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Jadeja’s all-round show puts India on top
It was a marathon knock from the Ravindra Jadeja that helped India to put a mountain to climb for the Sri Lankan batters in the first innings.
India declared their innings on a huge total of 574-8 and they are looking for an innings victory in the 1st Test.
Ashwin scored a half-century and also picked up two crucial wickets as Sri Lanka lost 4 wickets before stumps on day 2.
India 1st innings 574-8
Jadeja 175*( 228) Lakmal 2-90 R. Pant 96 (97) Fernando 2-135 Vihari 58 (128) Embuldeniya 2-107
Sri Lanka 1st innings 108-4
Karunaratne 28 (71) Ashwin 2-21 Nissanka 26*(75) Jadeja 1-20 Mathews 22 (39) Bumrah 1-30
Sri Lanka played patiently in the start as their openers looked quite solid in the first 18 overs.
Ravichandran Ashwin broke the 48 run opening stand by dismissing the veteran Lahiru Thiramane in the 19th over.
Thiramane was given LBW out after scoring only 17 runs.
Ravindra Jadeja gave the biggest blow to the Sri Lankan side by getting Karunaratne LBW out on 28 runs.
The experienced Angelo Mathews was looking good as he smash a six and a four on his 22 run knock but unfortunately, he also had a short stay at the crease as he was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah.
Sri Lanka suffered the dismissal of Dhananjaya de Silva just a few overs before stumps. He was also dismissed by Dhananjaya de Silva.
Earlier, Jadeja and Ashwin started the Innings from 357-6 and both of them continued their partnership to add crucial runs for their side.
Both Jadeja and Ashwin played aggressively right from the start of play on day 2. Ashwin and Jadeja completed their smashed half-centuries in this partnership.
They shared an excellent 130 runs partnership for the 6th wicket. Ashwin got caught out after scoring 61 runs from 82 deliveries including 8 fours.
After losing the 7th wicket, Jayant Yadav came to the crease but he got out after playing 18 deliveries for his 2 runs. He was dismissed by Vishwa Fernando on the last ball of the 114th over.
Ravindra Jadeja’s unbelievable performance
Ravindra Jadeja was unstoppable today against the Sri Lankan bowling unit.
He scored his career-best innings of 175 runs not-out and it was very shocking that Rohit Sharma didn’t wait for his maiden double ton and declared the innings.
Jadeja shared some superb partnerships with Pant, Ashwin, and Shami. He smacked 17 fours and 3 sixes in his knock and proved why he is one of the best all-rounders in the world.
He shared an unbeaten 103 runs partnership with Muhammad Shami (who also scored unbeaten 20 runs) for the 9th wicket.
The star all-rounder also dismissed the in-form Sri Lankan opener and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne for only 28 runs.
Suranga Lakmal picked up 2 wickets for 90 runs in the Indian innings.
Vishwa Fernando and Lasith Embuldeniya also grabbed two wickets each but they were too expensive in their spells.