Das, Ramesh, Ganguly among the runs
Das, Ramesh and Ganguly help India post strong reply
Sourav Ganguly played a captain's knock to pull his team out of trouble as the Indians reached
281 for five in their first innings by close on the second day
of the three-day match against Sri Lanka Board President's XI
in Colombo on Thursday.
Ganguly was unbeaten on 74, which had eight fours and three sixes, and added 78-runs for the unfinished
sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe, after the Indians
appeared to have squandered a fine start as they slumped to 203 for five.
The middle-order collapsed in a heap after openers Shiv Sunder Das (72) and Sadagoppan Ramesh (63) had put on 135 runs for the first wicket.
The Indians, 99 without loss at lunch, lost three quick wickets in the second session with the addition of just 18
runs and lost momentum.
However, Ganguly enabled a fine recovery in the company
of Dighe and the Indians came within 45 runs of the hosts'
first innings score of 326.
Das and Ramesh were together for almost three hours
before fast bowler Dinusha Fernando and left-arm spinner
Sanjeewa Weerakoon struck in succession to have the Indians reeling at 167
for three.
The openers played patiently and waited for the loose
balls to go for the big shots. Ramesh, who was a little
uncomfortable against Fernando's sharp rising deliveries, was
finally foxed by a slower ball from the medium-pacer which he
tamely hit into the hands of Chamara Silva at mid-off.
Ramesh's 63 came in 165 minutes and contained 11
boundaries. Das, who scored one four more than his partner,
was out soon after, missing his intended wild heave off
Weerakoon, only to be bowled. His well-compiled 72 came in 191
minutes.
Mohammad Kaif (6), Hemang Badani (12) and Dinesh Mongia
(11) failed with the bat, and it was left to the captain to
help the side recover, which he did with aplomb.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka Board XI (1st innings): 326
India (1st innings): 281 for 5 (S S Das 72, S Ramesh 63, S Ganguly 74
not out, S Dighe not out 25, D Fernando 2-68).
Mail Cricket Editor
