Mathews, Chandimal revive Lanka
FIGHTBACK Cashing in on sloppy catching, Mathews and Chandimal hit tons but India bowlers pull things back
NEWDELHI: Left without much time to acclimatise for the South Africa tour, India’s Plan B was to seek seam-friendly pitches for the Test series against Sri Lanka.
However, the well-rolled pitch at Ferozeshah Kotla that has favoured the batsmen provided a different challenge for the Indians as the Sri Lankan batting duo of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal stuck in and cashed in on sloppy catching.
India put down four chances, including three in the slips. Angelo Mathews got three lives as Indian bowlers toiled for most of the third day on Monday.
The former Sri Lanka skipper scored his first century in over two years (111 – 268 b, 14x4, 2x6) and shared a 181-run fourthwicket partnership with Dinesh Chandimal. The in-form Sri Lanka skipper was unbeaten on 147 after reaching his 10thtest century (341b, 18x4, 1x6).
However, R Ashwin (3/90) stormed back in the last session to help regain control. Five wickets fell for 26 runs, reducing Sri Lanka to 356/9 --- trailing by 180 runs -- when light stopped play.
Sri Lanka were cruising at 317/4 before Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jadeja along with Ashwin struck.
After pollution stoppages blighted the second day, it was hazy again and the floodlights came on at 1 pm. Murali Vijay was off the field for a while due to cold and fever, possibly due to the bad air quality that had left Sri Lankan players reeling on Sunday. But the hosts didn’t make a big deal out of it, making do with mini stoppages.
India’s catching though clouded their efforts. Dropped by Kohli on six overnight, Mathews was dropped again at second slip by Rohit Sharma off Ishant when on 98. It was the first delivery with
the second new ball. Then Vijay Shankar, substitute for M Vijay, palmed one at mid-off after he had got to his century.
India finally saw the back of Mathews when Ashwin, sparingly bowled in the first two sessions, had him caught behind, Wriddhiman Saha taking the first of the two superb catches.
Chandimal added 61 runs with Sadeera Samarawickrama (33) for the fifth wicket to continue the fight. The opener, hit on the helmet while fielding and dropped to No 6, had another close shave when a wild throw from Kohli glanced off his elbow.
Ishant’s brilliant delivery and Saha’s acrobatic take ended his stay. Ashwin then abandoned his leg-stump line and attacked offstump to have debutant Roshen Silva caught off bat and pad and bowl Niroshan Dickwella, both for duck. Sri Lanka will still take heart, especially Chandimal after scoring fifties in both innings in the Nagpur Test loss.
HIGHEST 4THWKT STANDS FOR SL VS INDIA HIGHEST STANDS BY BALLS IN INDIA SINCE JAN 2010
Roy Dias Duleep Mendis H Amla J Kallis (SA) Angelo Mathews’ 111 is the first ton for Lanka on Indian soil in eight years. Kumar Sangakkara (137) was the last Lanka batsman to score a ton in India, in December 2010. Dinesh Chandimal became the ninth
Sri Lankan to score 10 or more hundreds in Tests.