Cheteshwar Pujara yesterday registered his second century of the series while Ajinkya Rahane also notched up a hundred as two of India’s most dependable batsmen laid the foundation for a massive first innings total in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Pujara’s 50th Test turned out to be an eventful one, as India’s No. 3 nearly perished in the slip early in his innings and ran out partner K.L. Rahul before making amends with his burgeoning 211-run stand with Rahane.
Pujara, who also completed 4,000 Test runs in the process, was batting on 128 at stumps, his 13th Test century containing 10 boundaries and a pulled six off debutant spinner Malinda Pushpakumara.
Rahane, who survived a couple of reviews, hit 12 boundaries in his fluent 103 not out, as India utterly dominated the opening day of the contest to reach 344-3.
Alarmingly for hosts Sri Lanka, still smarting from their comprehensive defeat in the series opener in Galle, lone frontline paceman Nuwan Pradeep left the field in the final session clutching his left hamstring.
India got off to a brisk start after skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat on a dry surface with Rahul, who missed India’s victory in Galle with a high fever, and Shikhar Dhawan scoring freely against a spin-heavy Sri Lanka attack.
Dhawan clobbered Rangana Herath for a six in the spinner’s first over and also hit five boundaries in his brisk 35 before Dilruwan Perera trapped him LBW.
Rahul was on 19 when the right-hander was given out LBW to Dimuth Karunaratne, but the batsman used a review to successfully overturn the decision and went on to make his sixth successive Test half-century.
Rahul fell on 57 after a horrible mix-up with Pujara and was soon joined by Kohli in the pavilion as India slumped to 133-3.
However, Pujara, who struck 153 in Galle, and Rahane ensured Sri Lanka did not get any momentum.
Renowned for their impeccable temperament, the right-handed duo deftly used the crease to punish Sri Lanka bowlers who endured a wicketless final session.
Sri Lanka welcomed back skipper Dinesh Chandimal, who missed the Galle Test with pneumonia, and effected three changes overall in their bid to level the three-match series against top-ranked India.
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