Kolkata Test Day 2: India's struggle against Sri Lanka pacers continues on rain-marred day

Kolkata, Nov 17: Rain continued to wreak havoc on the second consecutive day, forcing the umpires to call off the day's play in the opening Test match between India and Sri Lanka here on Friday (November 17).

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Just 21 overs were being bowled in the first session on the second day before it started drizzling again. India were 74/5 in the 32.5 overs when the skies opened up. The weather kept turning worse and finally at 3 PM, the umpires called it a day.

The match will resume at 9.15 PM on Saturday (November 18) and teams would be hoping the rain gods show some mercy on the third day.

Earlier, India resumed their innings from the overnight total of 17/3 from 11.5 overs. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane batted with caution before Dasun Shanaka got rid of Rahane in the sixth over of the day. Just as it looked like a partnership was building for the hosts, Sri Lanka struck again.

The ball was seaming away outside the off stump on the front foot and Rahane (4) tried to drive it but gave an outside edge to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the new man in but the all-rounder too couldn't much as he was dismissed for 4 by Shanaka.

Half of the Indian side was back in the hut at a score of 50 overs while Pujara was firmly holding his ground at the other end. Pujara is batting at 47* (102 balls) while Wriddhiman Saha (6* off 22 balls) is present on the other side.

While Lankans kept asking questions and troubled other Indian batsmen, but they clearly had no clue as to how to get rid of the Saurashtra batsman.

Pujara is known for digging deep into the crease and that's what he has done so far i.e. keeping his wicket intact. A lot will depend how he plays tomorrow if the rain gods calm down and allow the play to happen.

Shanaka was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors on Friday as he conceded 23 runs from 8 overs and grabbed two wickets.

The visitors have operated only pacers so far and the spin hasn't been introduced by the Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal. The pitch and conditions are assisting the pacers at Eden.

India began the second day's play from 17/3 and lost the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane in the 18th over to Dasun Shanaka.

The ground remained under thick white tarpaulin cover for most of the time in this match as it had been raining since a day before the start of the match.

Earlier on Day 1, rain and visiting pacer Suranga Lakmal were the only talking points of the opening day of the first Test.

Right-handed pacer, Lakmal, gave India three big blows in a game that was constantly halted by rain and bad light.

Lakmal rattled the top order by getting rid of both the Indian openers and their skipper Virat Kohli in his short spell and a fiery spell of 6 overs without conceding a single run.

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal won a crucial toss and invited India captain Virat Kohli to bat first on a green Eden Gardens track.

Lakmal justified his skipper's decision on the very first ball of the match by removing KL Rahul (0) caught behind with an almost unplayable delivery. He also accounted for the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan (8) and Virat Kohli (0).

The match was off to a delayed start after the pre-lunch session was lost to inclement weather and a wet outfield here. The opening day's proceedings were reduced to 55 overs from the regulation 90 and the match began at 1:30 PM IST.

An India-South Africa T20I match in 2015 was abandoned as it rained for 30 minutes before the game was to start. Sri Lanka are playing their maiden Test at the Eden Gardens.