India dominated all throughout the first day of the first Test match in what is going to be a three-Test match encounter. Ravichandran Ashwin, with 6-46, registered the best figures for an India bowler in the first innings of an away Test to bowl out the hosts for a meagre 183. India stumbled in response at the outset, but Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli steadied them. They were ready to defend and wait for loose balls, which the Sri Lankan bowlers provided voluntarily. Dhawan, who scored a hundred in his last Test, went past 50 by stumps, and Kohli looked set to do so. More importantly, India could entertain thoughts of batting only once.
In what was billed as a series between two relatively inexperienced teams led by two completely contrasting styles of captains. One wears his sleeve on his heart and the other is very cool and composed. Sri Lanka has come off a poor series against Pakistan where they lost the Test, ODI and the T20 series. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in sultry conditions in Galle. They were given a chance early on when Dhawan dropped a sitter at slip off Varun Aaron. However, what followed was not quite according to script for the Lankans. The two fast bowlers kept probing the batsman, and Ishant, in particular was quite spectacular on a pitch without much assistance for swing. Aaron and Ishant soon removed both the openers off short deliveries and Sri Lanka were tottering at 15-2. Ashwin was introduced into the attack and in his very first over picked the prized scalp of Kumar Sangakkara, who is playing his penultimate Test match, when Sangakkara prodded a ball pitch on off stump and Lokesh Rahul took a sharp chance at silly point. Thirimanne and Mathews joined hands and just when it looked like they would be able to take Sri Lanka to lunch without any more wickets, Ashwin struck once again as Rahane took a good catch at slip. Jehan Mubarak, the 34 year old, who was making a comeback of sorts, struggled during his seven-ball stay at the crease and was caught at short leg off Ashwin, who was quite brilliant during the morning session. Mathews, on the other hand was looking to be aggressive, amidst the storm at the other end. SL entered the 2nd session at a precarious position of 65-5.
While Ashwin ran through the left-hand batsmen, the two right-hand batsmen – Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, gave Sri Lanka a total to play with on a pitch that offered substantial turn and bounce in as early as the first session of the Test. Dinesh Chandimal and Mathews put together a 79-run stand in quick time before Ashwin once again broke the partnership. Mathews was out for 64 and Sri Lanka were in dire straits. Only a gutsy 24-run stand between Chandimal and the daring Rangana Herath, who scored 23 off 24, stalled India’s march. The tail chalked up some runs before Ashwin and Mishra, who picked 2 wickets, cleaned up the tail and Sri Lanka were bowled out for a paltry 183.
India began their response in a poor manner. Lokesh Rahul, who’s making a comeback in this game, was trapped lbw, off Dhammika Prasad. Rohit Sharma, who made 9 runs, soon followed suit, despite already getting a reprieve, earlier in his innings when he was out off a no ball. India looked to be a little stuttered on 34-2 before Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, the captain, joined hands and steadied the ship for India. Kohli and Dhawan put on a 100 run stand as they stabilised the innings and ended the day unscathed with India dominating with a score of 128-2, trailing by just 55 runs at the close of play.
