Galle: India strengthened their grip on the opening Test after being bowled out for 193 in their second innings, setting hosts Sri Lanka a daunting 372-run target for victory Tuesday.
India, who had posted 462 in their first innings, had dismissed Sri Lanka for 284 Monday to secure a crucial 174-run lead. Returning to the crease Tuesday, the visitors adopted an aggressive approach, looking to build a total beyond Sri Lanka’s reach.
Opener KL Rahul (35) and Devdutt Padikkal (44) steadied the innings with a 64-run partnership as India reached 116 for 4 at lunch.
Rishabh Pant then took the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers, smashing a 69-ball 66 that included two sixes. His innings also saw him become the first Indian to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket and the fastest player in the world to reach the milestone.
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India suffered an early setback when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck by Asitha Fernando off the third ball of the opening over. Rahul and Padikkal, however, negotiated the early movement and rebuilt the innings.
Rahul was eventually dismissed as the second wicket to fall, before Shubman Gill (8) departed cheaply, with Prabath Jayasuriya (3/43) claiming both wickets.
Brief scores: India 462 & 193 all out in 48.5 overs (KL Rahul 35, Devdutt Padikkal 44, Rishabh Pant 66; Asitha Fernando 4/31, Prabath Jayasuriya 3/43, Lahiru Kumara 2/27).
