Sri Lanka seize advantage on the second morning

Galle, August 15: India's first innings came to a premature end on the morning of the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka as they collapsed in a heap to be all out for 187 here on Wednesday.

Resuming at their overnight 163 for five, the Indians survived just 10 overs of the morning session, succumbing to the fiery bowling of Desmond Fernando who took three of the four wickets to fall on Wednesday. The fourth was claimed by Muthiah Muralitharan while Javagal Srinath retired hurt after being hit by a Fernando delivery.

Sri Lanka then made a solid start having reached 44 without loss in 12 overs before lunch with both Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu going strong.

Jayasuriya was batting on 29 off just 27 balls while Atapattu was on 12 when the lunch break was taken.

Fernando bowled an inspiring spell today generating a lot of pace and bounce. He struck in the fourth over of the day surprising Saurav Ganguly with a sharply rising delivery that kissed the bat and flew to wicketkeeper Kumara Sangakkara who took a high catch. Ganguly, not out on 10 on Tuesday, made 15, India losing their sixth wicket at 176.

Five runs later, wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe became the third batsman to fall to the combination of Fernando and Sangakkara after making nine runs.

The Indian tailenders had nothing much to offer and caved in without a fight.

The Sri Lankans started in stark contrast to the Indians and scored at a brisk pace with Jayasuriya batting as if he was playing a limited overs match.

The pitch that troubled the Indians so much did not bother Jayasuriya and Atapattu as they negotiated the Indian pace attack of Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad with ease. The Indians did not help their cause either by bowling a few loose deliveries which Jayasuriya promptly dispatched to the boundary.

Prasad was hit for three fours by Jayasuriya in his fourth over, making it the most expensive over of the match so far.

Harbhajan Singh was introduced in the last over before break but Jayasuriya greeted him with a square cut boundary off the very first ball. The off-spinner tightened himself up on the following balls but the Sri Lankan batsmen were hardly troubled.