INDvSL: Shikhar Dhawan & KL Rahul put India in commanding position on Day 4

India ended the fourth day in a commanding position at Eden Gardens, Kolkata with the score of 169 for 1 with a lead of 47. Sri Lanka lost 3 wickets in quick succession before the experienced Herath made 67 runs to help the visitors get a lead of 122 runs. The Indian openers Dhawan and KL Rahul added 166 runs for the first wicket.

Sri Lanka began the day on 165 for 4 with Dickwella and Chandimal at the crease. Both batsmen added 35 runs. Mohammad Shami dismissed Dickwella for 35 runs. In the next over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Dasun Shanka for 0. Mohammad Shami took the wicket of captain Dinesh Chandimal for 2 runs. Sri Lanka were 201 for 7.

Kumar and Mohammad Shami bowled consistent line and length. Perera survived a close LBW shout. Hearth and Perera added 43 runs for the 8^th wicket before Shami dismissed Perera. Hearth continued to frustrate the Indian bowlers. At the end of the first session, Sri Lanka scored 263 for 8.

In the second session, Hearth completed his half-century in 83 balls. Hearth and Lakmal put on 46 runs for the 9^th wicket before Hearth was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 67. Soon after Mohammad Shami dismissed Lakmal to end Sri Lanka’s innings on 294 with a lead of 122.

India’s second innings got off to a positive start with both KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan putting pressure on the Sri Lankan poor bowling. Both looked in aggressive touch. At the end of the second session, India scored 70 runs.

In the third session, KL Rahul completed his half-century in 65 balls. Shikhar Dhawan also scored his half-century in 74 balls. The left-handed batsman Dhawan took the attack to Sri Lankan bowlers. Before the close of play, Shikhar Dhawan could not score his century and was dismissed for 94. Both batsmen added 166 runs for the first wicket. India ended day 4 on 171 for 1.

India 171 for 1 in 39.3 overs (Dhawan 94, KL Rahul 73*) lead by 49 runs & 172 in 59.3 overs (Pujara 52, Saha 29, Jadeja 22, Shami 24, Lakmal 4/26)

Sri Lanka 294 in 83.4 overs (Hearth 67, Mathews 52, Thirmmane 51, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4/88, Mohammad Shami 4/100)