Colombo: Lokesh Rahul’s fluent unbeaten second test ton, that he completed soon after tea on the 1st day of the second test match at Colombo and Virat Kohli’s brisk 78 helped India seize the initiative in the second session of the Colombo Test. Rahul, who played a key role in reviving the Indian innings after two early wickets, continued his stay at the wicket as India reached 206/3 at tea on Day 1. While Kohli’s dominating knock, off 107 balls, included eight fours and a six, Rahul displayed a much calmer demeanour, remaining unbeaten on 98 at the break. The duo added 164 runs for the third wicket. At the time of publication, India were 229 /3 with Rohit Sharma who came down the order on 31 of 44 balls, also batting fluently.
The hard surface at the P Sara Oval eased up after lunch, allowing the two settled Indian batsmen to seize control. Kohli wasted no time in getting past his first milestone of the match – fifty off just 63 balls – as the ball started to come onto the bat nicely. The quickest bowler at Angelo Mathews’ disposal, Dushmanta Chameera tried to create chances by digging the ball short regularly but it hardly troubled the two batters in the middle. Kohli’s form and intention looked ominous, as he punished even the rare good delivery, while Rahul too grew in confidence and reached his half-century with a booming straight drive.
Mathews turned to his heroes of the Galle Test – Rangana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal – for a crucial breakthrough but the lack of assistance from the wicket made it easy for the Indian batsmen to score runs off them. Kohli attacked the insipid bowling and looked set for his fifth century as Test skipper in as many games until a sensational one-handed diving catch from Mathews at first slip off Herath, sent the Indian captain packing for 78, against the run of play.
Rohit Sharma walked out in his new batting position at number five as Sri Lanka hoped to cause a few more in-roads before. Rohit displayed good eye while defending early on and took on Herath, hitting him for a four and a six, in the penultimate over before tea. Rahul looked a bit edgy after reaching the 90s and finished the session, two runs short of his second Test ton and completed it soon after play resumed
