KOLKATA: In a dramatic shift in events in a topsy-turvy test match in Kolkata, bad light finally came to the rescue of a lacerated Sri Lankan batting line-up.
14 wickets fell on a riveting day of Test match cricket which also saw an enthralling 50th international century from Indian Captain Virat Kohli. However, Indian bowlers almost blew the Lankans away with pace, swing and some uneven bounce from a fifth day pitch. Sri Lanka was seven down, wilting under pressure of a roaring Eden Gardens crowd, when bad light stopped play and eventually ended what will be remembered as a frustrating test match in terms of delays.
Starting the day with nine wickets in hand and a 49-run lead in the bag, draw seemed imminent. However, as things turned out this game showed why the 5th day of a test can be so exciting. In a rain hit test match, where slow over-rates also ate more than 10 overs, Sri Lanka and India fought tooth and nail to shift the balance of the match in their favor. On a morning where India were on the back foot, trying to apply the safety first approach, Lakmal ripped through them to give Sri Lanka an advantage going into the second session.
However, the Indian Captain Virat Kohli had other plans. Coming in to bat on a pitch that was already showing hints of uneven bounce, Kohli managed to find a way to score runs while knitting partnerships with the tail to keep the innings together. With wickets felling around him, Kohli lifted the scoring rate by hitting scrumptious drives on all parts of the park. He went on to score his 50th international ton at the age of 29. India declared as soon as Kohli hit a six to reach his century, giving Sri Lanka a target of 231 to chase.
Sri Lanka started their chase of 231 in the worst possible fashion when Sadeera Samarawickrama chopped on for a duck in the first over of the innings. Dimuth Karunaratne fell shortly after to leave Sri Lanka at 8/2 at Tea. India kept the pressure after the break, and Sri Lankan batsmen had no answer to the seam and swing of Kumar and pace of Umesh Yadav and Shami. The next test will be played on November 24 at the spin friendly pitch of Nagpur.