India vs Sri Lanka Board President's XI, Highlights: Ishant Fifer Puts India On Top
Ishant Sharma was the star with the ball as his haul of 5/23 bundled SL Board XI out for 121. Armed with a 230-run lead, India lost Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Wriddhiman Saha cheaply before Lokesh Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara extended India's lead to 342 with a solid partnership. Catch all the highlights here.
Ishant Sharma ripped through the SL Board XI top order by taking 5/23 to bundle them out for 121. In response, India lost Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma cheaply before Lokesh Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara extended India's lead to 342. Catch all the highlights here.
* That will be stumps on day 2 of the practice match with India well on top. Rahul and Pujara have extended the lead to 342 and they are in pole position ahead of the final day. India are 112/3, leading by 342 runs.
* After a sluggish start, both Pujara and Rahul have built a solid partnership. They have gone past the 100-run mark and the lead is now close to 350.
*Rahul continues to bat in a positive manner. He has smashed two fours and a six so far while Pujara continues to find his timing. India are 70/3, extending the past 300.
* It is tough going for India's batsmen out there. Cheteshwar Pujara is struggling to get going while Lokesh Rahul is looking good with two boundaries. India are 43/3.
* Double failure for Virat Kohli in this warm-up game. For the second time, Kasun Rajitha gets his wicket and the Indian skipper goes for 18. India are 28/3.
* Fernando strikes again as he traps Wriddhiman Saha LBW for 1. India are 27/2 in the second innings, leading by 257 runs.
* Double failure for Rohit Sharma in this warm-up game as he falls LBW to Vishwa Fernando for 8. India are 23/1 in the second innings.
*India have chosen not to enforce the follow-on. However, this time Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are coming out to open the batting, possibly with the need to get some runs under their belt. In the first innings, Kohli fell for 8 while Rohit Sharma fell for 7.
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* Ashwin wraps things up. Dickwella is bowled for a gritty 41 and SL Board XI have been bowled out for 121, giving India a lead of 230 runs. Ishant Sharma the star with 5/23.
* India are making quick work of the SL Board XI tail. Harbhajan Singh gets into the wickets and he traps Nisala Gamage LBW for 2. SL Board XI are 117/9, trailing by 234 runs.
* Finally, India have broken this frustrating 63-run stand for the seventh wicket. R Ashwin gets rid of Gunathilaka for 28 and SL Board XI are 114/8, trailing by 237 runs.
* SL Board XI go past 100 thanks to a fifty-run partnership between Dickwella (34*) and Gunathilaka (22*). Good fightback from the hosts. SL Board XI are 106/7
* Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka are taking the attack to the Indian bowlers. So far, they have shared a 33-run partnership in just four overs but India are clearly on top.
*Aaron strikes again, gets his second wicket by dismissing Milinda Siriwardana for 32. SL Board XI are 51/7.
* SL Board XI's misery continues after lunch. Varun Aaron among the wickets now and he gets Shehan Jayasuriya for 7. SL Board XI are 43/6
* At lunch, SL Board XI are 35/5.
* Out! Ishant claims two more to complete a fifer. SL Board XI now 10/5.
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* Out! Ishant is on fire - he claims three wickets in his first two overs to leave SL Board XI reeling.
* India's final score stands at a very respectable 351. Harbhajan was the last man to fall, for 15. Time for the bowlers to come out and make the most of the conditions.
* Out! Amit Mishra falls. India nine men down with Murali Vijay yet to bat.
* Out! Ashwin falls for 23.
* Harbhajan and Ashwin are watchful in their approach. Score chugging along at the moment.
* Day 2's play about to begin. Rahane will not bat and Harbhajan will come out in his place.
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India's batting was indeed strong on Day 1 with middle-order batsman Rahane's unbeaten ton taking India to 314/6 at stumps. While Rahane will resume the innings with Ravichandran Ashwin, there were definite hiccups in the innings as well. With the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failing, India were 133/4 at one stage. In walked Rahane and partnered Cheteshwar Pujara to rebuild the innings. The two took India to 175/4 at tea. (Day 1 report)
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The two batsmen put on runs at a brisk pace, bringing up the 50-partnership in the 49th over. And then they kicked on, with Rahane bringing up his half-century off 59 balls, with five fours.
Their 100-partnership came up in the 59th over and the duo scored at 4.75 per over during their 28.1-over stay together at the crease. Pujara slowed down a little as spin was introduced to make up for the slow over-rate and that hesitation cost him his wicket in the 66th over.
Rahane though carried on in the same vein as the Maharashtra-born batsman got to his century with a boundary against Jeffery Vandersay (2-76).