Samaraweera puts Sri Lanka in control

Sri Lanka batted determinedly to gain control of the deciding Test in conditions that promised more parity with bat and ball after the run-fest in the previous game at the SSC. In a much improved bowling performance, the Indian seamers got decent movement off the deck and the spinners extracted both turn and bounce to often unsettle the Sri Lankan batsmen. But Thilan Samaraweera, backed up by Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, kept the hosts on track in their attempt to post an intimidating score on a surface that looks good to produce an outright result.

Barring opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who edged Ishant early in the innings, the Sri Lankan batsmen fought hard to combat a revived bowling attack. Tillakaratne Dilshan overcame his initial rustiness against Ishant to adopt a more restrained approach, content in leaving the tricky deliveries outside off and only latching on when the ball was pitched up or hurled too wide. Sangakkara was aggressive against spin, stepping out to launch them over long-on and open up spaces to pinch the singles. Samaraweera was equally adept with his footwork, seizing the lengths to adapt accordingly while Jayawardene, during his otherwise calm vigil, looked the most vulnerable against the turning ball.

The batsman most comfortable in such conditions was Samaraweera. He defended solidly, played the ball late and progressed smoothly in a chanceless knock, waltzing down the track against Mishra to pick four boundaries and showing he had ample time to play his shots, even late-cutting Ishant past gully. He and Angelo Mathews saw off the new ball with little difficulty before bad light prompted an early finish, the pressure being on India to strike early and contain the damage on the second day.