Indian bowlers went wicketless as Sri Lanka consolidated their position and raced to 235 for one at tea on the opening day of the second cricket Test in Colombo on Monday. After Tillakaratne Dilshan’s (54) early burst, Tharanga Paranavitana (89 batting) and captain Kumar Sangakkara (80 batting)

guided the Lankans against a largely listless bowling performance by the Indians, who have to win this match to remain afloat in the three-match series and hold on to their top spot in the ICC rankings.

 

Dilshan, who laced his innings with 10 boundaries, was the only Lankan wicket to fall when he was caught by the perfectly positioned V V S Laxman at short extra cover of Pragyan Ojha.

 

An unbeaten 136-run partnership between by opener Tharanga Paranavitana (89) and skipper Kumara Sangakkara (80) put Sri Lanka in a strong position.

 

Earlier Sangakkara completed an 82-ball 50, as the two left handers took control putting Sri Lanka on course for a big score.

 

Sangakkara got his 33rd half century after he whipped Ishant Sharma through the midwicket boundary.

 

Earlier, Paranavitana completed his fifth Test fifty when he pressed back to punch a Sehwag turner to the sweeper cover.

 

The wicket, despite offering some turn to the spinners, never seemed to trouble the two batsmen much.

 

Sri Lankaraced to 200 in a mere 285 balls and Paranavitana and Sangakkara also got to their 100 runs partnership in 174 balls and 108 minutes.

 

Earlier, Gautam Gambhir was ruled out due to a niggle in his knee while Yuvraj Singh made way to Suresh Raina owing to fever.

 

There was overhaul of the Sri Lankan bowling attack with Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv and Dhamika Prasad making it to the final eleven.

_{hindustantimes}