Dhawan ton keeps India on top
Sri Lanka showed more fight than in previous matches but India reached 329/6 by stumps to just about be on top after day one of the third Test.
Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul increasingly look the part as a Test opening pair and they made Sri Lanka toil in the morning.
The pair added 134 runs before lunch on day one with Sri Lanka’s seamers failing to make an impression as both batsmen notched half centuries.
Their partnership stretched to 188 before Rahul (85) hit a flighted delivery from Malinda Pushpakumara straight to mid-on.
Dhawan (119) went to yet another century in what has been a good series for the opener but he too fell victim to Pushpakumara via a brilliant catch from Dinesh Chandimal at square leg.
We backed Lakshan Sandakan to have an impact and he would accounting for India’s top two batsmen Cheteshar Pujara (8) and Virat Kohli (48) either side of a third Pushpakumara wicket, that of Ajinkya Rahane (17).
Ravichandran Ashwin (31) wasn’t scripted to add more than a handy contribution with Vishwa Fernando luring him to prod at one outside off that took the edge and was taken by the keeper.
India added 94 runs in the final session but the three wickets will delight Sri Lanka although you still feel that with Wriddhiman Saha (13*) and Hardik Pandya (1*) could still steer them to a big score.
With plenty in the pitch for the bowlers the match is interestingly poised.
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