Colombo: Opener Lokesh Rahul's unbeaten 98 aided by captain Virat Kohli's 78 put India in a formidable position at 206/3 at tea on Day 1 of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Thursday.
Rahul and Rohit Sharma (17) were at the crease, with Sri Lanka's Dhammika Prasad bagging two and Rangana Herath picking one scalp at the P. Sara Oval.
After electing to bat, the Indians were jolted upfront in the very first over of the day as Prasad trapped Murali Vijay (0) leg-before-wicket in the fourth delivery. The ball swung back in and struck the opener on the front pad right in line with the stumps.
Prasad was at it again as he got rid of Ajinkya Rahane (4) too in quick succession after he edged a wide one to the slips.
Tottering at 12/2, it was Rahul and skipper Kohli who took on the responsibility of rebuilding the innings. Both were a little circumspect from the start, letting go of the moving leather whenever possible.
Kohli, however, grabbed hold of the opportunities that came his way as he hit back-to-back boundaries against Dushmantha Chameera in the 10th over.
Rahul soon followed his captain and got into the groove, hitting some delightful boundaries as the red ball began to lose itÂ's shine.
There were no more wickets that fell in the first session as the Indians reached a score of 97/2 with the duo amassing a partnership of 85 runs.
