KL Rahul scored his second century for India on day one of the second Test before hosts Sri Lanka fought back to restrict them to 319 for six.
India won the toss in Colombo and recovered from being 12 for two to reach tea at 206 for three, with Rahul going on to 108 in 190 balls after combining for 164 with his skipper Virat Kohli (78).
There was also time for Rohit Sharma to notch 79 and be the last wicket to fall on the day, though not before he had made half-century stands with Rahul and Wriddhiman Saha (19 not out).
Well played KL Rahul no surprise to see you back amongst them!! #SLvIND #Congratulations
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) August 20, 2015
In what is Kumar Sangakkara’s final Test before international retirement, Sri Lanka had done well at the start with Dhammika Prasad trapping Murali Vijay lbw for nought in the first over, and then accounting for Ajinkya Rahane in the fourth for four.
Kohli, who scored a century in the first Test, joined opener Rahul to negotiate the recovery, and the pair were together for 39 overs and scored at a decent rate.
Only a diving one-handed catch by Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews at slip off Rangana Herath’s bowling could end Kohli’s run before tea.
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Rahul carried on to raise his bat for just his second ton – in four Tests – before he was Dushmantha Chameera’s victim caught behind.
The recalled Stuart Binny failed to impress, making 10 in 40 deliveries with no boundary shots, and predictably fell to Herath’s spin, caught by Chameera at long-off.
Sri Lanka’s fight back would have been much better had Rohit not bounced back from his first-Test disappointment to crack three sixes and five fours in his 132-ball innings.
However, Mathews would help the hosts end the day on a high by getting Sharma lbw at the stroke of stumps.
