The Sri Lanka Cricket team is on a full tour of india and will play three Test matches and an equal number of one-day matches. The Lions has never won a Test match in India and this time they hoped to improve that statistic.
The first Test at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta started on an inauspicious note as the first two days were severely curtailed due to bad light and rain. Sri Lanka did well to restrict India to 74 for 5, eventually dismissing them for 176 and took a big lead of over a 120 runs. But the home side batted with purpose with captain Virat Kohli hitting a century, leaving the visitors to negotiate the last 30 overs on the final day.
Sri Lanka tottered to 76 for 7, till the bad light came to their rescue and the match was drawn.
The match
The Lions were hopeful of breaking their winless streak in India, and that looked likely after putting the pressure of the home side in the first innings. The Indians failed to negotiate the moving ball in the heavy atmosphere and except for Pujara hitting 52, the team folded for a paltry score. Sri Lanka batted well and took a big lead with captain Suranga Lakmal getting increasingly hopeful of a first Test win in India for the islanders.
India batted with a renewed sense of purpose in the second innings and opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a quick 94. This was followed by Kohli who went on to get his 18th test century of his career.
But the declaration came a little late on the final day, as captain Kohli was intent on getting his hundred and one can say this was poor judgement on his part, leaving not enough time to bowl out Sri Lanka.
Bad light the winner
The travelling side were in trouble from the word go on the last day. The Indian seamers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvnesh Kumar bowled with fire and Sri Lanka were reduced to 76 for 7.
Bad light came to their rescue and when the umpires offered the batsmen the option of going off the field, the offer was immediately accepted, much to annoyance of their opposition. Yet, India had already had the same offer during the match, taking the chance to go off on the first day when they were suffering on 17 for 3.
In the end, the weather played its part, and despite the intriguing end, it won out and ended the match at a draw.
Although Kohli may have been selfish in his hunt for a century, limiting the time to bowl out Sri Lanka, he will be hoping to his captaincy error in the second Test, which gets underway at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Friday.
