Ashwin’s Fifer and Dhawan’s Fifty Shakes Up The Lankans in Galle

India end the day’s play at 128/2 on Day 1 in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.

India are in command of the first test against Sri Lanka at Galle with skipper Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan at the crease at stumps. The visitors managed to get 128 on the board for the loss of 2 wickets, just 55 runs shy of Sri Lanka’s paltry 183- run first innings.

Shikhar Dhawan seemed to continue from where he left off in Bangladesh as he made his way to an unbeaten 53 while skipper Virat Kohli looked in good touch during his undefeated knock of 45.

Opener KL Rahul, who missed the Bangladesh and the Zimbabwe tours due to injury, fell early for 7 and Rohit Sharma too last just 24 deliveries.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin spun a web around Sri Lankan batsmen with a six-wicket haul as India dismissed the hosts for a meagre 183 in the first innings to gain the upper-hand on the first day.

India’s premier spinner recorded his best overseas figures of 6 for 46 in 13.4 overs to trigger a collapse that saw the islanders being shot out in just 49.4 overs in their first innings after skipper Angelo Mathews opted to bat first.

India are only 55 runs short of Sri Lanka’s first innings total and will be looking to build a huge lead on a pitch that is offering substantial turn at times.

The first day panned out exactly in the manner that skipper Kohli might have wanted it to be.

Kumar Sangakkara (5) had a forgettable first innings in his penultimate Test match as he tried to push one off-break off the back-foot which gave a sharp catch to Rahul at Silly Point.