India Vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Day 4, Highlights: Ashwin fastest to 300 scalps, helps India take 1-0 lead

A lot will depend on the pair in the middle (Thirimanne-Karunaratne), first, they will have to ensure they play the first hour without losing a wicket

By: Ankit Banerjee |
November 27, 2017 1:05 pm

Welcome to Live coverage of India Vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 4 at Nagpur. India has taken a 1-0 lead in the 3-match Test series defeating the visitors by an innings and 239 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin ran through the Lankans picking up 5 wickets and becomes the fastest to 300 scalps. India will now head to Delhi for the final Test.

Earlier, Day 3 saw Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara consolidate from where they left off on Day 2. Cheteshwar Pujara was the first to get dismissed for 142, but Virat Kohli went on to score his fifth double century. Virat Kohli scored 213 runs. Even Rohit Sharma, who was making a comeback in whites after 13 months, hit a smashing ton, he scored 103 unbeaten to take India’s lead to 405 runs before declaring.

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The visitors trailing by 405 runs, got off to the worst possible start, losing opener Samarawickrama to a duck. It was Ishant Sharma who drew first blood in the second innings. Sri Lanka is 21 for 1, with Karunaratne and Thirimanne in the wicket at stumps. Sri Lanka trail by 384 runs have a mountain to climb and Day 4 could see India pick the remaining 9 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

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Sri Lanka’s blueprint for comeback

For the Lankans the task at hand seems impossible, so now they have to play it out the session by session. They cannot think too ahead of themselves, also ensure they do not get into a shell. A lot will depend on the pair in the middle, first, they will have to ensure they play the first hour without losing a wicket.

That brings us to the close of Day 3. Sri Lanka in their second innings 21/1 in reply to India’s 610/6d. Sri Lanka trail by 384 runs #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/UndPnXCHyD

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 26, 2017

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India’s plan:

India should stick to their guns, the fast bowlers should believe the onus is on them to win India the game, at least they should look at it as a challenge. If that does not work Ashwin, Jadeja should do the job on a pitch that is opening up for the spinners.

India (Playing XI): Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dasun Shanaka, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage