India vs Sri Lanka Highlights, 1st Test Day 5 at Eden Gardens: Indian seamers rattle Sri Lanka but Test ends in draw

India and Sri Lanka played out a draw in the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Sri Lanka were struggling at 75/7 in 231-run chase.

By: Express Web Desk | Kolkata | Updated: November 20, 2017 4:47 pm
india vs sri lanka highlights India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 5: Bhuvneshwar Kumar caused panic among Sri Lanka batsmen. (Source: AP)

After rain washed out the first two days of the opening Test between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, an outcome looked difficult. And yet by the time the bails were removed on the fifth day, an outcome could have been achieved but for bad light and some clever tactics by Sri Lanka. In the end, India and Sri Lanka played out a draw after the top-ranked Test side had demolished the islanders 3-0 away. Asked to chase 231 runs after Virat Kohli came to India’s rescue following a dreadful start to the fifth day, Sri Lanka never really took control of things. As Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav breathed fire, Sri Lanka – full of nerves – lost wickets regularly. But things were controlled momentarily by Niroshan Dickwella and Dinesh Chandimal to possibly inflict a defeat. In all, a fantastic Test match and all packed within three days!

India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 5 Highlights and Updates:

4:26 PM IST: AND IT IS A DRAW! Sri Lanka close at 75/7 in chase of 231 runs. What a fascination final session of play in this opening Test. 

4:20 PM IST: WICKET! Sri Lanka are 75/7 as Dilruwan Perera is castled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar to fall for a duck. Ball goes in from outside the off stump and it has shattered the stumps. Chandimal, in the pavillion, is not happy. Complaining about lack of light

4:13 PM IST: NOT OUT! Dilruwan pereraPerera is caught leg before. That looks gone and umpire says out as well. But Sri Lanka opt to review. It reveals the ball was going on to miss the leg stump. Eden Gardens is in full volume now!

4:09 PM IST: Light fading but here is Bhuvneshwar Kumar. It is pitching outside the off stump and Dickwella looks to play on to the on side but doesn’t connect. Hits him on the back pad. The umpire says OUT. Sri Lanka opt to review. And there is no bat, going on to hit the top of the stumps. Umpire’s call and he walks. Dickwella goes for 27 and Sri Lanka are 69/6

4:00 PM IST: Soft signal is out as Dickwella is caught behind by Saha. Very low catch by Saha. Takes the inside edge off Dickwella’s bat off Bhuvneshwar. Huge inside edge there – no questioning that. Looks like it has bounced a touch before falling into Saha’s gloves.

3:54 PM IST: WICKET! No question on this decision. Chandimal is bowled! Moves back in and rattles the middle stump. Gorgeous delivery which pitches on the middle and off, moves in and leaves Chandimal surprised. Shami with a little finger wagging there too! Sri Lanka are 69/5

3:52 PM IST: Length ball, outside off and it has moved back in. India appeal for a caught behind. There is some noise. India review after umpire says not out. Hits the flap of the pad before carrying to Saha. Outside the off stump so no question of leg before either. Not out is the verdict.

3:44 PM IST: Tension in the air. The ball continues to rise on Dickwella as Shami bangs it short. The two batsmen taking their time to take strike and get ready. The two batsmen, Kohli and umpires come together to calm things down. Kohli clearly unhappy with the time being taken and wasted. Sri Lanka wouldn’t mind more seconds being ticked off

3:20 PM IST: SIX! Short ball into Dickwella’s ribs and he swivels and pulls it over the fielder at fine leg. Didn’t have the control of it but the top edge does enough to take it over the boundary line. Very smart cricket by Dickwella now. Notices three fielders behind square on the on-side and goes after the ball outside the off stump and smacks it for a six. Immediately after, points to the umpire and counts the number of fielder outside the ring.

3:08 pm IST: Mathews is given not out on an lbw appeal. India have opted to review. And that is going on to hit the leg stump. Front on it looked like it was missing the leg stump but on further probing it becomes clear that it was going on to hit. The ball nipped in and hit the former Sri Lanka captain on the knee roll. Umesh strikes and Sri Lanka are 22/4

2:51 pm IST: WICKET! India have a third!! It is wide of the stumps and Thirimanne, who struck a fifty in the first innings, departs for just 7 this time. Pushes at it and gets a thick outside edge which goes to Rahane at gully. Well taken low catch there by Rahane. And Sri Lanka 14/3

2:25 pm IST: Tea in Kolkata! An exciting session of cricket as India set the target for Sri Lanka before picking up the two wickets early. Sri Lanka are 8/2

2:15 pm IST: WICKET! Mohammed Shami this time has Dimuth Karunaratne played on. Sri Lanka are under pressure now after two unlucky dismissals. Top bowling from India

2:05 pm IST: WICKET! What a start for India! Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets Sadeera as he gets an inside edge. Kolkata crowd is cheering everything

India will have 47 overs to bowl out Sri Lanka before they reach 321 runs. Doesn’t look like that we will have 47 overs so they should try to run through the overs.

1:45 pm IST: CENTURY FOR VIRAT KOHLI! What an innings from the Indian captain. 50th international century. 18th in Test cricket. 11th as captain. India declare and set Sri Lanka a target of 231 runs

1:34 pm IST: Virat Kohli has hit one of his best shots to clear the cover boundary. First six for him in the innings. On to 92 now. He runs two on the next ball. A six away from 18th Test ton

1:28 pm IST: WICKET! Number eight down for India as Bhuvneshwar Kumar is caught. India were going for quick runs and paid the price.

1:16 pm IST: Virat Kohli playing a lot more shots now! He is into the nineties with a couple more boundaries. Stunning change of gear from Kohli. Runs coming quickly

1:10 pm IST: Virat Kohli is turning the tide. He gets a four and then a couple and finishes the over with stunning cover drive for four! 300 up ofr India as the lead gets closer to 200. India vs Sri Lanka Live Score here

12:53 pm IST: WICKET! India lose seventh wicket as Wriddhiman Saha hits one straight to short cover! The umpire’s check if it is a no-ball. Very close as Shanaka is very close to over-stepping

12:45 pm IST: Wriddhiman Saha has to stay here long with his captain. India are moving towards safety and that can be easier if he stays with Virat Kohli who is close to a century

12:33 pm IST: WICKET! R Ashwin has been bowled by Shanaka! Beautiful delivery which moved back into the batsmen. Ashwin was going for the drive but missed it. Bowled

12:22 pm IST: FIFTY! Virat Kohli has held on to one end of the wicket and now scored a half-century. A stunning innings with minimal risk

12:11 pm IST: Players back on the field for the second session on the final day. India lead by 129 runs with Kohli and Ashwin at the crease. What can the teams do to force a result?

11:32 am IST: Lunch on Day 5! India lost four wickets in the first session but Virat Kohli has held on to one end. India lead by 129 runs and would like to reach a safe target in the second session. Suranga Lakmal once again put his team in a strong position and the match is not over yet

11:25 am IST: This India vs Sri Lanka Test is heading for an interesting finish. Lunch is round the corner and India have sent in R Ashwin. Is this a defensive move as Wriddhiman Saha is kept for later?

11:17 am IST: WICKET! Sri Lanka have another wicket before Lunch! Dilruwan Perera gets Ravindra Jadeja caught at slips. Awkward bounce for Jadeja which takes the outside edge and he is caught

11:00 am IST: India now not looking to score any quick runs. Kohli and Jadeja trying to play out the overs. Odd boundary coming though.

10:45 am IST: Jadeja and Kohli trying to adjust to the bowling. Sri Lanka mixing it up nicely. What a day it has been for Lakmal. Top stuff

10:30 am IST: India extend lead past 100 as Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli bat on. This will be a crucial hour for India before Lunch. A couple of wickets and Sri Lanka will feel they have a chance

10:17 am IST: WICKET! Ajinkya Rahane gone for a duck! Lakmal has two wickets in the over. A bit of inswing and Rahane did not get his bat in line. Umpire gives it out but Rahane reviews. Looks high. It is umpire’s call on hitting!

10:11 am IST: WICKET! Cheteshwar Pujara is caught at gully. Sri Lanka are claiming the catch. On-field umpires go upstairs and soft signal is out.

10:05 am IST: India moving slowly on day five. Pujara and Kohli avoiding attack on short ball. Kohli looking to stay on the crease for a longer time.

09:50 am IST: Sri Lanka bowlers are targetting Virat Kohli with the short ball. He has been a little uneasy facing it. But so far, he has left anything which is slightly short pitched.

09:44 am IST: Virat Kohli is the new man in for India. Big cheer as he walks out to bat in the middle. Sri Lanka have their tail up after that early wicket of KL Rahul

09:35 am IST: WICKET! Not the start India would have liked as KL Rahul is bowled by Lakmal. Went straight through him. Out for 79

09:25 am IST: Pujara and Rahul are out in the middle for the fifth day’s play in Kolkata. Can they help India score some quick runs.

09:15 am IST: Some quick runs in the first session of the day can give India a chance to make a match out of this. How India approach the first session will set the tone for the final day’s play in Kolkata

09:00 am IST: Welcome to the coverage of the final day’s play between India and Sri Lanka from the first Test in Kolkata. Cheteshwar Pujara and KL Rahul will resume the batting for India at the Eden Gardens.

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