Nagpur: India dominated Day I of the second Test match against Sri Lanka at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium on Friday.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who had remained wicketless in the first match proved why he is such a highly rated spinner as he snared four wickets to help India bundle out the visitors for a meagre 205 runs. The off-spinner from Tamil Nadu needs four more wickets to become the fastest in the format to get to 300 Test scalps.
His spin bowling partner Ravindra Jadeja too put up a good show with the ball as he ended up with figures of 3/56. Ishant Sharma, who has been impressive for Delhi in the ongoing Ranji Trophy also rose to the occasion to scalp three wickets to help India put pressure on the visitors.
Only opener Dimuth Karunaratne (51) and skipper Dinesh Chandimal (57) were the ones to cross the fifty-run mark whereas all the other batsmen failed to make an impact. Wickets fell in heaps right at the beginning and at the end as a result of which Sri Lanka could never gain the momentum to go ahead and post a big total.
India, began on a positive note as KL Rahul drove Suranga Lakmal for a wonderful four of the very first ball of the match, unlike the last game where he was sent back early in the first innings.
But Rahul fell to Lahiru Gamage of an inside edge onto the stumps and a short was brought to an end.
Murali Vijay, on his return has displayed solid composure and technique showing why he is one of the best openers in Test cricket in the country. Batting on 2, he left many balls outside the off-stump and took his time to settle down. His stay at the crease would be a crucial one for the Indian team on the second day of they have to gain a big lead.
Brief scores-
India 11/1 (KL Rahul 7, Cheteshwar Pujara 2 n.o; Lahiru Gamage 1/4) trail Sri Lanka 205 all out (Dinesh Chandimal 57, Dimuth Karunaratne 51; Ravichandran Ashwin 4/67) by 194 runs