Press Trust of India
Galle, August 14: Dinesh Chandimal (162 n o, 169b, 19×4, 4×6) played a brilliant counter-attacking innings as Sri Lanka set India a tricky fourth innings victory target of 176 on a fast deteriorating pitch here Friday. India were 23 for one at stumps still needing another 153 runs with Lokesh Rahul (five) failing for the second successive time in the game, falling leg before to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. Holding fort were Sikhar Dhawan (13 batting) and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma (five batting).
Resuming at five for two, the hosts slipped to 108 for five by lunch and things at that point of time distinctly looked rosy for the visitors. Sri Lanka had lost both Kumar Sangakkara (40, 70b, 5×4) and Angelo Mathews (39, 63b, 4×4, 1×6) in quick succession and the writing was clear on the wall. But Chandimal had other ideas.
The 25-year-old launched a terrific counter-attack on the Indian spinners to leave them clueless and took Sri Lanka to 367 all out, something which distinctly seemed impossible when play began after lunch.
In the period between lunch and tea, Sri Lanka put on 155 runs in 28 overs as Chandimal, who got his third and career-best Test score swept the Indian spinners out of their length and line. He got good assistance from Lihiru Thirimanne (44, 76b, 4×4) as the two put on 125 runs for the sixth wicket to put Sri Lanka on a good pedestal. After Thirimanne’s dismissal, Chandimal again found an able ally in Jehan Mubarak (49, 60b, 4×4, 2×6) to put on 82 runs for the seventh wicket to take Sri Lanka past the 300-run mark, something which did not seem possible after the first session of play had ended Friday.
After the quick dismissals of Mubarak and Herath, Chandimal decided to take matters into his own hands as he put on 41 runs for the ninth wicket with Tharindu Kaushal, whose contribution was only seven. It was indeed a tremendous knock keeping in mind the gravity of the situation and on a pitch where the ball turned and kept low on occasions.
Ravi Ashwin (4/114) and Amit Mishra (3/61) emerged the pick of the Indian bowlers with the former taking 10 wickets in a match for the third time in his career. But keeping in mind the condition of the pitch, a couple of unplayable deliveries can definitely swing the fortune in Sri Lanka’s favour. One has to remember that India are playing with five batters and if the hosts can make some early inroads Saturday then it will not be a very happy ‘Independence Day’ for the Indians in Galle.
