India-Sri Lanka test series: Rain rain go away
India-Sri Lanka test series: Rain rain go away
Rain plays spoilsport
“A depression in the Bay of Bengal will bring downpours and the threat for flooding to parts of eastern India this week. 15 Nov17”
We are into the third day of the first test between Sri Lanka – India. Rains have only allowed 59.3 overs worth of play in the match so far out of the 180 that should have been bowled on the first two days itself. Plenty of play time has been lost courtesy the so-called depression in the Bay of Bengal. The forecast is for more showers for the next few days which could mean more stoppages.
That kind of day
Whatever cricket has been possible so far, has been nothing short of dramatic. The drama started from the first ball itself. Usually bowlers take a few deliveries to get warmed up. Not Lakmal though. After all the rain and the consequent delay, he came out to ball and landed the very first ball in the corridor and made it move late. Unfortunately for K Rahul he was at the striker’s end and he had to play. A bit more swing and he could have missed. With his first match ball dismissal, he became the sixth Indian batsmen to be dismissed off the first match ball in a test. The record of three first ball dismissals in test is held by the great Sunny Gavaskar.
It was just that kind of day. After the fall of Dhawan’s wicket, who went for an expansive drive on a lush green newly re-laid Eden pitch, out came captain Kohli.
Kohli test woes continue
Kohli has been phenomenal this year in the ODIs and T20s. With more 2,000 runs in this calendar year, he has set new standards in consistency. However, his performance in test matches has been below par even by an average batsman’s standard. He has had a string of low scores in the last 5-7 innings.
India needed a solid innings after the fall of the openers. With two best Indian batsmen in the form of Pujara and Kohli on the crease, it was possible. And with the form Kohli had shown in the recently concluded ODIs against Australia and New Zealand, he looked all set to get over his poor form in Test matches.
But, that was not to be, not in the first innings at least. He faced 11 balls before being trapped leg before by Lakmal. Just before he got out, there had been another stoppage. That could have been the end of the day. But, there always has to be a ‘but’. They came out, Kohli got out, and in a little while they all had to leave for the dressing room due to bad light.
That was the end of the day. 12.5 overs for three wickets for less than 50 runs on the board.
India has been bowled out for 172 in their first innings. If they batted poorly or the pitch did them, could be easily ascertained by how Sri Lanka fare up in their first innings.
Weather permitting, this match could still see a result. With the grass on the pitch and the moisture, 40 wickets shouldn't be all that hard to fall.
@plus
Live match update: Live cricket score India vs Sri Lana, third day from Eden Gardens – Kolkata
Sri Lanka has reached 164 for the loss of 4 wickets.. If they bat well tomorrow, they will make it very hard for India to stay in d match…