Sri Lanka vs. India, 2nd Test, Day 2: Teams Level After 2 Days in Colombo
After two days of the second Test between Sri Lanka and India, the teams are about even after the visitors made 393 and the hosts reached 140-3 at the close.
It was an intriguing day’s play between the two sides. The Sri Lankans set themselves up well to take the lead tomorrow with wickets in hand.
However, India will feel they too are in a good spot, having nearly reached 400 and having taken some crucial wickets at key moments.
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That means Day 3 will be crucial, as either one of these teams could take charge and both will be desperate to avoid getting dominated.
Before we get to that, here are some takeaways from the second day of the second Test.
India fail to reach 400 again
After their overnight score of 319-6, India might be somewhat disappointed to be bowled out for 393, especially with some capable batsmen left at the crease.
Even with Rohit Sharma gone yesterday evening, Wriddhiman Saha remained, and alongside him the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Amit Mishra were decent with the bat.
Saha went on to score 56, while Mishra gave him good support with 24 to get India close to 400.
However, the visitors may well lament their tail’s general inability to wag, especially with Ashwin, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav all dismissed for just two runs each.
The psychological boost from reaching 400 might have been something of a boon for the away side, although 393 is still a good score batting first.
Sri Lanka batsmen get starts but get out
In reply, the majority of Sri Lanka’s batsmen so far made starts and looked to be in good form, but were then removed just as they looked set to push on.
Dimuth Karunaratne is the exception to this as he was removed for just one run, trapped leg before wicket by Yadav.
However, Kumar Sangakkara will be disappointed to be removed for 32, once again caught by Ajinkya Rahane off Ashwin when he might have fancied more runs.
Then, Kaushal Silva reached a half-century but was out shortly after, as he was caught by Ashwin off Mishra attempting a sweep shot.
Unbeaten overnight are Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne, who both look set already and will want to push on.
They must learn from the mistakes of their colleagues and take advantage of their decent position, or else India could reclaim a dominant position.
Third day looks set to be crucial
This tight second day has set up a third day that will likely be critical, as either side could easily gain the upper hand.
Sri Lanka will feel they are in a good position to take the lead, with two batsmen unbeaten at the crease overnight and well set.
However, India might think that if they take some early wickets, they can put their hosts under enormous pressure and even come away with a lead from the first innings.
It sets up the third day brilliantly, for what should be an intriguing encounter between two evenly matched teams.
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