After an ace batting performance, bowlers push India towards an early finish

After a compelling day one, where centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had put India in commanding position, handy contributions from the lower order propelled India to 622-9 (declared) on day two. Pujara (133), the overnight centurion, departed early on day two in the second over itself. Rahane (132), too, followed after some resistance and it was left to the middle order to push India to a commendable total. Half centuries from R Ashwin (54), Wridhiman Saha (67) and Ravindra Jadeja (70) provided India with the finishing flourish and helped post a mammoth total on the scoreboard. Rengana Herath, Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler in the match, although picked up four wickets but he gave away 154 runs in the process. When captain Kohli declared and invited Sri Lanka to bat for remaining 20 overs, Ashwin scalped both the Sri Lankan openers, Upul Tharanga (0) and Dimuth Karunaratne (25), cheaply to put India in a commanding position in the second test of the three match series, which India leads 1-0.

Early on day three, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Shami picked up two wickets each while Ashwin, too, added three more scalps to his tally to claim another five-for. Umesh Yadav too picked up a wicket as Sri Lanka got bundled out for 183. India has enforced the follow on as they lead by 439 runs.

Indian colts face yet another defeat in Mexico

After going down 1-5 against hosts Mexico on Thursday, India faced another heavy defeat against Colombia when they lost 0-3 against Colombia. The Under-17 World Cup squad, which will be representing India at the FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in India from October this year, are currently on a World Cup preparatory tour in Mexico but two heavy defeats in two games will concern coach Louis de Morton. India will play their last group encounter against strong Chile side on Sunday and would like to win at least one match in the four nation tournament.

England post 260/6 on day one against South Africa

Half centuries from skipper Joe Root (52) and Ben Stokes (58) and useful contributions from Alastair Cook (46) and Jonny Bairstow (33 not out) helped England post 260/6 on day one of the final test of the four match series. After a watchful first session, where England lost just one wicket, batting became slightly easier as the day progressed but South African bolwers denied England from running away with the match by not letting them build big partnerships. For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier picked up two wickets each while Morne Morkel and Keshav Maharaj picked up one each.