KULDEEP, JADEJA SHINE IN PRACTICE TIE
Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja shared seven wickets between them as India bundled out the Sri Lanka Board President’s team for 187 on the opening day. The visitors ended the day at 135/3 here on Friday.
Coming back from a surgery, India opener Lokesh Rahul fired a rapid 58-ball 54 while skipper Virat Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten on 34 and 30 respectively.
Opener Abhinav Mukund was bowled by left- armer Vishwa Fernando for a duck, in the first over of India’s innings while one down Cheteshwar Pujara was also bowled by Fernando, for 12 off 41 deliveries.
Earlier, the home side rode on a 130-run second wicket stand between opener Danushka Gunathilaka (74 off 97 deliveries) and skipper Lahiru Thirimanne (59 from 125) as the Indian left-arm spin duo of Jadeja and Kuldeep ripped through the line up.
Left- arm wrist spinner Kuldeep took his wickets largely against the lower order, but figures of 4/14 may nevertheless, have raised his chances of playing the first Test. IANS