SANJJEEV K SAMYAL

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne showed no signs of pressure against a mountain of runs and came out all guns blazing in the second innings to make India work harder than anytime during the series.

Powered by Mendis’s 110 and an unbeaten 92 from opener Karunaratne, Sri Lanka were 209 for two after being asked to follow-on. Sri Lanka still trail India by 230 runs after conceding a massive 439-run lead following a woeful batting display in the morning. Hardik Pandya provided India the breakthrough at the fag end of the day with wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha taking a brilliant diving catch off Mendis’s inside edge. The counter-attacking innings was studded with 17 fours and came off just 135 balls.

Ever since India’s epic fightback at Eden Gardens in 2001, teams are reluctant to give follow-on. This Indian team management is also not keen on going for the option, and refused to take it in Galle. But with a lead of 439 runs after the first innings, they had no choice.

Sri Lanka’s second innings too started on a poor note when Upul Tharanga was bowled by Umesh Yadav in the third over. On a dry surface, spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were the main threat. But Mendis and Karunaratne had their plans in place.

Mendis came in and straightaway went for his shots. He put off the threat from Ashwin by targeting the midwicket region. He used the cross-batted shot to good effect whenever the spinner gave air. Though a risky option, the diminutive batsman executed it well by staying on top of the bounce. He raced away to the three-figure mark with his batting partner still in his 70s. Karunaratne looked to play straight, working his way off the pads by