Sri Lanka v India 1st Test day 1 review: India in the driver seat as Ashwin picks 6

Sri Lanka v India 1^st Test day 1 review: India in the driver seat as Ashwin picks 6: When Sri Lanka and India took the field on Wednesday in the first Test of the 3 match series, it had been more than five years since the two sides last met in a Test match. Rain had finally relented for the match to start on time. The smile on Angelo Mathews’ face after winning the toss was the only time he was to have that liberty. Sri Lanka had a day to forget as India started the tour with a fabulous display of all-round cricket. The visitors ended the day at 128-2, only 55 behind Sri Lanka’s 1st innings total of 183. Dhawan and Kohli have settled in nicely with a century stand and look good for more. Dhawan has already made his fifty and looks at ease, while Kohli had no troubles facing the Sri Lankan attack either.

Earlier Upul Tharanga had to miss out as Sangakkara returned to the side while India went in with their five bowler strategy and fielded three spinners. The Indian seamers, Ishant Sharma and Varun Aaron, bowled incisively up front. When Shikhar Dhawan dropped Kaushal Silva early it wasn’t the most auspicious of the starts for the visitors. Ishant was bowling with serious pace and getting vicious bounce off the Galle surface. Soon after getting Karunaratne dismissed on a short ball from the lanky pacer, Aaron served Silva with the same, the ball seemed to brush his gloves and Dhawan at second slip dived to his right to hang onto a good catch. Replays though suggested that the Sri Lankan opener might have been a bit unlucky as the ball came off the arm guard.

Kumar Sangakkara, the guy around whom the series has been build up, was dismissed early by Ashwin as he went for a tame punch and the ball went off the toe-end of the bat to KL Rahul, at silly point, who was quick to react and take a brilliant reflex catch. Thirimanne and Mubarak couldn’t do much either and gifted their wickets to Ashwin. The Lankan’s went to lunch 5 wickets down with just 65 on the board. But after the interval Angelo Mathews decided to play a bit more positively to ease out the pressure. Wriddhiman Saha then dropped a dolly to deny Ishant a well deserved wicket of Chandimal. The lanky pacer had been teasing the right hander outside his off stump and when the opportunity presented itself Saha failed to hold on.

Also Read: Twitter Reactions: R Ashwin rips apart Sri Lankan batting on Day 1 at Galle

Angelo Mathews fought back valiantly after the early setbacks and completed his 22nd Test fifty. He also shared a half-century stand with Dinesh Chandimal to stabilize the Sri Lankan innings. Chandimal survived a close run-out chance on 25, as Shikhar Dhawan failed to hit the stumps directly. It was surprising to see Kohli not starting with Ashwin after lunch. That allowed the partnership between Chandimal and Mathews to flourish.

Ashwin struck as soon as he was recalled as a brilliant catch on the second attempt from Rohit Sharma at short leg got the Sri Lankan skipper dismissed for a well made 64. That also ended his 79 run stand with Chandimal. Meanwhile, Chandimal brought his 8th Test fifty. Amit Mishra struck twice in two balls and dismissed Dinesh Chandimal and Kaushal. Ashwin finished his spell with 6 scalps as Rangana Hearth was the last man to depart trying to slog sweep the off spinner. 183 all out was in no way reflective of the pitch and conditions. It rather symbolized some great bowling by R Ashwin and indecisive stroke play by the Lankans. Except Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, no Sri Lankan batsman showed any fight. If it was not for their half-century stand, the hosts might have ended up with an even lower total.

India started steadily as the openers looked unfazed in the first few overs. But Prasad got one to jag back at Rahul and the opener was late in bringing his bat down to be struck in front. Once again Rohit Sharma decided to disappoint those who have backed him to the hilt. He was caught in the crease as the ball from Mathews nipped back in from length to strike his pads in front of the stumps.

Dhawan and Kohli then joined hands for an unbeaten century stand as India were on top at the end of the day. The visitors would want to extend their lead further and put the home side under greater pressure on day 2.

While the Indian pacers employed the short ball strategy to their advantage Sri Lankan’s seemed reluctant to push the batsmen on the backfoot. Aaron and Ishant bowled consistent lines throughout which helped build the pressure for the spinners to cash in later. Ashwin was simply outstanding. This might well be the series which takes him to the next level when it comes to the art of spin bowling.

It has to be mentioned though that the home team did not play him to the best of their abilities. There was lack of intent on their part alongwith some ordinary shot selection. On the contrary Indians and Dhawan in particular looked more assured. Herath and Tharindu Kaushal were hoped to pose a considerable threat on the Galle surface, but sensible and risk-free batting from Kohli and Dhawan pretty much nullified their venom.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka- 1^st innings (183 Mathews 64, Chandimal 59, Ashwin 6-46)

India- 1^st innings 128-2, (Dhawan 53*, Kohli 45*; Mathews 1-12) trail by 55 runs.