India 2 wickets away from defeating Sri Lanka in Nagpur Test

India owned the first session of Day Four of the Nagpur Test against Sri Lanka. They bagged 7 wickets in the session. Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin ran through Sri Lanka’s batting line-up to reduce them to 145 for 8 at the end of an extended first session. India lead by 260 runs and need just 2 more wickets to take an unassailable lead in the three-match series. At the crease now are Dinesh Chandimal (53*) and Suranga Lakmal (19*).

Virat Kohli opted for Ashwin to start Day Four and introduced Ishant from the other end. However, it soon emerged that Jadeja could produce more turn than Ashwin on the day. Dimuth Karunaratne was first to depart on Monday: Jadeja bowled a good-length ball on middle stump, and Karunaratne hit it straight to Murali Vijay at short leg. The ball struck Vijay on his belly. but he clung on to the ball for dear life. Sri Lanka were reduced to 34 for 2.

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Five overs later, Umesh Yadav struck for the first time at his home ground. He bowled a wide and full-length delivery and Lahiru Thirimanne went after it. It lobbed up to Jadeja at backward point. Thirimanne departed for 23.

Another five overs to the innings, and Sri Lanka lost their third wicket of the session. It was a very mediocre shot from an experienced man like Angelo Mathews: he tried to replicate his previous lofted shot and ended up giving a catch to Rohit Sharma at long on, and departed for 10.

Niroshan Dickwella’s stay at the crease was cut short by Ishant. Ishant bowled an in-swinger and generated bounce. Dickwella tried to defend but edged it to Kohli at second slip. He was sent back for 4, and Sri Lanka slipped to 75 for 5.

Dasun Shanaka breathed some life into the match with some fireworks. In an over, he hit a four and two sixes. Dinesh Chandimal, at the other end took the cue and hit boundaries in the following over. However, Shanaka’s aggressive style cost him his wicket. Shanaka failed to get to the pitch of a delivery from Ashwin and ended up hitting it high up in the air. KL Rahul took a catch running back to end Shanaka’s 8-ball 17 run knock.

Ashwin bagged two more wickets in succession. He got Dilruwan Perera LBW off the first ball the batsman faced. Sri Lanka reviewed the on-field umpire’s decision only to confirm there was no edge; the ball would have gone on to hit the leg stump. Next to depart was Rangana Herath, who could face only two balls. Ashwin produced bounce, pitched one on middle and Herath tried to defend. The ball kissed Herath’s gloves and landed in Ajinkya Rahane’s safe hands.

Amidst the slide, Chandimal stood like a rock and scored his second half-century in the match. However, the session belonged to the Indian bowlers, especially Ashwin, who bagged 3 wickets and is now only 1 wicket away from being the fastest to 300 Test wickets. Jadeja and Ishant bagged a couple of wickets each.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 205 and 145 for 8 (Lahiru Thirimanne 23, Dinesh Chandimal 53*; Ishant Sharma 2 for 43, Ravichandran Ashwin 3 for 50, Ravindra Jadeja 2 for 28) trail India 610 for 6 decl. by 260 runs.