ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Shanaka Reduces India to 74/5 on Day 2 as Pujara Wages Lone Battle

Sahana took the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane (4) and Ravichandran Ashwin (4) in the morning.

Published
Cricket
2 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

Sri Lankan seamer Dasun Shanaka struck twice to leave India reeling at 74/5 despite a fighting unbeaten 47 by Cheteshwar Pujara before the play was called off due to rain on the second day of the opening Test in Kolkata.

Sahana took the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane (4) and Ravichandran Ashwin (4) in the morning but Pujara anchored India's first innings on testing overcast conditions at the Eden Gardens.

Batting overnight with eight runs, Pujara faced 102 deliveries and struck nine fours in his knock, and was three runs away from what could be a memorable half-century.

He patiently waited for loose balls as the visitors got maximum purchase from the Eden greentop, brilliantly aided by the overcast conditions.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD
Sahana took the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane (4) and Ravichandran Ashwin (4) in the morning.
Sri Lankan seamer Dasun Sahana took two wickets in the morning.
(Photo: BCCI)

Shanaka struck in his third over when he tempted Rahane for a drive and got a thin edge to the wicketkeeper. Next he evicted Ashwin after setting him up brilliantly as Pujara struggled to get a partnership going.

Overnight at 17/3 after Suranga Lakmal's sensational bowling display, Indians were tested in the off-stump corridor by the Lankan pacer's probing length and bounce.

Indians preferred to take Lakmal with extreme caution as the Lankan new-ball bowler finally ended his overnight spell from the High Court end for 11-9-5-3.

On 24, Pujara was hit on his bottom hand thumb by a rising short-pitched delivery from Lahiru Gamage as he flung his gloves in pain in the 25th over.

In the next over, Pujara lost Ashwin as Shanaka set him up with a bouncer and followed it with a good length delivery that was cut straight to point by the Indian off-spinner.

But Pujara remained unperturbed and looked for loose deliveries and scored mainly through boundaries before the first session was halted by rain.

Lunch was taken 10 minutes ahead of schedule when it started pouring in the middle and play never resumed.

0

(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from sports and cricket

Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More
×
×