Mohali, March 4: India were restricted to 199 for 4 at Tea after Sri Lanka dismissed Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari in quick succession in the post-lunch session on Day 1 of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the IS Bindra Stadium here on Friday. Playing for the first time since giving up Test captaincy after India’s series defeat in South Africa, Kohli joined Hanuma Vihari and they orchestrated a solid partnership. Kohli hit 45 in his landmark 100th Test which saw him race past 8,000 runs while Vihari scored his 5th half-century and his first at home. Soon after achieving their personal milestones, they departed in quick succession, leaving India at 175 for 4.
Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer then kept the scoreboard ticking to help India reach into a comfortable zone. Earlier, captain Rohit Sharma put on 52 runs in the opening stand with Mayank Agarwal before getting holed out at long leg for 29 in the first hour of the match. Mayank perished for 33 as Kohli walked in to bat in the landmark Test. It was a much better bowling performance by Sri Lanka post lunch. The Sri Lankans had a plan up their sleeves with Dimuth Karunaratne setting the right fields. They bowled with a lot more discipline. Though they did not get any wicket in the first hour, Lasith Embuldeniya drew the first blood with a beauty to send back Kohli. Vishwas Fernando then cleaned up Vihari. Two quick wickets pushed India on the backfoot but Pant and Iyer ensured they didn’t lose further wickets in the session.
(UNI)
