Rahul, Dhawan help India bounce back in 1st Test

Openers Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan hit fluent half-centuries to lead India's fightback after conceding a significant first innings lead to Sri Lanka on day four of the rain-hit opening Test on Sunday. The duo put together a 166-run stand before Dhawan fell to paceman Dasun Shanaka for 94. India lead by 49 runs after overcoming a 122-run deficit in their second innings. Cheteshwar Pujara, on two, was batting alongside Rahul, on 73, when bad light ended an absorbing day's play at Kolkata's Eden Gardens.

Bad light brings Day 4 to an early finish as India end on 171/1, thanks to half-centuries from KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. They lead by 49 runs heading into the final day.

Scorecard: https://t.co/BPg8XDGX60 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/WvGpLAEodq

— ICC (@ICC) November 19, 2017

Rangana Herath made Sri Lanka stand tall until the second session with a defiant 67 that steered the visitors to 294 in response to India's 172. But soon Rahul and Dhawan made batting look easy on a sunny afternoon -- a welcome change from the rainy start on the first two days -- to keep the Sri Lankan attack at bay. In-form Rahul registered his ninth score of 50-plus runs in the last 11 innings, getting equal support from the left-handed Dhawan, who recorded his fourth Test fifty. The two batsmen smashed 19 boundaries between them, including two sixes from Dhawan, forcing Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal to juggle his bowling options.

After dismissing Sri Lanka for 294, India make a solid start in their 2nd innings to reach 70/0 at Tea, still trailing by 52 runs. What total will India look to set Sri Lanka?

Follow the match: https://t.co/BPg8XDGX60 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/7dKROS7ERL

— ICC (@ICC) November 19, 2017

Shanaka, with little time left for the day to end, denied Dhawan what would have been the batsman's seventh Test hundred in 27 matches. Earlier Sri Lanka, who started the day on 165-4, suffered a middle-order stutter before Herath put on stubborn partnerships against a persistent pace attack. The left-handed Herath, Sri Lanka's premier spin bowler, showed great resolve during his knock which lasted 105 balls and included nine boundaries.

End of day's play. An entertaining day of Test cricket comes to an end. Sri Lanka 294, #TeamIndia 171/1 in the 2nd innings. S Dhawan 94, KL Rahul 73*, Pujara 2* #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/WiCVoMcUUQ

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 19, 2017

Herath, who registered his third Test fifty, finally fell to paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar after mistiming and slicing to deep point. Fast bowler Mohammed Shami also made it count after dismissing both overnight batsmen, Niroshan Dickwella and Chandimal, to check Sri Lanka's progress in the morning.

India have dominated a couple of sessions today after being behind the game upto that point. Sri Lanka's bowling has looked thin as the track as eased

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 19, 2017

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dickwella, who made 35, and Chandimal, 28, had scored briskly to extend their partnership to 62. Kumar and Shami claimed four wickets each while third quick Umesh Yadav chipped in with two scalps. The visitors are seeking their first Test win on Indian soil in the three-match series.

STUMPS: India finish day four 171-1 in their second innings to lead Sri Lanka by 49 runs. Dhawan hit 94 before falling to Shanaka, leaving KL Rahul (73) and Pujara (2) unbeaten at the close. SCORECARD ? https://t.co/Bj0wyCt1wW pic.twitter.com/F8XXdYhkMm

— Sky Sports Cricket? (@SkyCricket) November 19, 2017