Kolkata: Sri Lanka pacer Suranga Lakmal was the star of the rain-interrupted Day 1 of the first Test at the Eden Gardens as he took the wickets of both the Indian openers as well as the India skipper before the umpires stopped the game due to poor light. The hosts were 17 for 3 at stumps with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane at the crease.
Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and choose to bowl first under overcast conditions. The match started almost three and half hours later from the scheduled time due to wet ground conditions.
When the action began, Lakmal made full use of the Eden gardens green-top and removed K L Rahul (0) and Shikhar Dhawan (8). Just after Tea, Lakmal again took the vital wicket of India skipper Virat Kohli to put India after enormous pressure.
Kohli went for the review but was given out on umpire’s call to bring his innings to an end with zero from 11 balls.
Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten on eight after playing 43 deliveries in an anxious stay at the crease with Ajinkya Rahane at the other end.
Relishing the conditions, Lakmal produced an unplayable first ball that pitched in the middle stump and swung away to take an edge off Rahul. India were yet to open their account.
The golden duck ended Rahul’s streak of seven successive fifties.
Continuing his dream start, the Lankan new-ball bowler almost cleaned up Cheteshwar Pujara with a fuller inswinger in a space of one delivery.
But luckily for the most dependable India batsman, the ball, which darted back, went inches above the middle stump.
Eyeing their first ever Test win in India, it was a perfect start for Sri Lanka, and Chandimal employed four slips and a gully.
It would be a tough job for the remaining batsmen tomorrow if the weather remains the same. The wicket looks pretty green and the bowlers will get much help from the pitch.