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India, Sri Lanka first Test ends in draw

November 21, 2017 00:00:00


Indian cricket team players (R) and Sri Lanka cricketers shake hands at the end of their first Test encounter in Kolkata on Monday. — AP

KOLKATA, Nov 20 (AFP): Virat Kohli hit his 50th international century and paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up four wickets to give Sri Lanka a scare before the rain-hit opening Test ended in a draw on Monday's final day.

Chasing 231 for victory, the visitors were 75-7 when bad light stopped play at Kolkata's Eden Gardens in the first of three Tests.

Dasun Shanaka (six not out) and Rangana Herath (0) played out the final few deliveries of a nervous final session which saw Sri Lanka lose five quick wickets.

Paceman Kumar struck in the very first over when Sadeera Samarawickrama chopped a delivery onto his stumps and was out for nought.

Mohammed Shami, who shared the new ball with Kumar, then had left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne bowled for one as the visitors slipped to 2-2 in 3.3 overs.

Umesh Yadav, India's third seamer, joined in after tea to send Angelo Mathews trudging back to the pavilion after trapping the former captain lbw for 12.

The match got even more interesting when Shami bowled skipper Dinesh Chandimal for 20 and Kumar trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw for 27. Kumar returned impressive match figures of 8-96. Skipper Kohli earlier raised India's hopes of a win with an 119-ball 104 that took the attack to the opposition after some menacing bowling in the first session.

Fast bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Shanaka took three wickets each to rattle the Indian top and middle-order after the hosts resumed the day on 171-1.


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