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India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 4: India close day’s play on 171/1 to lead Sri Lanka by 49 runs

Boosted by Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul's fifties, india are 171/1 at close on play on Day 4 of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

KL Rahul scored his tenth half century against Sri Lanka India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Day 4: KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan gave India a glorious start. (Source: AP)

A rarity happened on fourth day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka. Having weathered demolition show in Sri Lanka in the three Tests, where India won two Tests by innings and had option to enforce follow on in the last, Sri Lanka took the lead against India. It had been seven years and eight Tests since Sri Lanka last took lead against India but that happened with the islanders taking a 122 run lead. However their advantage was nullified when India took to bat. KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan put together 166 runs for the opening wicket before the latter perished close to stumps thanks to a near-nothing shot. On the final day, India would continue from their own 49 run lead.

1630 hrs IST: STUMPS! That is early stumps once again at the Eden Gardens. 18 overs still to be bowled but we can’t finish that with light fading. Both teams guilty of poor over rate. At stumps, India are 171/1 and lead by 49 runs. Pity Dhawan couldn’t notch a hundred but there is KL Rahul still fighting out there alongside Cheteshwar Pujara. The hosts needed to be steady to keep this Test alive and they’ve done that.

1615 hrs IST: Rather needlessly, Dhawan comes down the track to Shanaka. Tries to play it down the ground. There’s the gap between bat and pad and the bowler finds it. Hint of an edge behind to the keeper. Nigel Llong has given it out. Reviewed by Shikhar. A spike on the UltraEdge and Dhawan has to walk. He goes for 94 and India lose their first wicket. INDIA 166/1

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1602 hrs IST: Light fading a touch. India are on to 157/0 with Dhawan on 87 and KL Rhaul on 68. Can Shikhar bring up his century today? Time of 25 minutes more but light could stop things early.

1524 hrs IST: Now Dhawan brings up his fifty. His 4th in Test cricket. Gets the crowd’s support. Comes down for the flighted delivery and flicks it through mid-wicket

1515 hrs IST: Dhawan ambles to a comfortable single after knocking it towards square leg. Brings up India’s 100 runs

Festive offer

1505 hrs IST: Appeal for leg before on Dhawan and umpire Nigel Llong says not out. But Sri Lanka choose to review. Dilruwan looks convinced. Fai delivery and the snickometer suggests there was an edge or glove to it. Yep, it hit the glove on its way to hit the front pad. Sri Lanka lose both reviews

1500 hrs IST: After getting out on the first ball in the first innings, KL Rahul returns to form. The right-hand batsman scores his 10th Test fifty with a single on Perera’s delivery.

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1450 hrs IST: Back in after lunch. Perera starts the proceedings for for Sri Lanka. Rahul to face the first ball for the home side. Sri Lanka will look to get the opening pair out quickly.

1425 hrs IST: TEA! India go into Tea at 70/0 from 17 overs. KL Rahul unbeaten on 36 and Shikhar Dhawan unbeaten on 33. Really good batting by the Indian openers with the pitch losing its effect. This session: 101 runs, 2 wickets and 26.4 overs

1418 hrs IST: Appeal by Sri Lanka for a catch on Dhawan at forward short leg. Chandimal reviews. Strange decision to go upstairs. Nowhere near the bat or going on to hit stumps for a leg before. Sri Lanka lose the review

1345 hrs IST: Lakmal is back into the field of play. Was off for 20-25 minutes so he will have to wait before being allowed to bowl

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1340 hrs IST: Lakmal is not on the field of play. Which is a major absence for Sri Lanka. He was fantastic in the first innings and that makes life slightly easier for the Indian batsmen. He had fitness trouble last morning as well. India have moved along to 33/0 in the 9th over

1305 hrs IST: KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan open for India. Suranga Lakmal gets the ball. On the fourth delivery, Rahul gets a single to avoid a pair!

1251 hrs IST: BOWLED! Dragged back by Lakmal. Thick inside edge by the tailender and it rattles the stumps. Sri Lanka are bowled out for 294 and lead India by 122 runs. All wickets going to seamers – only third time in India’s Test history

1246 hrs IST: GONE! Finally India get the breakthrough they desperately wanted and it has been provided by Bhuvneshwar Kumar who picks up his fourth wicket. Room on offer for Herath and he goes for the slice which carries plenty of air. Comfortably catch in the deep for Shami. Sri Lanka are 290/9 and lead by 118 runs

1243 hrs IST: Frustration brewing among the India camp as they fail to get the tail. Rangana Herath going strength to strength. Sri Lanka move along to 290/8 and are ahead by 118 runs

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1233 hrs IST: 80 overs bowled and second ball on offer for India. And India don’t need a second asking. It is taken and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to work with it

1230 hrs IST: Rangana Herath with yet another swivel and pull for a comfortable boundary. Doesn’t give the ball air on that pull but still gets plenty of pace on it. Goes running to the boundary and with that, Herath brings up the highest scorer in this contest (!!) to move to 54 not out

1224 hrs IST: Rangana Herath brings up his fifty – 3rd in Tests. Just opens the face of the bat to find the gap through the cover region for a four. And with that, Sri Lanka extend their lead to 100 runs

1210 hrs IST: Back in after Lunch. R Ashwin to get things underway. Rangana Herath to face the first ball. Interesting field placement. A first slip and a leg gully both in place.

1130 hrs IST: That’s lunch on the fourth day. Another session that belonged to Sri Lanka. They’ve moved from 165/4 at start t o 263/8 – 98 runs in the first session at the cost of four wickets with Shami taking three. Rangana Herath the steady hand that Sri Lanka needed. He’s still in the mix of things – unbeaten on 43 runs alongside Suranga Lakmal (10*)

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1109 hrs IST: A resolute stand for the eighth wicket comes to an end at 43 runs. What an absolute gem of a delivery from Shami! Little Dilruwan can do as the ball shapes away. Thin edge back to Saha. Had no choice but to offer a shot and ends up getting an edge behind. SL 244/8

1049 hrs IST: From 201/7, Sri Lanka have moved along to 237/7. They’re looking more comfortable and solid now with Dilruwan on one end and Herath at the other. The lead up to 65 runs

1032 hrs IST: After 60 overs and two and half sessions, Jadeja comes into the attack. Sri Lanka 217/7 and lead by 45 runs

1011 hrs IST: Dilruwan is given out lbw off Shami (who else?). Walks back and then turns to review. Fair delivery, no bat involved. Struck on the back pad and the impact is outside. Marginally outside. Strangely enough, Dilruwan looked at the side of the Sri Lankan dressing room before reviewing. Not clear if he received any help like Steve Smith did back when Australia toured India in the infamous “brain fade” episode. Anway, Sri Lanka are 209/7

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0958 hrs IST: Mohammed Shami is in complete control control now. Getting the ball to move as per his command and finding the right line and length. Gets the thin outside edge from the Sri Lankan skipper Chandimal’s bat and it carries for a simple catch back to Saha. Sri Lanka are 201/7

0953 hrs IST: Shanaka is given out lbw off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But he goes upstairs for a review. No shot offered. Pitching outside off and going on to hit the top of the stump. It is umpire’s decision and that’s OUT! Sri Lanka are 201/6

0948 hrs IST: GONE! There’s the outside edge. Some deserved reward for Shami for splendid bowling yesterday and today so far. Sticks to his line and length and gets the thick edge which goes flying to Kohli at first slip. Sri Lanka are 200/5

0947 hrs IST: Dickwella punches one past point with width on offer and spanks a four. Brings up Sri Lanka’s 200. The very next ball, Shami reduces the width and almost gets the edge!

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0929 hrs IST: Sri Lanka take the lead. Dickwella with a boundary to level the scores and then a single to take the lead. This is the first time Sri Lanka have taken lead over India in eight Tests. Last time they did was back in 2010!

0915 hrs IST: Players are out in the middle for fourth day’s play from Eden Gardens. Sri Lanka need to bat strongly in this opening session to build on their advantage. Dickwella and Chandimal in the middle. Bhuvneshwar and Shami to operate together. 

0910 hrs IST: An update that Cheteshwar Pujara touched base upon last evening: “Mohammed Shami does not have an injury. He sustained a cramp late in the day and is expected to play tomorrow.” So that is good news if India are indeed pushed by Lanka today

0905 hrs IST: The team has formed a huddle as start nears.

0900 hrs IST: PITCH REPORT COURTESY SUNIL GAVASKAR AND SIMON DOULL: It was very green on Day 1. Now it’s nice and brown, should be great for batting. India will hope that if they can get a couple of quick wickets, they can restrict the Lankans. If Sri Lanka get through that, they will make hay here

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0830 hrs IST: Hello and Good morning for our live coverage of the fourth day’s play in this opening Test between India and Sri Lanka from Eden Gardens. Having already lost 165 overs due to showers on the opening two days, a draw would be the outcome for most Tests but this one could still produce a result. For Sri Lanka, they haven’t run away with things despite a resolute 99-run stand between Thirimanne and Mathews because of Umesh Yadav striking in consecutive overs to dismiss the two set batsmen from the middle.

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First uploaded on: 19-11-2017 at 08:46 IST
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