Dilshan leads Sri Lankan reply against India (Tea report)

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AHMEDABAD - Tillekaratne Dilshan cracked an unbeaten half-century to put Sri Lanka in the comfort zone against India at tea on the second day of the first cricket Test here Tuesday.

At tea, Sri Lanka were cruising at 155 for one in the first innings, chasing India’s 426, with Dilshan on 88 and skipper Kumar Sangakkara 23.

The Sri Lankan bowlers managed to restrict India to 426 in the first innings in the morning session, and the batsmen complemented with a superb show.

Dilshan and Tharanga Pranavitana (35) start briskly, adding 74 runs. Pranavitana was the more dominant of the two and even though he was troubled by Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, the left-handed batsman hit six fours during his 55-ball stay.

Sharma ended Pranavitana’s innings after the batsman edged an away going delivery to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Dilshan on the other end looked at ease and drove Zaheer for two consecutive fours to set the tone of the Sri Lankan reply. The introduction of spinners didn’t help India and Dilshan smacked leg-spinner Amit Mishra for two back-to-back fours in Mishra’s first over.

After Pranavitana’s dismissal Dilshan and Sangakkara added 118 runs in the post-lunch session to reduce the lead to 271.

Earlier, India could add only 41 runs to their overnight score of 385 for six as the last four wickets barely lasted an hour.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Chanaka Welegadara (4/87) got some swing right from the start and Muttiah Muralitharan (3/87) got a good purchase to pack up India’s innings in 15 overs.

Rahul Dravid failed to add to his overnight score of 177 and played on, with a thick edge from Welegadara’s inswinging delivery.

Harbhajan Singh (22) and Zaheer Khan (12) offered some resistance with their 25-run partnership.

Harbhajan looked at ease against the fast bowlers and drove them through covers for two fours. Zaheer also cut Prasad for two back-to-back fours as 21 runs came off the first six overs.

But the early introduction of spin did the trick for the visitors. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath trapped Zaheer leg before wicket while Muralitharan picked up Harbhajan and Ishant Sharma to wrap up the innings.