Kolkata, Nov 20 (UNI) The fate of the first test hanged in balance as
India were battling at 251 for loss of 5 wickets at lunch on the final day
of the five-day Test play match against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens here
today.
Skipper Virat Kohli was batting at 41 and Ravichandran Ashwin yet to
open his account.
India were leading by 129 runs with five wickets in hand
and Sri Lanka will have their second knock.
India resumed their second innings at 171/1 with overnight not out
batsmen opener Lokesh Rahul (79) and first down Cheteswar Pujara (2)
in the sunny morning.
Lokesh Rahul was first to go at 79 when an in-swinger from strike
bowler Suranga Lakmal disrupted his wickets. Rahul added only six runs
to his overnight score.
Chetester Pujara, who contributed 52 runs in the first knock to
India's total score of 172, was next to return to pavilion at 22. Right
handed pacer Lakmal was again
on the hunt after Dilruwan Perera held the catch as India were on 213/3.
Ajinkya Rahane (0) once again failed to live up to the expectation of his
calibre and was held leg before wicket at duck 0 after facing 4
balls.
Rahane, who scored 4 runs
in first innings, was out from 30-year-old Lakmal's deceptive
delivery. The ball came in with the angle, but there was not anything
magical that a player of Rahane's calibre could not have handled.
Rahane called for review after having consulted with non-striking end
Virat Kohli. But Rahane had to leave the pitch after third umpire on
camera Anil Chaudhari held field umpire Joel Wilson right.
Before lunch Ravindra Jadeja was out cheaply on 9 after facing 41
balls with a second slip catch to Lahiru Thirimanne off Dilruwan
Perera's delivery.
Suranga Lakmal took three of the four wickets in the first
session today conceding 50 runs.
UNI PC SJC