Kolkata: Lahiru Thirimanne (51, 94b, 8×4) and Angelo Mathews (52, 94b, 8×4) struck half centuries after Sri Lanka bowled out India for a meagre 172 as the visitors closed in on a first innings lead in the opening Test against India, here Saturday at the Eden Gardens.
When bad light forced early stumps on the third day, Sri Lanka were 165 for four, trailing by seven runs, with skipper Dinesh Chandimal (13 batting) and Niroshan Dickwella (14 batting) at the crease.
Sri Lanka were in command after Thirimanne and Mathews had put on 99 runs for the third wicket, but pacer Umesh Yadav (2/50) removed both of them in quick succession to bring the hosts back into the game.
Earlier Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/49) had scripted the exit of both the Sri Lankan openers – Sadeera Samarawickrama (23) and Dimuth Karunaratne (8).
India had resumed at a precarious 74 for five and managed to add 98 more runs to their overnight total, which was their second lowest score against Sri Lanka at home.
Everything seemed to have fallen in place for the tourists as they bowled India out to be in an advantageous position, resisted the Indian attack nicely and successfully called two DRS reviews.
Having taken a review to overturn umpire Joel Wilson’s decision which resulted in Ravindra Jadeja’s dismissal, Sri Lanka took another review successfully to save Karunaratne even though the opener did not last long.
Barring the blip when Thirimanne was dropped by Shikhar Dhawan in the slips, the Lankans did not take a step wrong as it turned out to be another frustrating day for the home team.
Earlier, coming out to bat at an overnight score of 47, Cheteshwar Pujara (52, 117b, 8×4) completed his half century in the morning but could not make it big after being cleaned up by Lahiru Gamage (2/59) with a superb in-cutter.
Wriddhiman Saha (29) and Ravindra Jadeja (22) produced a brisk 48-run seventh wicket partnership but off-spinner Dilruwan Perera (2/19) struck twice in space of three balls to remove both.
Bhuvneshwar (13) and Mohammed Shami (22) made some quick runs. Shami was later involved in a 26-run last wicket partnership with Umesh Yadav (six n o) to prop up India’s total.
Press Trust of India
