable victory. The islanders were crumbling under the pressure as they found themselves perilously hanging by a rope at 75-7.
Bad light though once again turned up to spoil the party much to the relief of the visitors as the crowd were robbed of what could have been a thoroughly entertaining final hour.
It’s a draw! Sri Lanka survive a nervy final session with a fantastic spell from @BhuviOfficial getting India to within 3 wickets from victory in Kolkata. What a Test! #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/pxi1Ljs0RP
— ICC (@ICC) November 20, 2017
