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Indian batsmen made to struggle

Dammika Prasad was the most successful bowler for the host

— Photo: AFP

BACK TO BUSINESS: Sachin Tendulkar came up with a belligerent knock even as most other Indian batsmen found the going tough.

Colombo: The famed Indian batting line-up was made to struggle on a difficult track as Sri Lanka Board XI left the visitors gasping at 196 for eight on a rain-truncated second day of their three-day warm-up match here on Saturday.

Sachin Tendulkar marked his return to competitive cricket with a gutsy 69 and Dinesh Karthik struck an unbeaten 58, but none of the other batsmen could hang around for long on a pitch which gave some assistance to the bowlers.

The Indians, aiming to get as much batting practice ahead of the Test series which gets underway on July 23, were done in first by the weather and then by some tight and incisive bowling by the hosts.

Washout

The entire morning session was washed out due to rain and the visitors found the going tough when play actually resumed in gloomy conditions.

The Indians, replying to Board XI’s first innings total of 224, were tottering at 80 for five at one stage before Tendulkar and Karthik pulled the team out of the mire with a determined 92-run partnership.

Tendulkar seemed to be in a belligerent mood despite wickets falling at regular intervals and slammed eight 4s and a 6 during his 76-ball knock. Karthik, on the other hand, was far more subdued as he tried to rebuild the innings after the early jolts.

Dammika Prasad was the most successful bowler for the home team scalping three wickets for 30 runs, while paceman Dilhara Fernando claimed two wickets.

Early blows

Resuming at the overnight score of four for one, the Indians lost Rahul Dravid (5) early as he was run out, while Sourav Ganguly fell soon after with Prasad accounting for his wicket.

V.V.S. Laxman did not trouble the scorer at all being dismissed for a blob, hit wicket off Prasad, to reduce the Indians to a precarious 80 for five.

Tendulkar, however, seemed to be in no discomfort as he unleashed a flurry of strokes on both sides of the wicket. His two majestic cover drives brought huge applause from the crowd which cheered every shot from the magician’s bat.

Karthik played the perfect foil as he kept rotating the strike and his useful knock will stand him in good stead when the Test series begins.

“It is good for my confidence at the start of the tour” Karthik told reporters after his unbeaten knock which contained six 4s.

The Indians looked somewhat impatient and caved in to the unheralded Sri Lankan bowlers, many of whom are fighting for a place in the Test squad.

The elegant Ganguly started off with a flourish, hammering two fours, but his belligerence was shortlived as he fell prey to Prasad who seemed to trouble most of the batsmen.

Virender Sehwag also showed flashes of brilliance when he scored three 4s in his brief innings of 27 off 43 balls.

The scores: Sri Lanka Board XI 224 (Thilina Kandamby 84, Chamara Silva 68; A. Kumble three for 30) vs Indians 196 for eight (S. Tendulkar 69, D. Karthik batting 58; Dammika Prasad three for 30). — PTI

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