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India dominate Sri Lanka Board President’s XI at stumps, Day 1

India ended Day One of the only practice match against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI (SLBP XI) at a comfortable position, trailing by 52 runs and with 7 wickets in hand.

Ajinya Rahane and Virat Kohli remained unbeaten at stumps, Day 1 © Getty Images
Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli remained unbeaten at stumps, Day 1 © Getty Images

After a clinical performance with the ball, India ended Day One of the only practice match against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI (SLBP XI) at a comfortable position, trailing by 52 runs and with 7 wickets in hand. Winning the toss, SLBP XI elected to bat and despite a healthy partnership of 130 runs for the first wicket, went on to collapse for 187 post lunch. India managed not to lose more than 3 wickets on a turning track and put up 135 runs on the board at the end of day. READ: Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav reduce Sri Lanka Board President’s XI to 187, India on command at tea

Sri Lanka, losing opener Kaushal Silva early on, were provided with a solid start. Danushka Gunathilaka and Lahiru Thirimanne took the team’s score to 112 as Sri Lanka did not lose any wickets in the first session. Mohammed Shami was the only successful bowler for India in the session, removing Silva for 4. However, Indian bowlers made a strong comeback post lunch. It was Ravindra Jadeja’s triple strike that rattled the hosts’ batting, breaking the strong partnership and not letting them settle for another.

Jadeja got rid of Thirimanne (59), Dhananjaya de Silva (0) and Ashan Priyanjan (2) and effected the run out of Gunathilaka (74). Sri Lanka lost 4 wickets in the interval of 14 deliveries and 7 runs as Kuldeep Yadav took the cue from Jadeja’s quick scalps and removed Sandun Weerakkody (10). He later got the wickets of Kithuruwan Vithanage (2), Shehan Jayasuriya (1) and lastly Lahiru Gamage (1) to end with the figures of 4 for 14.

India opted for KL Rahul and Abhinav Mukund to open the innings. They lost the wicket of Mukund in the very first over. Mukund was sent back for a golden duck by Viswa Fernando. Rahul then tried to to build innings’ by adding a stable partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara, but Fernando struck again before India could reach the team score of 50, removing Pujara for 12. Skipper Virat Kohli formed the much needed partnership build the momentum of the innings. Rahul scored a half-century but departed soon after for 54 off a Kasun Rajitha delivery. At stumps, Kohli remained unbeaten on 34 with Ajinkya Rahane on 30.

Brief scores:

SLBPXI 187 (Danushka Gunathilaka 74, Lahiru Thirimanne 59; Mohammed Shami 2 for 9, Ravindra Jadeja 3 for 31, Kuldeep Yadav 4 for 14) lead India 135 for 3 (KL Rahul 54, Virat Kohli 34*, Ajinkya Rahane 30*; Vishwa Fernando 2 for 21, Kasun Rajitha 1 for 43) by 52 runs.

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