Oh dear Sri Lanka. What have you done?
After what was an exciting 2 days of test cricket shown by Sri Lanka against India in the first test at Eden Gardens, it is fair to say the roles have reversed. An amazing opening spell by Suranga Lakmal (4/26) had the likes of Indian opener; Lokesh Rahul dismissed from the first ball of the innings and shortly followed by captain Virat Kohli for an eleven-ball duck. The tourists continued their test form (especially with the ball) from the last series win against Pakistan and showed a magnificent display of bowling to dismiss the number 1 test team (India) for a bleak 172 all out on a rain-affected second day.
The tourists built a half-decent total on a somewhat seaming pitch and built up a 122 run lead which I believed was enough runs to attack the Indian top order before stumps. However, with some poor displays of fielding and some shocking DRS decisions, the tourists allowed India to cruise to a 49 run lead at the end of the fourth day with only the loss of one wicket.
It is disappointing to see that after all the hard work that the bowlers had done in the first innings to dismiss India to a begging total, to essentially "throw it away" to some extent with instances of irresponsible batting. With the likes of Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne and Niroshan Dickwella, who had all gotten starts of 51, 52 and 35 respectively. They need to push on, especially against a team like India who do not often have many slip-ups. Hence, the lack of application shown by the batsman in the first innings and the bowlers in the second innings has reduced Sri Lanka's chances of winning the first test.
As mentioned previously India is a team that you cannot give second chances to, as they are the "in-form" team of world cricket. And this is exactly what Sri Lanka have done, they have let India back in the game and have given them a chance to win after being out of that position for 3 days. Something special needs to happen for the Sri Lanka bowlers in the fifth morning to have even a glimmer of a chance to win this match. Currently (as of the fourth day) India sit comfortably at 1/171 at stumps with the Lokesh Rahul on 73 not out as Sri Lanka are ruing the chances they had of potentially winning this game.
The tourists built a half-decent total on a somewhat seaming pitch and built up a 122 run lead which I believed was enough runs to attack the Indian top order before stumps. However, with some poor displays of fielding and some shocking DRS decisions, the tourists allowed India to cruise to a 49 run lead at the end of the fourth day with only the loss of one wicket.It is disappointing to see that after all the hard work that the bowlers had done in the first innings to dismiss India to a begging total, to essentially "throw it away" to some extent with instances of irresponsible batting. With the likes of Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne and Niroshan Dickwella, who had all gotten starts of 51, 52 and 35 respectively. They need to push on, especially against a team like India who do not often have many slip-ups. Hence, the lack of application shown by the batsman in the first innings and the bowlers in the second innings has reduced Sri Lanka's chances of winning the first test.
As mentioned previously India is a team that you cannot give second chances to, as they are the "in-form" team of world cricket. And this is exactly what Sri Lanka have done, they have let India back in the game and have given them a chance to win after being out of that position for 3 days. Something special needs to happen for the Sri Lanka bowlers in the fifth morning to have even a glimmer of a chance to win this match. Currently (as of the fourth day) India sit comfortably at 1/171 at stumps with the Lokesh Rahul on 73 not out as Sri Lanka are ruing the chances they had of potentially winning this game.
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