Shikhar Dhawan slams 190 to hand India the advantage vs Sri Lanka in Galle Test | Cricket - Hindustan Times
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Shikhar Dhawan slams 190 to hand India the advantage vs Sri Lanka in Galle Test

Hindustan Times, Galle | BySanjjeev K Samyal
Jul 26, 2017 02:45 PM IST

Shikhar Dhawan scored 190 off just 168 balls as India dominate proceedings against Sri Lanka in the first match of their three-game series in Galle.

Shikhar Dhawan literally toyed with the Sri Lankan bowling attack in the post-lunch session to score 190 off just 168 balls on Day 1 of the first Test match between the two teams in Galle on Wednesday. (LIVE BLOG)

Shikhar Dhawan raises his bat after scoring the century during the first day of first Test match between Sri Lanka and India.(AFP)
Shikhar Dhawan raises his bat after scoring the century during the first day of first Test match between Sri Lanka and India.(AFP)

Shikhar Dhawan added 253 in 280 balls with Cheteshwar Pujara for the second wicket. The extent of the left-handed opener’s domination can be seen in the fact that Pujara’s contribution in the double-century partnership was just 74. (LIVE SCORECARD)

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The home team bowlers looked clueless against the rampaging Dhawan, who celebrated his return to the Indian team with a superb, attacking knock.

The left-handed opener literally toyed with the Sri Lankan bowling attack as he raced to his century off 110 balls with 16 fours. Batting on 64 at lunch, he moved into top gear after the break.

He went berserk at the start of the 33rd over, smashing three fours off Dilruwan Perera and cut Nuwan Pradeep to the point fence to jump from 82 to 100 within no time.

Making a comeback into the team after October 2016, Dhawan profited from an early reprieve. The chance he offered at the score of 31 was the only blemish in Dhawan’s innings who provided India a rollicking start. The Galle International Stadium has been a good venue for Dhawan, having scored a hundred here in 2015.

He started the proceedings with a firm push off the first ball of the match for a single and was completely at ease against the new ball bowlers and the spinners.

The boundaries flowed from his blade and the first came off the 7th ball, a delightful straight drive off Sri Lanka’s experienced pacer Nuwan Pradeep.

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He was harsh on off-spinner Dilruwan Perera, first picking him off the toes and then coming down the track and driving him through the covers.

To add to Sri Lanka’s misery, he was given a reprieve when India were 59 for one, in the 14th over. It was the first good ball of the over by the wayward Lahiru Kumara, having conceded two easy fours and being warned for a beamer.

However, he was unlucky to miss out on his maiden double century when he was dismissed by Nuwan Pradeep.

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