Agency :
It was a mixed day for India here on Friday even as a win looks pretty much in the grip of the visitors.
While the home fans had moments to cheer despite Kumar Sangakkara’s unimpressive last innings at the venue, the visitors were left to rue a few umpiring decisions that cost them 205 runs, a win on day three and a target of 176 to win.
Dinesh Chandimal, the chief beneficiary of one of the umpiring horrors, went on to score 162 not out, 161 more than what he should have been walking back with. And India’s frustration multiplied when Nigel Llong joined his partner’s Bruce Oxenford’s blunder to rule a clear bat-pad catch in favour of the Lahiru Thirimanne on zero, who went to add 44.
Those decisions undoubtedly had a lot to do with India’s DRS stance. Had Virat Kohli had a review at his disposal, both men would have been out and India saved themselves the fourth-day effort. Should India go on to lose, the DRS debate will raise its head more aggressively. But it doesn’t look like it as things stand.
But India did manage to bowl out the hosts for 367 in their second innings, leaving them 176 to win and take a 1-0 lead. That included a world record match-haul of eight wickets by Ajinkya Rahane – six off spinners, two off pacers, all behind the wicket. Ashwin’s 4 for 114 ensured him a 10-wicket haul, while Mishra once again chipped in taking three wickets to add to his two in the first innings.
Harbhajan toiled for 17 overs to take just one wicket at an economy rate of 4.29 – the costliest of the three spinners, which leaves little doubt that should India choose to leave out a spinner in Colombo, it will be Harbhajan.
However, the start of the chase wasn’t on a promising note for India as opener KL Rahul bagged his second failure of the match, found plumb in front by Rangana Herath for 5.
Ishant Sharma (5*) was sent out as nightwatchman and managed to reach stumps with Shikhar Dhawan on 13.
But the day belonged to Chandimal, whose counter-attacking stay of 169 balls included 19 fours and 4 sixes, peppered with a lot of sweeps and reverse-sweeps, one of which deposited Harbhajan for a six.
That was after the most inauspicious start Sri Lanka would have hoped for – losing a wicket off the first ball of the day to Varun Aaron, who removed nightwachman Dhammika Prasad for 3. That brought Sri Lanka’s two best batsmen – Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews together.
It was a mixed day for India here on Friday even as a win looks pretty much in the grip of the visitors.
While the home fans had moments to cheer despite Kumar Sangakkara’s unimpressive last innings at the venue, the visitors were left to rue a few umpiring decisions that cost them 205 runs, a win on day three and a target of 176 to win.
Dinesh Chandimal, the chief beneficiary of one of the umpiring horrors, went on to score 162 not out, 161 more than what he should have been walking back with. And India’s frustration multiplied when Nigel Llong joined his partner’s Bruce Oxenford’s blunder to rule a clear bat-pad catch in favour of the Lahiru Thirimanne on zero, who went to add 44.
Those decisions undoubtedly had a lot to do with India’s DRS stance. Had Virat Kohli had a review at his disposal, both men would have been out and India saved themselves the fourth-day effort. Should India go on to lose, the DRS debate will raise its head more aggressively. But it doesn’t look like it as things stand.
But India did manage to bowl out the hosts for 367 in their second innings, leaving them 176 to win and take a 1-0 lead. That included a world record match-haul of eight wickets by Ajinkya Rahane – six off spinners, two off pacers, all behind the wicket. Ashwin’s 4 for 114 ensured him a 10-wicket haul, while Mishra once again chipped in taking three wickets to add to his two in the first innings.
Harbhajan toiled for 17 overs to take just one wicket at an economy rate of 4.29 – the costliest of the three spinners, which leaves little doubt that should India choose to leave out a spinner in Colombo, it will be Harbhajan.
However, the start of the chase wasn’t on a promising note for India as opener KL Rahul bagged his second failure of the match, found plumb in front by Rangana Herath for 5.
Ishant Sharma (5*) was sent out as nightwatchman and managed to reach stumps with Shikhar Dhawan on 13.
But the day belonged to Chandimal, whose counter-attacking stay of 169 balls included 19 fours and 4 sixes, peppered with a lot of sweeps and reverse-sweeps, one of which deposited Harbhajan for a six.
That was after the most inauspicious start Sri Lanka would have hoped for – losing a wicket off the first ball of the day to Varun Aaron, who removed nightwachman Dhammika Prasad for 3. That brought Sri Lanka’s two best batsmen – Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews together.
