Colombo, Aug 21 (IANS) Runs came in a trickle as India added only 67 to their overnight total and lost two wickets to rest at 386/8 at lunch on the second day of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Friday.
Wriddhiman Saha was unbeaten on 56, while Ishant Sharma (2) was at the crease with the Bengal wicketkeeper-batsman. Amit Mishra was out for 24.
Resuming the Indian innings at 319/6 it was Sri Lanka who provided an early jolt again as Ravichandran Ashwin (2) fell cheaply. It was a full length delivery from skipper Angelo Mathews but was not quite there for the drive, Ashwin failed to keep it down and lobbed an easy catch to cover.
At the other end Saha lived a charmed life — firstly it was a delivery from Dhammika Prasad that kissed his off stump without dislodging the bail, and then a caught behind appeal was turned down by the third umpire as he did not find conclusive evidence of the ball thudding into the keeper’s gloves.
Mishra too got a faintest of edges on a delivery but was given not out. However, the scoreboard kept moving at a snail’s pace.
The duo weathered the storm with the swinging new ball and played with a lot of determination putting on a partnership of 46 runs.
Mishra departed after contributing 24 precious runs to the Indian total as he knicked one to wicket-keeper Dinesh Chadimal off a Dushmantha Chameera delivery.
Even though runs were hard to come by the Saha-Mishra pair ensured the Lankan bowlers had to try hard in the heat to get wickets.