Rahane ton puts India on top

Rahane ton puts India on top

COLOMBO: Ajinkya Rahane scored a century as India constructed a close secure lead in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval on Sunday. 

The vacationers, hoping to level the three-match arrangement in the wake of losing the first Test in Galle, had taken their second innings from an overnight 70-1 to 283-5 by tea on the fourth day.

With a general lead as of now at 370, India are relied upon to pronounce right on time in the last session to give themselves enough time to bowl Sri Lanka out a second time on a moderate, wearing pitch that ought to support their spinners.

The objective for Sri Lanka is as of now more than the most noteworthy fruitful fourth innings pursue so far at the venue - 352-9 by the hosts against South Africa in 2006.

Rahane tied down the innings before being released in no time before tea for 126, his fourth Test century that was studded with 10 limits.

The Mumbai batsman and Murali Vijay (82) included 140 for the second wicket to help the aggregate after Lokesh Rahul had tumbled off the fifth chunk of the innings on Saturday evening.

Vijay hit four limits and two sixes, yet missed his seventh Test century when he endeavored to scope off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal and was declared leg-before not long after the morning beverages break.

Kaushal then caught chief Virat Kohli leg-before for 10, however Rohit Sharma (34) helped Rahane include 85 for the fourth wicket.

Kaushal evacuated Sharma and Rahane in progressive overs as India slipped from 256-3 to 262-5.

Sharma pulled a short ball to Jehan Mubarak on the mid-wicket wall and Rahane's 243-ball vigil finished when he edged a catch to wicket-guardian Dinesh Chandimal.

Wriddhiman Saha resigned hurt with a hamstring niggle subsequent to making five and it was misty if the wicketkeeper will take the field when Sri Lanka bat.

India made an energetic begin in the adding so as to morn 68 keeps running in the first hour, with Vijay pummeling sixes off quick bowler Dushmantha Chameera and Kaushal.

At the flip side, Rahane came to his half-century by converse clearing Kaushal for his fifth limit and went to 100 with a flick off the same bowler for a solitary after lunch.

India scored 393 in their first innings subsequent to choosing to bat and knocked down some pins out Sri Lanka for 306 to pick up a lead of 87 runs. (AFP)