Colombo, Aug 4 (CRICKETNMORE): India rode on a strong batting performance by the middle and lower order to post a formidable total of 553\/7 at tea on the second day of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At the break, Wriddhiman Saha was unbeaten on 59 while Ravindra Jadeja was on 37 at the other end.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Sri Lanka, spinners Rangana Herath and Malinda Pushpakumara have taken two wickets each while Dimuth Karunaratne and Dilruwan Perera have bagged a wicket each.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Lankans started the post lunch session on a promising note when Ravichandran Ashwin was bowled by Herath shortly after completing hins half-century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ashwin, who notched up the 11th half-century of his Test career, scored 54 runs off 92 balls with five boundaries and a six.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hardik Pandya then scored 20 runs off as many deliveries before he mistimed his shot while trying to smash a Pushpakumara delivery out of the park only to see Angelo Mathews latch onto the skier at long-off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jadeja joined Saha in the middle and the duo added 57 runs between pile more pressure on the hosts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, the Lankans struck twice to send back overnight centurions Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane even as India added 98 runs in the morning session to post 442\/5 at lunch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Resuming the day at 344\/3, India lost Pujara (133) in the second over of the day, trapped in front by part-timer Dimuth Karunaratne before Rahane (132) and Ashwin consolidated the innings with a 63-run fifth wicket stand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pujara looked good during his brief stay on the second morning, fetching a boundary off Karunaratne, before the next delivery ended his 232-ball vigil. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Saurashtra right-hander who had by now added 217 runs with Rahane, was hit on his thighs by a back of a length delivery from Karunaratne, resulting in loud appeals from the hosts. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The on-field umpire however, did not budge and the home side immediately asked for a referral which got them the prized wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The fall of Pujara, brought in the dependable Ashwin, who started briskly striking two boundaries off Rangana Herath and Karunaratne before slowing down a bit. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The right-handed duo of Ashwin and Rahane continued to frustrate the Sri Lankans, stealing the odd boundaries and rotating the strike at a good rate to raise their 50-run stand in no time. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
In his attempt to accelerate after India crossed the psychological 400-run mark, Rahane perished to debutant left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara, smartly stumped by Niroshan Dickwella after facing 222 balls and sending the ball 14 times to the fence.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Rahane's dismissal brought a sigh of relief to the Sri Lankan camp, as wicketkeeper-batsman Saha and Ashwin safely guided India to 442\/5 at the lunch break.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief Scores: India 553\/7 (Cheteshwar Pujara 133, Ajinkya Rahane 132, Lokesh Rahul 57, Wriddhiman Saha 59 batting; Rangana Herath 2\/122, Malinda Pushpakumara 2\/156) vs Sri Lanka. <\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2017\/08\/saha4.jpg", "alt_img": "Colombo Test: India continue to pile on the runs", "alt_title": "Colombo Test: India continue to pile on the runs", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Colombo Test: India continue to pile on the runs", "seo_desc": " India rode on a strong batting performance by the middle and lower order to post a formidable total of 553\/7 at tea on the second day of the second cricket ", "seo_keywords": "Wriddhiman Saha", "tag": "", "tagging": "", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "0", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "colombo-test-india-continue-to-pile-on-the-runs", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "1512", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "0", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2017-08-04 15:47:00", "updated": "2017-08-04 15:47:00", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": null, "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2017-08-04 15:47:00", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2017-08-04 15:47:00", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/colombo-test-india-continue-to-pile-on-the-runs-29495" }