Colombo, August 3 : Cheteshwar Pujara (89 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (41 not out) put on 105 runs for the 4th wicket as India reached 238-3 at tea on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka here on Thursday.
Pujara and Rahane batted with purpose and steadied the Indian innings after Lokesh Rahul (57) and Virat Kohli (13) departed in quick succession post lunch at the SSC.
After the break, Rahul and Pujara brought up their 50-run stand off 112 balls but the duo couldn’t extend it for long as a mix-up ended the innings of the opener in the 31st over.
Rahul faced 82 balls and hit seven fours in his innings on his return to the team after recovering from viral fever. Kohli then came to the crease and added 24 runs for the third wicket with Pujara. It was a good passage of play for Lanka as their bowlers kept things tight.
It resulted in the Indian skipper’s dismissal as he chased a wide delivery off Rangana Herath (1-66) in the 39th over, only for Angelo Mathews to take a sharp catch at slip. Pujara reached his 16th Test half-century off 112 balls, inclusive of five fours, as India crossed 200 in the 51st over.