COLOMBO: Led by Rohit Sharma’s half century and useful contributions from Stuart Binny, Naman Ojha and the lower-order batsman, India have taken out the possibility of losing the match in the deciding Test here at the SSC. Though he wasted an opportunity to convert his knock into a bigger one, India stretched their lead to 345 runs, closing their second session at 234 for 8.
Resuming at 21 for 3, it was pertinent that Rohit and Virat Kohli negotiated the first over, when the conditions were most conducive to seamers. They did so effectively, though Kohli frittered away his start, trying to push at a ball that was pitched outside the off-stump, a repeat of the way he got out in the first innings. But in the context of the match, their partnership of 57 runs was crucial.
Though Rohit was the beneficiary of two close lbw shouts, he otherwise batted without any hassle. He rotated the strike and carved the bad balls to the boundaries. He was especially severe on Nuwan Pradeep, who was Kohli’s nemesis, whom he stroked for successive boundaries through the off-side. First was an expansive square drive, the second a delectable cover drive. He then pulled Dhammika Prasad, who as usual bowled with lots of energy.
His partner Stuart Binny too went about positively, and had huge dollops of luck. An outside edge off Pradeep flew over the gully while another off Prasad eluded the second slip. Then Kusal Perera spilled an easy stumping chance off Rangana Herath’s arm ball. But in between the interventions of luck, he played some elegant strokes. Their partnership further alienated Sri Lanka’s hopes of restricting India to a manageable tally. Their partnership came briskly, 54 runs in 10.3 overs.
But like as it had been throughout the match, Sri Lanka pulled things back with the wicket of Rohit, caught at fine leg off a pull. But Binny (38) and Naman Ojha (11) staved off further damages in an intense session, which saw 111 runs and two wickets.
Post lunch, Ojha and Binny kept the run-rate moving without pursuing too many risks. Ojha, until he tried an ungainly sweep against Herath, looked composed and he chugged along at a decent run-rate. Binny was more assertive, but fell one run shy of his half-century, undone by Dhammika Prasad’s late swing.
As had been thematic of the series, the lower-order batsmen too chipped in with useful contributions. Amit Mishra and Ravichandran Ashwin took India’s lead past the 300-run mark with a 55-run partnership.