Sri Lankan opening batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama hasn’t been having a very good Test match and that’s not because he has been poor whilst his time on the field, but because he has been hit quite too often while fielding in the third Test match at Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi.
Earlier, Murali Vijay tried to work the ball onto the leg side during the 1st innings, and hit Samarawickrama right in the helmet, leaving him stunned for quite some time. He later decided to go off the field and was then kept off the field due to the impact.
He then couldn’t open the batting because of the time he had spent of the field during the Indian innings. However, he was sent down the order and would have been relishing the fact that he could no longer be hit on any part of the body by the opponent team.
But Samarawickrama was unlucky as his plan didn’t go well and that is how he was again hit by Indian skipper Virat Kohli throw. In the 116th over, after Dinesh Chandimal punched ball down the ground and Virat Kohli attempted to throw the ball to the striker’s end. When he threw it a little flatter than he had expected, the ball hit Samarawickrama at non-striker’s end.
Samarawickrama who had already been treated for concussion couldn’t help but muster a smile with Virat Kohli also joining in, after having immediately put his hand up following the Sri Lankan’s body blow.
Usually, Kohli’s throw is accurate and do not stray its way but this time around it hit Sadeera Samarawickrama who was at the running end. Kohli instantly realized what could have been a grave and fatal mistake and went on to apologize. Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Kohli all looked it as a funny incident and rubbed it off with a smile.
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Seems like Sri Lankan batsman Samarawickrama isn’t having a good Test match. Gets hit by the ball for the second time. #INDvSL #ViratKohli https://t.co/8SDUC55t7R
— allindiaroundup (@AIRNewsOfficial) December 4, 2017
He was later caught behind by Wriddhiman Saha at 33.
Earlier, 181-run fourth-wicket-stand between Angelo Mathews (111) and Dinesh Chandimal (147*) put Sri Lanka back in the game after India declared their first innings at 536/7. The partnership between Mathews and Chandimal came off 477 balls, the most by any pair against India. Meanwhile, Sri Lankans reached 356 after the loss of 9 wickets. They are still trailing India by 180 runs.
Ashwin’s trying spell has left the Sri Lankans searching for answers and with just one wicket left in the kitty, it seems like India would be going into the second innings with a lead in excess of around 150.