In Stats: Shikhar Dhawan’s Quick Ton & KL Rahul’s 7th Straight 50

KL Rahul scored his seventh straight Test century, failing to reach a hundred after getting caught on 85.

The Indian team, in pursuit of a rare whitewash on tour, put themselves in a very good position after opting to bat first in the final Test in Pallekele.

India’s cause was powered by Shikhar Dhawan’s century and his record opening stand with KL Rahul. By the time play ended on the opening day, India had 329/6 on the board – the highest total posted by a team batting first at the venue. What’s more, the team look good to post a big total when play resumes on the morrow.

The surface at Pallekele – though devoid of the grass cover one saw on the eve of the match – was expected to afford the quicks some assistance early on given the rain in the days leading to the start of the Test match. But Sri Lanka’s new and inexperienced new-ball pairing of Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara – with a total of 8 Test caps and 24 wickets between them – were put under pressure from the word go and were never allowed to settle down.

India’s Openers Fire Again

It took Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul all of two overs to get a hang of the conditions; in the third over, Dhawan collected a boundary through third man – courtesy a thick outside edge, and the wheels came off thereafter. By the time the first bowling change had been made, India had raced to 42 in seven overs, and the 50 was brought up at the start of the tenth over.

Both openers feasted on some wayward bowling from the Sri Lankans; Dhawan and Rahul respected the occasional good deliveries, but they never missed out on scoring off the poor ones – which were plenty. The pair brought up the 100 of the partnership in the eighteenth over, and extended their association to 188 runs – the highest opening partnership by sides touring Sri Lanka.

Sir Everton Weekes, Kumar Sangakkara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Andy Flower are the other batsmen – among non-openers – to have scored 50 or more in seven consecutive Test innings.

Rahul’s innings ended in the 40th over when he attempted to hit the left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara over the top but holed out to mid-on; he made 85 from 135 balls.

Dhawan Demolishes SL Attack

Much of the credit for India finding themselves in a commanding position should go to Shikhar Dhawan, who converted his half-century to a three-figure score – his second of the series. The left-hander was quick off the blocks – getting to his half-century off just 45 balls – the second-fastest half-century by an Indian in Tests in Sri Lanka.

He then carried on to convert the half-century to his sixth Test century; the left-hander brought up his century off 107 balls – which was the quickest hundred registered in the series.

Dhawan’s ability to score quickly and destroy bowling attacks is what makes him such a valuable asset to the team. The left-hander has certain deficiencies in technique; he can be found out when the ball snakes around or when he comes up against bowlers who can bowl the heavy ball well. But then, there will also be days – like he has had on this tour of Sri Lanka – when he can dent the morale of the bowlers and change the course of the match in the matter of a session.

What has worked for him is that he seems to have come to grips with the fact that he isn't India's preferred Test opener any more. However, he still trains hard and prepares well. On match day though, he walks out to bat with no pressure, knowing at the back of his mind that he has prepared well and he will succeed if he is destined to. That attitude - of having nothing to lose - can work in favour of players on occasions; we've seen Dhawan reap the rewards from batting freely on this tour.