Bangladesh fight back after Karunaratne ton for Sri Lanka
RANCHI: Top order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara compiled an industrious unbeaten century to keep India on course to match Australia’s first innings total of 451 in the third test on Saturday.
Australia paceman Pat Cummins made a successful return to test cricket after five years in the wilderness, oozing hostility and claiming 4-59 on a placid track to help restrict the hosts to 360-6 on day three of the contest.
Pujara was batting on 130 at stumps, the first century by an Indian batsman in the four-test series, having spent nearly seven hours at the crease to consolidate his team’s position in the contest.
Wriddhiman Saha was giving him company on 18 with India still 91 runs behind.
A steady accumulator of runs in an Indian line-up of mostly flamboyant stroke-makers, Pujara’s solid defence stood him in great stead as his 11th test century underlined the virtue of playing along the turf, minimising risks.
The 29-year-old hit 17 boundaries in his composed knock, often threading the ball through gaps and letting the exceptionally fast outfield carry it across the rope.
Resuming the day on 120 for one, Pujara and Murali Vijay raised their sixth century partnership of the season to lead India’s strong reply.
Playing his 50th test, Vijay, then on 58, survived a bat-pad catch when the inside edge went undetected and Australia could not challenge the notout decision having exhausted their reviews.
Not that the opener could make the most of the reprieve. COLOMBO: Seamer Mustafizur Rahman and spinner Shakib Al Hasan picked up three wickets apiece to help Bangladesh reduce Sri Lanka to 268-8 in their second innings for a lead of 139 on the fourth day of the second Test on Saturday.
The hosts, who conceded a firstinnings lead of 129, appeared to be in big trouble in their second essay despite opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s fine 126, his fifth Test hundred.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 190-6 at one point but fought back with useful partnerships from the lower order to boost their hopes of a 2-0 win in the two-match series.
Dilruwan Perera was unbeaten on 26 with Suranga Lakmal 16 not out and the pair have already added 30 for the ninth wicket to dampen Bangladesh’s hopes of a maiden win against Sri Lanka in their 100th test.
Off-spinner Mehedi Hasan struck with his first ball of the day to dismiss Upul Tharanga for 26 and break Sri Lanka’s flourishing opening partnership after they had resumed on
In the final over before lunch, Vijay jumped out to a Steve O’Keefe delivery only to be stumped for 82, which included 10 boundaries and a six.
Virat Kohli walked out after lunch to a thunderous applause, having stayed away from the field since injuring his shoulder on Thursday, and there was a pin-drop silence as he departed after facing 23 balls that yielded six runs.
Armed with the second new ball, Cummins induced Kohli into a loose drive and Australia skipper Steve Smith took a sharp catch at second slip
Ajinkya Rahane belief his reputation as a watchful batsman with a ramp shot more suited to limited-overs cricket, feathering a Cummins delivery to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.
Karun Nair lost his off-stump to Josh Hazlewood and Ravichandran Ashwin could only glove a Cummins snorter to Wade in the final session.
The four-test series is levelled 1-1 with Dharamsala hosting the final match from March 25. Australia first innings: 451 India first innings (O/n: 120/1): L Rahul c Wade b Cummins ------------------------------67 M Vijay st Wade b O’Keefe --------------------------------82 C Pujara (batting) --------------------------------------------130 V Kohli c Smith b Cummins -------------------------------- 6 A Rahane c Wade b Cummins ---------------------------14 K Nair b Hazlewood ------------------------------------------ 23 R Ashwin c Wade b Cummins --------- 3 W Saha (batting) ----------------------------------------------- 18 Extras (B-14 LB-3) -------------------------------------------- 17 Total (for 6 wkts, 130 overs) ---------------------------360 Fall of wickets: 1-91, 2-193, 3-225, 4-276, 5-320, 6-328. Bowling: J Hazlewood 31-9-66-1, P Cummins 25-8-59-4, S O’Keefe 43-11-117-1, N Lyon 29-297-0, G Maxwell 2-0-4-0 54-0.
Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis (36) added 86 for the second wicket as Sri Lanka stayed on course to set Bangladesh a challenging target to chase on the final day.
Mustafizur and Shakib brought Bangladesh back into the match by inducing a mini collapse which saw the hosts reduced from 143-1 to 190-6.
Karunaratne and Perera then added 27 for the seventh wicket before the former became Shakib’s (3-61) third scalp of the innings. Sri Lanka first innings: 338 Bangladesh first innings: 467 Sri Lanka second innings (O/n: 54-0): D Karunaratne c Sarkar b Al Hasan--------- 126 U Tharanga b M Hasan ----------------------------- 26 K Mendis c Rahim b M Rahman--------------- 36 D Chandimal c Rahim b M Rahman ----------- 5 A Gunaratne lbw Al Hasan ------------------------- 7 D de Silva c Rahim b M Rahman ---------------- 0 N Dickwella c Rahim b Al Hasan----------------- 5 D Perera (batting)------------------------------------- 26 R Herath lbw T Islam ---------------------------------- 9 S Lakmal (batting)------------------------------------ 16 Extras (B-4 LB-7 W-1) ------------------------------ 12 Total (for 8 wkts, 100 overs) ------------------ 268 Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-143, 3-165, 4-176, 5-177, 6-190, 7-217, 8-238. Bowling: S Roy 16-4-36-0, M Hasan 220-67-1, M Rahman 19-3-52-3, S Al Hasan 30-8-61-3, M Hossain 3-0-10-0, T Islam 10-1-31-1.