OVER 90 | SCORE 399/3 | Pujara 144, Rahane 39
Team India have registered theri highest ever Day 1 total in an away Test, as Rahane and Pujara complete 100-run partnership. The target of reaching 400 runs on first day, almost became a reality but neither sides would have thought that there would be such fireworks from the tourists, who badly struggled at the same venue in 2015.
OVER 85 | SCORE 381/3 | Pujara 135, Rahane 30
Secon new ball taken! Comfortable Day1 outing for India at Galle edging towards a close. The hosts look out of ideas and will be hoping to spring early surprise tomorrow morning hoping to wrap up India before the situation gets out of hand.
OVER 80 | SCORE 361/3 | Pujara 123, Rahane 26
Second new ball will be due for Sri Lanka from the 81st over onwards, but will they take it now or tomorrow morning, remains to be the crucial call. 10 overs to go in the match and Team India will look to get as close to the 400-run milestone as possible.
OVER 75 | SCORE 347/3 | Pujara 117, Rahane 18
Danushka Gunathilaka, at whom Shikhar Dhawan had taken a speical assault, brought back into the attack as the Lankan spinner Rangana Herath looks to tweat strategy a little in bid to get one or two wickets before the end of Day 1.
OVER 70 | SCORE 327/3 | Pujara 107, Rahane 9
Cheteshwar Pujara nets his 12th Test ton and asserts yet again why he is India's most important batsman in this format of the game. A 400-plus total is what Team India will be chasing on Day 1, as 20 overs are yet to go in the match.
OVER 65 | SCORE 301/3 | Pujara 89, Rahane 4
India's scoring rate has slowed down since Dhawan's departure but they have crossed the all-important 300-run mark, with 25 overs still left to be bowled in the day. A wicket or two more can still helpe Sri Lanka win this session at least. Pujara, meanwhile, is cruising on yet another Test hundred with Rahane playing good role at the other end.
OVER 60 | SCORE 294/3 | Pujara 84, Rahane 0
The umpire didn't think Virat Kohli was out and Rangana Herath intervened at the most crucial time to make use of the DRS and send the Indian skipper back to pavilion. Ajinkya Rahane joins Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle as India are inches away from crossing the 300-run mark.
Kohli c Dickwella b Pradeep 3(8)
OVER 55 | SCORE 281/2 | Pujara 74, Kohli 1
It's TEA! On stroke of the end of second session, in his 190s, Shikhar Dhawan's chase for maiden double hundred falls short by 10 runs, it still is his highest total though. Virat Kohli is the new man on crease.
Dhawan c Mathews b Pradeep 190(168)
OVER 50 | SCORE 255/1 | Dhawan 171, Pujara 68
50 overs up for India and the visitors have put stunning 255 runs on the board, much to the dismay of the Lankans. Dhawan is cruising towards his highest ever Test total while Pujara is comfortably batting on 68.
OVER 45 | SCORE 221/1 | Dhawan 144, Pujara 61
Shikhar Dhawan is playing one day cricket, literally! The left-hander is continuing at a run-a-ball and is nearing a 150. Sri Lankan bowlers are already bamboozled on what they need to do to stop this man. India's session run rate is just under 6.
OVER 40 | SCORE 199/1 | Dhawan 125, Pujara 58
Indian batsmen in complete control of the game, progressing at more than 6 runs per over this session. Pujara completes his half-century as India put Lankan bowlers to sword.
OVER 35 | SCORE 161/1 | Dhawan 103, Pujara 44
Fifth Test hundred for Shikhar Dhawan and second against Sri Lanka. This man has continued his stunning form from the Champions Trophy to Sri Lanka. India also cross the 150-run mark, as Pujara starts eyeing his half-century.
OVER 30 | SCORE 131/1 | Dhawan 78, Pujara 39
Match resumes after Lunch and Shikhar Dhawan has continued to positive outlook and approach to the game, progressing at a strike rate of over 80. Pradeep and Herath continue to bowl together in attempt of breaking this partnership.
OVER 27 | SCORE 115/1 | Dhawan 66, Pujara 37
LUNCH! 100-run comes up for India and a half-century for Shikhar Dhawan who has looked in sublime touch, just like he was at the ICC Champions Trophy. Pujara also looks good as first session of Day 1 gets completed.
OVER 20 | SCORE 85/1 | Dhawan 48, Pujara 23
50-run partnership completed between Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara, as Sri Lankan stand-in skipper Rangana Herath brings himself into the attack for the first time. Dilruwan Perera has also been brought back in place of Lahiru Kumara.
Dhawan is also cruising in to complete his fifity.
OVER 15 | SCORE 65/1 | Dhawan 35, Pujara 16
Shikhar Dhawan gets a lifeline after beind dropped on a Lahiru Kumara delivery in slips. Gunaratne the culprit, who didn't just drop the catch but also injured his hand in the process. India are past the 50-run mark with a run-rate of over 4.3 per over.
OVER 10 | SCORE 41/1 | Dhawan 22, Pujara 6
Dhawan is looking good with allmost a run-a-ball 22 while Pujara has started to middle the ball early in his innings after Mukund's departure.
OVER 8 | SCORE 31/1 | Dhawan 14, Pujara 4
Spinner Dilruwan Perera being brought into the attack early by skipper Rangana Herath.
Nuwan Pradeep draws first blood to remove Abhinav Mukund, who was dismissed caught behind after a slight edge.
Mukund c Dickwella b Pradeep 12(26)
OVER 6 | SCORE 23/0 | Dhawan 7, Mukund 7
Lahiru thought he had got Shikhar as he produced a strong LBW shout in the 6th over but the umpire was not impressed. A comfortable begining for the Indian duo otherwise.
OVER 4 | SCORE 15/0 | Dhawan 7, Mukund 7
Dhawan and Mukund both start getting in their strides as India bag 10 runs two overs. Not much movement for Sri Lankan bowlers to begin with as both Indian batsmen look comfortable.
OVER 2 | SCORE 5/0 | Dhawan 1, Mukund 3
Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund both off the mark as Lahiru Kumara and Nuwan Pradeep start Sri Lanka's attack with the ball.
Abhinav Mukund and Shikhar Dhawan are out in the middle to start proceedings.
Hardik Pandya is making his debut. Congrats Hardik.
Proud moment for young @hardikpandya7 as he is all set to make his Test debut #TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/YTGTzQ0Z4y
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 26, 2017
IND XI: S Dhawan, A Mukund, C Pujara, V Kohli, A Rahane, H Pandya, R Ashwin, W Saha, R Jadeja, M Shami, U Yadav
SL XI: WU Tharanga,D Karunaratne,K Mendis,D Gunathilaka,A Mathews,A Gunaratne,N Dickwella,MDK Perera,R Herath, N Pradeep, L Kumara
It is raining at Galle right now as covers come on. There will be a delay in start of the match.
Virat Kohli wins toss and elects to bat first. Hardik Pandya makes debut and Shikhar Dhawan replaces KL Rahul in India's XI for the Test.
Best of luck for Test no. 50, Ravichandrand Ashwin.
Test match No.50 for @ashwinravi99. Good luck champ! #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/NOiNVs3Mrj
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 26, 2017
The players have started arriving at Galle to get the first Test started.
We are off. Time for the Galle Test #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/Eit1l2elAF
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 26, 2017
