A dominant India yesterday spared Sri Lanka the ignominy of a follow-on, but Virat Kohli and Abhinav Mukund struck fluent half-centuries to tighten the touring side’s grip on the first Test in Galle.
The world’s top-ranked Test team shot out their depleted hosts for 291 to take a 309-run first-innings lead and were 189-3 at stumps.
Sri Lanka, already a batsman down after Asela Gunaratne fractured his thumb, received a new setback when Rangana Herath, leading the side in the absence of ailing regular skipper Dinesh Chandimal, left the field with a hand injury.
Photo: AFP
India captain Kohli was unbeaten on 76 at stumps, after adding 133 runs with Mukund, whose dismissal for 81 signaled the end of the day’s play.
Earlier, Sri Lanka resumed on 154-5 and could have been in bigger trouble but for Dilruwan Perera’s gutsy 92 not out.
Angelo Mathews held the key to Sri Lanka’s survival and the former captain made 83 before Ravindra Jadeja (3-67) sent him back to the pavilion.
The spinner sent down a flighted delivery and Mathews moved toward leg and slapped it straight to Kohli at short-cover.
Mathews hit 11 fours and a six.
Perera enjoyed an eventful stay at the crease.
Two balls after an appeal for a catch off his boot was turned down, Perera was adjudged trapped leg before wicket by Jadeja.
The decision was overturned after replays suggested the ball would have sailed over the stumps.
Perera hit Ravichandran Ashwin for a six and took a single off the next ball to bring up his fifth Test half-century.
Jadeja dismissed Herath for 9 and debutant Hardik Pandya castled Nuwan Pradeep for 10 to claim his first Test wicket.
Perera was eight runs away from his maiden Test century when he ran out of partners. His belligerent knock included 10 fours and four sixes.
Perera then returned to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan for 14 after India opted against enforcing the follow-on and Lahiru Kumara sent back Cheteshwar Pujara for 15.
Kohli and Mukund added a century-plus partnership for the third wicket as India moved 498 runs ahead and in a commanding position to take a 1-0 series lead.
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