Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Lanka make 312/2 against India on Day 1

By The Assam Tribune

COLOMBO, July 26 (IANS) - Sri Lanka made 312 for two in their first innings against India at the end of the first day's play in the second cricket Test here Monday.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara was batting on 130 and Mahela Jayawardene on 13 when the stumps were drawn at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Openers Tharanga Pranavitana (100) and Tillekaratne Dilshan (54) were the two Sri Lankan wickets to fall during the day.

Dilshan played some attacking shots on both side of the wicket as Sangakkara's decision to bat first paid off. Dilshan's 42-ball inning was studded with 10 fours.

Indian pacers Ishant Sharma and Abhimanyu Mithun hardly troubled the Sri Lankan openers, who added 99 runs for the first wicket.

Dilshan came down hard on Ishant as early as in the fourth over, by hitting the lanky fast bowler for four boundaries. Dilshan then smacked Mithun, playing his second Test match, for three fours in the 14th over forcing India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to introduce spin from both ends.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha provided India the much needed breakthrough when Dilshan smacked him hard but VVS Laxman took a good catch at short extra cover.

The wicket offered some turn to the spinners but it was hardly dangerous for Sangakkara and Pranavitana.

Paranavitana completed his fifth Test fifty by punching part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag to the sweeper cover. Sangakkara got to his 33rd half century in 82 balls and in style by hitting Ishant through the midwicket boundary.

Both the teams made a few changes in their side. Sri Lanka have inducted Ajantha Mendis, Suraj Randiv, Dammika Prasad and Dilhara Fernando in the squad. India have brought in Murali Vijay for Gautam Gambhir, who has a knee injury, while Suresh Raina comes in for Yuvraj Singh, who is down with fever.

Sri Lanka lead the three-match series 1-0.

Next Story