INDvsSL 3rd Test, Day 2: Pandya, Kuldeep bring India close to first ever overseas whitewash

 

Photo: AP

New Delhi: India had saved the best for the last. What looked like the best possible position for Sri Lanka to be in after Day 1 was given a 180 degree turn by India at the end of Day 2 as the hosts find themselves inches away from another crushing defeat in the third Test of the series which already has been captured by the visitors. After conceding 487 runs in the first innings, Sri Lanka somehow managed to get all out for 135 and lose Tharanga’s wicket when they were asked to follow-on by India. At 19 for 1, they still need 333 runs to make India bat again, chances for that look as slim as Upul Tharanga’s bat. Spectators, the very few that were present, were left scratching their heads as to who was their actual tormentor? Hardik Pandya, who smashed his maiden ton in a session? Or Kuldeep Yadav, who after stitching a crucial partnership with Pandya in morning, returned with figures of 4 for 40 in the evening. And in between these two, there was Mohammed Shami, who had broken the backbone of the Sri Lankan batting with fire a breathing opening spell in the post-lunch session. However, it all started with Pandya, the all-rounder who has been termed the modern Kapil Dev of India by the chairman of selectors. Pandya's aggressive batting powered India to 487 after starting the day at 329 for six. He was batting a shade over 50 when India lost their ninth wicket, 15 minutes later he had crossed the nineties. He had taken 26 runs off a Pushkumara over – the most by an Indian in a Test match and hit 7 sixes in that period. Pandya's knock punctured whatever hopes Sri Lanka had to make it a contest after ending the opening day on a high. Kuldeep, who replaced the suspended Ravindra Jadeja in the side, scalped four Lankan batsmen after Mohammed Shami sent back both the openers to help India bundle out the hosts for a paltry 135. With a massive 352-run lead in hand, Virat Kohli had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on and inflict more misery on a hapless Sri Lanka. The wicket was not a bad one to bat on but listless Sri Lankan batsmen failed to apply themselves. Dinesh Chandimal (48) and Niroshan Dickwella (29) put on 63 runs for the fifth wicket in the final session of the day. They attacked the Indian bowling with clear mindset. It helped Lanka cross 100 in the 21st over but their partnership was broken when Dickwella was stumped off Kuldeep (4/40). It was the start of another collapse for the hosts as two overs later, Dilruwan Perera (0) holed out in the deep off Kuldeep again. The big wicket came when Chandimal was caught at leg gully off R Ashwin (2/22) in the 32nd over, the ball lobbing up and KL Rahul completing the easy catch. Five balls later, Kuldeep, playing only his second Test, bowled Malinda Pushpakumara (10) and then returned in the 37th over to dismiss Vishwa Fernando (0) in the same manner. He missed his maiden Test five-wicket haul when Ashwin dismissed Lakshan Sandakan (10) an over later, caught at leg gully. Lanka lost their last six wickets for 34 runs. Ashwin and Mohammed Shami shared the new ball for India in the second innings, and although the Lankan batsmen showed intent to fight, Umesh (1/3) managed to get the breakthrough.