Cricket: Dhawan, Rahul Hit 50s For India Against S. Lanka

Cricket: Dhawan, Rahul hit 50s for India against S. Lanka

Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul smashed quick half-centuries to take India to 134 without loss on the opening day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Aug, 2017 ) : Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul smashed quick half-centuries to take India to 134 without loss on the opening day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

With Dhawan on 64 and Rahul on 67, it was a perfect start for the visitors as they target a series sweep after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in Colombo. The Indian openers scored at just under five runs an over after skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first.

The left-handed Dhawan registered his fourth Test 50 in just 45 balls, with nine boundaries. Rahul, who survived a dropped catch on 28, brought up his seventh consecutive Test 50 with a double off paceman Lahiru Kumara.

Rahul joins Everton Weekes, Andy Flower, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kumar Sangakkara and Chris Rogers in the list of batsmen who have made seven consecutive 50-plus scores in Tests. Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal rotated his new-look pace attack through the morning session along with eight overs from Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera and two from left-srm unorthodoox Lakshan Sandakan.

Pacemen Vishwa Fernando and Kumara shared the new ball for the hosts with part-time bowler Dimuth Karunaratne acting as the third seamer.