Ravindra Jadeja scored his second Test hundred at Mohali today. His unbeaten 175 runs knock has taken India much ahead in the game against Sri Lanka. The home team has scored 574 runs in the first innings, and Sri Lanka has lost four wickets with just 108 runs on the board.
Ravichandran Ashwin, too batted superbly with his spin bowling all-rounder partner. Ashwin scored a valuable 61 runs, and the spin bowlers also helped India gain an advantage with their spin bowling. After the second day’s play, the home side has the edge because of the regular strikes.
The Sri Lankan bowlers toiled hard on the second day –
India’s overnight batsmen Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin continued to frustrate the visitors with their batting display and bowling performances later on. Jadeja was unbeaten on 45 runs yesterday, and Ashwin was not out on 10 runs. Sri Lanka had a decent session after lunch yesterday.
But Rishabh Pant’s attacking 96 runs and then Jadeja’s brilliant batting display faltered the bowlers of the Lankan team. Jadeja and Ashwin continued from where they left yesterday, and they shared the highest partnership of the 1st innings for India. They shared a stand of 130 runs which made the Sri Lankan bowlers toil hard, and India was right in front of the visitors in the first session.
Shami – Jadeja’s partnership frustrated Sri Lanka even more –
Ravichandran Ashwin scored 61 runs, and he was the first wicket of the day. His innings ensured that the lower order and Jadeja could contribute immensely in the 1st innings. After Ashwin was out to the short ball of Suranga Lakmal, Shami batted with Jadeja, who looked to score his second Test hundred.
Mohammad Shami’s innings was not like a tailender. He didn’t even slog one ball. But Shami played proper defensive shots and supported Jadeja in this stand. After Ashwin was out, it looked like India would not get to the 500 run mark. The unbeaten stand of 103 runs between Shami and Jadeja ensured that India would score closer to 600 runs.
Jadeja slammed his second Test century and propelled India to a strong position. Shami, however, took some deliveries to get off the mark. But he also showed his batting skills, which kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay. India didn’t declare after Jaddu reached his century, and Sri Lanka also lost an opportunity to end this partnership.
Jadeja and Shami had a miscommunication in running between the wickets. Both the batters came at one end of the wicket. It was an easy chance for the Sri Lankan fielders.
But because of their poor throw, the Indian batters got the opportunity to pile on more misery on the visitors. Jadeja went past his maiden 150 run mark, and he also scored the highest score at the number seven position.
Jaddu went past Kapil Dev’s 163 runs, and the unbeaten 103 runs partnership for the ninth wicket was also the highest for India against Sri Lanka. The previous highest ninth-wicket stand also came at Mohali. India declared the innings 574 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. Jadeja was unbeaten 175 runs, with Shami was not out on 20 runs. Many thought that India could have waited for Jaddu’s double ton.
Sri Lankan started decently –
After the hammering done by the Indian batters, the Lankan openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimane had a steady opening stand. They saw the new ball bursts and looked good at the crease. The openers added 48 runs for the first wicket.
Ashwin, Jadeja, and Bumrah were the chief destroyers in the Sri Lankan innings –
After the batters, the spin bowling all-rounders and Jasprit Bumrah put India in the pole position. Despite the visitors having a decent 48 runs opening partnership, the Lankan batters didn’t carry on with that and they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Ravi Ashwin gave India the first breakthrough before they reached the fifty-run mark. Lahiru Thirimane was out to Ash for 17 runs. Jadeja had a night to remember. He scored his career-best score, and when he was asked to bowl, he struck in his first over and dismissed the Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne for 28 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah also could have been amongst the wicket-takers. But the no-ball from the lead Indian pace bowler allowed Pathum Nissanka to survive, and he is still batting on 28 runs. But Angelo Matthews was out after he looked good at the crease. Bumrah dismissed him LBW for 22 runs. Ashwin struck again for the hosts and dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva for just a single run.
Mohammad Shami also bowled well. But he couldn’t pick up any wickets. Still, India is on top in this first PayTM Test match at Mohali. The home team will look to quickly wrap up the Lankan innings on Sunday. Sri Lanka has scored 108 runs with the loss of four wickets, and they are still trailed by 466 runs.
