Press Trust of India
Colombo, August 6: Middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane (109 batting, 127b, 11×4, 1×6) struck an unbeaten but skipper Virat Kohli’s poor form continued as the Indians managed 314 for six on the opening day of their three-day tour game against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI at the R Premadasa Stadium here Thursday.
Put into bat, Indian openers Lokesh Rahul (43, 96b, 6×4) and Shikhar Dhawan (62, 102b, 7×4) gave the visitors a solid 108-run start but the batting wobbled after their departure.
Rohit Sharma (7) and Kohli (8) fell in quick succession as medium-pacer Kasun Rajitha (3/47) made his presence felt in the President XI ranks as Indians lost four wickets for 25 runs in the post-lunch session.
Struggling at 133 for four, Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara (42, 89b, 5×4) then got together to stitch a 134-run fifth-wicket stand to rebuild the innings.
Rahane brought up his half-century off 59 balls. Their 100-run partnership came up in the 59th over and the duo scored at 4.75 per over during their joint stay at the crease.
Pujara slowed down a little as spin was introduced to make up for the slow over-rate and that hesitation cost him his wicket in the 66th over. Wriddhiman Saha (3) missed out on some match practice as he was out cheaply by offering a catch to Lahiru Thirimanne off Jeffrey Vandersay’s (2/76) bowling.
Rahane though carried on in the same vein as the Maharashtra-born batsman got to his century with a boundary against Vandersay.
The in-form batsman had got the company of Ravi Ashwin (10 batting) at the end of the day’s play as the duo managed an unbeaten 41-run partnership.
