India rebuild innings after early jolts

Colombo, Aug 20:

After a early wobble, India were in the process of rebuilding their innings with opener Lokesh Rahul and captain Virat Kohli at the crease at 97/2 at lunch on Day One of the second cricket Test here on Thursday.

Kohli and Rahul remained unbeaten on 48 and 39 respectively at the P. Sara Oval stadium.

Sri Lanka’s Dhammika Prasad was the pick of the bowlers in the first session, bagging the two wickets for 29.

After electing to bat, the Indians were jolted upfront in the very first over of the day as Prasad trapped Murali Vijay (0) leg-before-wicket in the fourth delivery. The ball swung back in and struck the opener on the front pad right in line with the stumps.

Prasad was at it again as he got rid of Ajinkya Rahane (4) too in quick succession after he edged a wide one to the slips.

Tottering at 12/2, it was Rahul and skipper Kohli who took on the responsibility of rebuilding the innings. Both were a little circumspect from the start, letting go of the moving leather whenever possible.

Kohli, however, grabbed hold of the opportunities that came his way as he hit back-to-back boundaries against Dushmantha Chameera in the 10th over.

Rahul soon followed his captain and got into the groove, hitting some delightful boundaries as the red ball began to lose it’s shine.

There were no more wickets that fell in the first session as the Indians reached a score of 97/2 with the duo amassing a partnership of 85 runs. (IANS)