Colombo, Aug 23 (IANS) Murali Vijay (82) and Ajinkya Rahane (82 not out) helped India reach 179/3 in their second innings till lunch on the fourth day of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Sunday.
Resuming the day at 70/1, the right-handed batsmen struck an important 140-run second wicket partnership to put India 266 runs ahead of the hosts. Rohit Sharma (2) was at the crease with Rahane as India look to build a strong fourth innings total at the P. Sara Oval.
Both Rahane and Vijay looked at ease in the morning session and runs came at a decent pace as compared to the evening session on Saturday where they were tested to the hilt.
Sri Lankan bowlers went for 73 runs in the first 15 overs of play as Vijay and Rahane played shots on both sides of the wicket.
Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal gave the hosts the first success of the day when he trapped Vijay in front of the stumps. Tamil Nadu batsman Vijay, who registered his 11th Test fifty, departed after hitting four shots to the fence and two over it from 133 deliveries.
Kaushal also dismissed skipper Virat Kohli (10) in similar fashion as India lost third wicket for 171 runs.
Then, Mumbai batsman Rohit and his Ranji teammate Rahane played with caution to not lose any more wickets before lunch.
India take 266-run lead at lunch
Colombo, Aug 23 (IANS) India scored 109 runs in the morning session of Day 4 of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka, to be at 179/3 at lunch in their second innings here on Sunday.
Resuming the day at 70/1, Murali Vijay (82) and Ajinkya Rahane (82 not out) struck an important 140-run second wicket partnership to put India 266 runs ahead of the hosts. Spinner Tharindu Kaushal took two wickets for Sri Lanka.
India had scored 393 in the first innings. In reply Sri Lanka were bowled out for 306 on Saturday.
India vs Sri Lanka: Second Test, Day 4, lunch scoreboard
Colombo, Aug 23 (IANS) Following is the scoreboard at lunch on Day 4 of the second cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval here on Sunday:
India (first innings) 393
Sri Lanka (first innings) 306
India (second innings) (overnight 70/1)
Murali Vijay lbw b Kaushal 82
Lokesh Rahul b Prasad 2
Ajinkya Rahane not out 82
Virat Kohli lbw b Kaushal 10
Rohit Sharma not out 2
Extras (w 1) 1
Total (three wickets in 56 overs) 179
Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Rahul, 0.5 overs), 2-143 (Vijay, 44.5), 3-171 (Kohli, 52.5)
Bowling:
Dhammika Prasad 8-0-25-1
Rangana Herath 23-4-69-0
Dushmantha Chameera 5-0-25-0
Angelo Mathews 2-1-1-0
Tharindu Kaushal 18-1-59-2