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Steady India 101-1 at lunch in first Sri Lanka Test / Photo: © AFP
Steady India 101-1 at lunch in first Sri Lanka Test
Devdutt Padikkal and K.L. Rahul shared an unbroken stand of 54 as India reached 101-1 at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday in Galle.
The tourists lost opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for 32 after he was run out following a mix-up with Rahul, with both batters ending up at the non-striker's end.
The duo put on 47 runs for the first wicket to give India a steady start in the country's landmark 600th Test.
At lunch, Rahul was batting on 32 while Padikkal, who replaced the injured Sai Sudharsan, was on 35.
There was considerable assistance for the Sri Lankan spinners, as is usually the case in Galle, but the Indian batters used their feet well against them.
Nishan Fernando, fielding at short leg, was forced to leave the field after he copped a nasty blow on the helmet when Rahul attempted a sweep shot off Prabath Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka handed a Test debut to 25-year-old off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, whose six overs went for 29 runs.
Galle is hosting its 50th Test match, the first Asian ground to achieve the milestone.
India have an impressive record against Sri Lanka, having not lost any Test match against them since 2015.
Since losing in Galle in 2015, India have won eight of the 10 Tests with Sri Lanka, with the remaining two ending in draws.
O. Henrique--JDB
