BACK WITH A BANG

GALLE, July 26 

Shikhar Dhawan smashed a career-best 190 on his Test return and Cheteshwar Pujara hit 144 not out to put India on course for a massive first innings total in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. The duo scored 253 runs for the second wicket, with Dhawan playing the aggressor and Pujara the accumulator as India dominated the opening day to reach 399/3 at stumps. Ajinkya Rahane was batting on 39 with Pujara, their fourth-wicket association already worth 113 runs at the Galle International Stadium. 

With regular openers Murali Vijay and Lokesh Rahul indisposed, Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund opened the Indian innings after captain Virat Kohli opted to bat in the first match of the three-Test series. Mukund fell for 12 to Nuwan Pradeep, but Dhawan grabbed the opportunity with both hands. The 31-year-old was on 31 when he lashed at Lahiru Kumara, only for Asela Gunaratne to spill the catch at second slip.

Compounding Sri Lanka’s crisis, Gunaratne had to be rushed to Colombo with a fractured thumb and looks certain to miss the remainder of the Test, and possibly the series. Dhawan did not look back after the reprieve and toyed with the Sri Lankan attack, pulling the pacers and sweeping the spinners freely. A sweep off Dilruwan Perera brought up his fifth Test century off just 110 balls. India scored nearly run-a-ball after lunch with Dhawan plundering 100-plus runs in one session for the second time in his career.

The 31-year-old was cruising towards his maiden Test double century when he threw away his wicket, stepping out to slap a Pradeep delivery straight to Angelo Mathews at mid-off.  Pujara, on the other hand, played with characteristic assuredness to bring up his 12th Test century, which included 12 boundaries. 

Pradeep claimed his third wicket when he dismissed Kohli for three with a short ball when Rangana Herath, leading Sri Lanka in the absence of ailing Dinesh Chandimal, challenged the original not-out decision. — Reuters

Scoreboard

India 

S  Dhawan c Mathews b Pradeep 190

A Mukund c Dickwella b Pradeep 12

C Pujara not out 144 

V Kohli c Dickwella b Pradeep 3

A Rahane not out 39   

Extras:(lb-4 nb-3 w-4) 11

Total: (for 3 wickets, 90 overs) 399

Fow: 1-27, 2-280, 3-286

Bowling

Nuwan Pradeep 18-1-64-3

Lahiru Kumara 16-0-95-0

Dilruwan Perera 25-1-103-0

Rangana Herath 24-4-95-0

Danushka Gunathilaka.. 7-0-41-0

Numbers game

126 

Runs Shikhar Dhawan made between lunch and tea, the second-highest by an Indian in a single session. Virender Sehwag has scored the most in a session among the Indians — 133 against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 2009

113.09 

Rate at which Dhawan scored his runs (190 off 168 balls). It’s the second best by an Indian in an innings of 150 or more. Sehwag tops the chart here too — he got his 293 against Lanka at 115.35.

Dhawan says

"My plans were to go to Melbourne and enjoy time with my family, do training and get fit for the ODI series. I was in Hong Kong with my family when I was asked to fly back and join the team. That was my plan but I think destiny had different plans for me. I am happy and thankful to God"

"I was disappointed that I got out at 190. It was a wrong time to get out, just an over before tea. But the way I was playing, I was confident that I can clear the mid-off fielder. So yes, I am disappointed that I couldn’t score 200 but satisfied that I scored 190"