Sri Lanka chase a mammoth target of 447; Pant cracks fastest half-century by an Indian
BENGALURU: It is not often that a Day-Night Test match runs its course of five days, especially when it involves India. The previous three pink-ball Tests played by them did not stretch beyond the third day and this contest against Sri Lanka at the M Chinnaswamy stadium is unlikely to be any different.
On Sunday, Day 2 of the second and final Test of the series, the hosts began their victory march as Sri Lanka were 28/1 in at stumps in their second innings. They were left with a mountain to climb over the next three days, needing another mammoth 419 runs for victory.
On another day of turn on the Bengaluru surface, where 14 wickets fell, Indian players helped themselves to some milestones while adding to the visitors' misery.
Responding to India's first innings score of 252, the Islanders were bowled out for 109. Returning for their second essay, India declared at 303/9, deep into the final session. Jasprit Bumrah (1/9) & company took over. Adding an element of drama to the day's proceedings were two pitch invaders, who decided to take some selfies with the home team players before the end of day's play.
While Bumrah registered his maiden five-wicket haul at home and 300 international wickets across formats, Rishabh Pant scored the fastest Test half-century by an Indian with his 28-ball 50 (7x4; 2x6), eclipsing Kapil Dev's record of 50 in 30 balls.
The Indian innings was marked by more flair than grace. They got off to a good start with openers Mayank Agarwal (22) and Rohit Sharma (46) easing to a 42-run stand. Lasith Embuldeniya (3/87) gave the Lankans some respite when Agarwal edged to Dhananjaya de Silva at gully.
Lanka paid the price for Lahiru Thirimanne putting down a regulation catch at slips when Rohit was on 18. The skipper went on to play some beautiful reverse sweeps and pull shots. But De Silva, who troubled Rohit and Hanuma Vihari (35) at the other end with his tossed up deliveries, got the Indian skipper's number when he miscued to Angelo Mathews at long-on.
Virat Kohli (13) failed to get going again. The top-order bat was completely beaten by a grubber from Praveen Jayawickrama (4/78) and he could do nothing much but offer a smile before making his way back.
The entertainer of the day was clearly Pant. He announced his arrival in typical fashion, smashing the second ball he faced, off Jayawickrama, into the stands behind deep mid-wicket. Pant made merry against the spin duo of Jayawickrama and De Silva and brought up his record half-century off the former's delivery with a delightful drive through extra cover. Three balls later, Jayawickrama had the last laugh, as Pant skied a delivery which was safely collected by the bowler.
Shreyas Iyer (67, 87b, 9x4), continued with his fine form from the previous day. Only this time, he was less aggressive. India declared at the fall of Axar Patel (9).
Earlier, Bumrah's 5 for 24 hastened the closure of the Lankan innings. Beginning the day at 86/6, the visitors' lower order lasted all of 27 minutes and 5. 5 overs, adding 23 runs to their tally before being bowled out in 35. 5 overs.
The surface was not a factor for Bumrah, who continued to make the Lankan batsman dance to his pace and bounce. R Ashwin (2/30) joined the party as well by dismissing Suranga Lakmal and Vishwa Fernando.
1/8:Uphill task for visitors
<p>Sri Lanka ended day two on 28-1 in their second innings after India set them a mammoth target of 447 for victory in the second and final Test on Sunday. (PTI Photo)</p>
2/8:Early blow by Bumrah
<p>Jasprit Bumrah struck in the first over to trap opener Lahiru Thirimanne lbw for a duck but skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (10) and Kusal Mendis (16) saw out the final few overs of the day, with the tourists still 419 runs behind. (AP Photo)</p>
3/8:Fine fifties by Pant and Iyer
<p>Having bowled out Sri Lanka for 109 in the first session, India batted 69 overs before declaring on 303-9 with Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant notching up half-centuries while other Indian batsmen failed to go on from solid starts. (AP Photo)</p>
4/8:Skipper Rohit misses fifty
<p>Skipper Rohit Sharma, playing his 400th international match, holed out in the deep to fall four runs short of his fifty while Hanuma Vihari (35) was bowled by spinner Praveen Jayawickrama as he tried to sweep. (ANI Photo)</p>
5/8:Jayawickrama traps Kohli
<p>Jayawickrama struck again to surprise Virat Kohli (13) with a delivery that turned sharply and kept low, trapping him lbw in identical fashion to his dismissal in the first innings. (AP Photo)</p>
6/8:Pant registers fastest Test fifty by an Indian
<p>But Pant took the game away from the Lankans by going after the bowling as soon as he walked to the crease, bringing up his fifty with seven fours and two sixes. Made from 28 balls, his half century was the fastest by an Indian batsman, breaking the record set by Kapil Dev 40 years ago, before he skied a delivery from Jayawickrama who took the catch himself. (ANI Photo)</p>
7/8:Iyer takes India's lead past 400
<p>Iyer helped guide India to a lead beyond 400 with his second half-century of the match to add to his fine knock of 92 on a turning track in the first innings. With nine boundaries, Iyer looked comfortable at the crease before he was outfoxed by a Lasith Embuldeniya delivery that rapped him on the pads and sent him back to the pavilion for 67. (ANI Photo)</p>
