India lost in-form batsmen KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane on a greentop before heavy rain forced an early lunch on day one of the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka, here today.
India lost in-form batsmen KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane on a greentop before heavy rain forced an early lunch on day one of the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka, here today.
India were 50 for 2 in 15 overs with Cheteshwar Pujara (19) and skipper Virat Kohli (15) at the crease when the match officials declared early lunch break. Sri Lankan pace bowlers made an impact straighaway after inviting the visitors to bat on a recently laid grassy pitch as they got rid of Rahul (2) in the second ball of the day. Dhammika Prasad (1/16) bowled an inswinger that jagged back massively and the bamboozled young opener saw his stumps shattered.
When Rahul came out to bat with Pujara, it was India's fifth different opening combination in the last six Tests. Rahan (8) started off with a couple of crispy drives down the ground but his stay did not last long either as he was struck in front of the legstump by Nuwan Pradeep (1/16) in the fourth over and was out plumb LBW. With both centurions from the second Test back in the pavilion, India were struggling at 14/2, as Kohli walked to the crease.
The India captain was lucky to be still batting when the rain-break came. In the eighth over he was dropped off Pradeep by Perera who is keeping instead of Dinesh Chandimal.
It was a thick inside edge that carried to the keeper who spilled a regulation chance to his left, and then the ball went on to hit the helmet behind him, thus garnering five penalty runs as well. Kohli was on 8 at that time. Later, Prasad went off the field with a sore back. Angelo Mathews bowled a few overs as India were placed at 40 for 2 after the first hour s play. Rangana Herath also bowled an over, before rain came down in a hurry.
India made two changes to the playing eleven, with Pujara coming in for the injured Murali Vijay, and Naman Ojha was handed his Test debut. He replaced injured Wriddhiman Saha.
The hosts made three changes to their side, with Upul Tharanga coming in for the retired Kumar Sangakkara. Fit-again Nuwan Pradeep replaced Dushmantha Chameera while Jehan Mubarak was dropped and Kusal Perera was handed Test debut.
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