Colombo, Aug 4 (CRICKETNMORE): India rode on a strong batting performance and some superb bowling by star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to consolidate their advantage on the second day of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India captain Virat Kohli decided on declaration during the last session of the day after the visitors had piled on a mammoth total of 622\/9 in their first innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ashwin made good use of the considerable turn being offered by the pitch to remove Lankan openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga as the hosts posted 50\/2 in their first innings at stumps. India now have a lead of 572 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kusal Mendis (16 batting) and Dinesh Chandimal (8 batting) were at the crease when the umpires decided to call it a day at the Sinhalese Sports Club. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ashwin registered figures of 2\/38. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and fast bowler Mohammed Shami also bowled well, although both did not manage a wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, the Indians rode on half-centuries from Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha and Ashwin to post a big total.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jadeja remained unbeaten on a quick 70 runs off 85 balls, which included four boundaries and three sixes. Saha and Ashwin made 67 and 54 respectively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Off-spinner Rangana Herath was the most successful among the Sri Lankan bowlers with figures of 4\/154. Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara returned with 2\/156 while Karunaratne and Dilruwan Perera bagged a wicket each.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Resuming the day at 344\/3, India lost Cheteshwar Pujara (133) in the second over of the day, trapped in front by part-timer Dimuth Karunaratne before Ajinkya 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, but 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 the scoring rate after India crossed the psychologically important 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
The Sri Lankans started the post-lunch session on a promising note when Ashwin was bowled by Herath shortly after completing his half-century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ashwin, who notched up the 11th half-century of his Test career, faced 92 balls, hitting 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 72 runs between them to pile more pressure on the hosts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Saha was batting comfortably but was stumped when he stepped out to a flighted delivery from Herath. His patient innings of 134 balls included four boundaries and a six.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Saha's departure prompted Jadeja to up the ante and the Gujarat all-rounder brought up his half-century in style, flicking a Herath delivery off his pads for a boundary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shami played a brief, power-packed knock at the other end, smashing 19 runs off eight deliveries. He hit Herath into the stands off two consecutive deliveries before offering a skier to Tharanga at deep mid-wicket while going for a hat-trick of sixes. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jadeja continued with his aggressive batting, stepping out to smash Herath for another six with Umesh Yadav also joining the party with a boundary off Dilruwan Perera. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Brief scores: Sri Lanka (first inings): 50\/2 (Kusal Mendis 16 batting; Ravichandran Ashwin 2\/38) vs India (first inings): 622\/9 declared (Cheteshwar Pujara 133, Ajinkya Rahane 132, Ravindra Jadeja 70 not out; Rangana Herath 4\/154).<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2017\/08\/team-india90.jpg", "alt_img": "Colombo Test: India tighten grip against Sri Lanka on 2nd day", "alt_title": "Colombo Test: India tighten grip against Sri Lanka on 2nd day", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Colombo Test: India tighten grip against Sri Lanka on 2nd day", "seo_desc": " India rode on a strong batting performance and some superb bowling by star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to consolidate their ", "seo_keywords": "Ravichandran Ashwin", "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-tighten-grip-against-sri-lanka-on-2nd-day", "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": "2329", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "0", "auto_link": "0", "created": "2017-08-04 20:36:00", "updated": "2017-08-04 20:36:00", "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 20:36:00", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2017-08-04 20:36:00", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/colombo-test-india-tighten-grip-against-sri-lanka-on-2nd-day-29508" }