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India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Men’s Test at Galle: Dilruwan Perera stonewalls visitors before lunch on Day 3

Sri Lanka trail by 311 runs against India in the first of the three-Test series.

 © AFP
Dilruwan Perera remained unbeaten on 90 © AFP

Dilruwan Perera took the bull by its horn. Stuttering at 143 for 5, he added 62 runs with Angelo Mathews for the sixth wicket. It was his stonewalling innings that repelled India in the first session of the third day. However, he continued his good work even after Mathews departed for a lively 83. Sri Lanka went into lunch at 289 for 8, trailing by 311 runs at Galle.

Mathews fell 17 runs short of a well-deserved century. He played with a positive intent against a flaming spin-bowling. Losing half the side, he had very little time to make amends and dealt in boundaries against the likes of Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Sensing urgency, Virat Kohli made bowling changes introducing Ravindra Jadeja, and the No. 1 bowler merely took 5 deliveries to provide breakthrough. Going inside out and trying to clear the infield, Mathews did not get enough elevation and holed out to Kohli at cover. Although Kohli made it look like an ordinary catch, he did remarkably well to time his jump.

However, Dilruwan Perera was the star of the first session. In the company of Mathews, he weathered the storm with a resilient half-century. Despite Sri Lanka struggling to keep head over water, he looked surprisingly calm.

The best shot of his was the lofted drive over covers. Coming down the track, he smacked Jadeja for a spectacular six. He then slogged Ashwin over deep mid-wicket. Off the next ball, he raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd for his timely fifty.

In came captain Rangana Herath to add more runs to steer clear of the follow-on, but he fell prey to Jadeja’s finger-spin for 9.

Hardik Pandya had to wait for 70 overs for his maiden spell in the longest format. However, he took his first wicket in the very second over, dismantling Nuwan Pradeep’s defence.

Brief scores

India 600 (Shikhar Dhawan 190, Cheteshwar Pujara 153; Nuwan Pradeep 6 for 132) lead Sri Lanka 289 for 8 (Upul Tharanga 63, Angelo Mathews 83, Dilruwan Perera 90*; Mohammad Shami 2 for 45) by 311 runs.

Full scorecard

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