By the afternoon session of the Day 2, the lower order pulled up India’s score to 600 for 10. India played 133.1 overs in the first inning. After Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara blitzed with massive individual scores, the lower order pushed up with the ending impetus. India played less than an hour after lunch. Sri Lanka started its chase with a massive target. The team lost Dimuth Karunaratne early with Umesh Yadav spearheading India’s attack. The tea break was at 38 for 1. The appeal was review without any success. Sri Lanka wasted a referral.

The next stretch was the second-wicket partnership of 31 runs until the tea break. There were boundaries in the stretch that enabled a strong run rate. Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami were on attack, but there was no culpable result. Nuwan Pradeep, the Sri Lankan bowler, removed 6 wickets in the previous inning, while India batmen took 132 off him. By the 11th over of the day, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were removed as the overnight players. The former was done away with a spell from Pradeep. Lahiru Kumara dismissed Ajinkya Rahane.

India’s lower order was impressive. Ravindra Jadeja was removed after lunch. R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha added 59 batting at Number 6 and 7 down the line. Allrounder Ashwin scored 47 off 60 balls in a stretch with seven fours. He struck boundaries in consecutive overs from Herath. The final wickets played 71 balls to add 83 runs. Hardik Pandya smashed three sixes. The score was reinforced with Mohammed Shami’s three sixes. Pandya was down in 48 as the last wicket of team India. India’s 600 score is a rare feat for the team in Sri Lanka. It is the first time, the team challenged the home team with the massive.