India 371-4 after tons from Kohli, Vijay
new delhi — India’s run-machine Virat Kohli and in-form Murali Vijay smashed big centuries in a massive 283-run stand to deflate Sri Lanka on the opening day of the third and fi- nal Test on Saturday.
The tourists claimed two wickets in the morning session and two more in the final one but it otherwise was a microcosm of a series dominated by the hosts as India scored at more than four runs an over to reach 371 for four 4 at the close. Kohli remained not out after a majestic 156, which contained 16 fours and followed his 104 not out in the first Test in Kolkata and 213 in Nagpur.
The 29-year-old also joined the 5,000-test run club in his 105th innings. Rohit Sharma was on six at the other end, with the hosts chasing a record-equalling ninth consecutive Test series win after Kohli won the toss.
Right-handed opener Lokesh Rahul made way for the left-handed Shikhar Dhawan as India, 1-0 up in the series, shuffled the top of their batting order for a third match in a row.
Dhawan could not make the most of the opportunity, though, his attempted sweep shot off Dilruwan Perera finding Suranga Lakmal at deep square leg.
The opener made 23 before becoming the off-spinner’s 100th Test victim in a Sri Lankan record of 25 Tests, two less than spin great Muttiah Muralitharan.
Cheteshwar Pujara hit four boundaries before walking into a Sri Lankan trap.
Paceman Lahiru Gamage stationed Sadeera Samarawickrama at leg slip and bowled the perfect delivery which Pujara tickled to the fielder to depart for 23.
Kohli, however, was simply unstoppable as the right-hander scored at nearly a run a ball, treating the weekend crowd to some exciting shot-making.
Gamage was on the receiving end of Kohli’s sublime batting in an eventful 37th over when the batsman hit the bowler for three boundaries— a drive through
Vijay st Dickwella b Sandakan 155 Dhawan c Lakmal b Perera 23 C. Pujara c Samarawickrama b Gamage 23 Kohli not out 156 Rahane st Dickwella b Sandakan 1 Sharma not out 6
(lb1, nb6) 7 1-42, 2-78, 3-361, 4-365. Lakmal 14-2-50-0, Gamage 17-668-1, Perera 21-0-97-1, Sandakan 23-1-110-2 (nb6), De Silva 15-0-45-0
extra cover, followed by a leg glance and an imperious pull in front of square.
Vijay brought up his 11th Test century with a ninth four, celebrating the feat with a little jig.
The right-hander, who scored 128 in Nagpur, hit 13 boundaries in his elegant 155 before a lapse in concentration. Leftarm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan, one of the three new faces in the Sri Lankan team, dismissed Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane stumped in successive overs in the final session.
“We saw glimpse of what he can do at the end, we wish it had come two sessions earlier,” bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake said of Sandakan’s performance.
Team manager Asanka Gurusinha said opener Samarawickrama, who was hit on the helmet by a Vijay sweep, was fine but would be assessed on Sunday before being allowed to play.
“We did some precautionary scans, everything is clear but we have to monitor him tonight. Doctors will see him tomorrow morning and decide whether he’ll play tomorrow or not,” Gurusinghe added. — List of records Kohli set in the third Test
*Kohli became the first skipper ever to score at least one century in every match of a three-match Test series
He became the 2nd fastest Indian to hit 20 Test tons (in 105 innings) after Sunil Gavaskar (in 93 innings)
He has become the fastest batsman to score 16000 international runs by taking 350 innings to do so and surpassed Hashim Amla (363 innings) and his idol Sachin Tendulkar who took 376 innings
He became the 4th fastest Indian to score 5000 Test runs after Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar
It was his 11th international century as a captain in the year 2017 which is a world record.
He also equalled South Africa’s Dean Elgar to become the batsman with the most number of centuries in Test cricket in a calendar year