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COLOMBO. – Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed two early wickets to put India on top of the second Test cricket after the visitors posted 622-9 declared against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.

Ashwin got rid of openers Upul Tharanga for nought and Dimuth Karunaratne for 25 to leave the hosts reeling at 50 for two at stumps on the second day.

Kusal Mendis on 16 and skipper Dinesh Chandimal on eight were batting at close of play with the hosts still trailing by 572 runs in their first innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.

“Chandi and Kusal batted really well in the last few overs. We have to play positively,” Karunaratne, who praised Ashwin’s variations as a spinner, told reporters.

“Last time when we played in Galle Chandi got 160-odd scoring a lot of runs off the sweep and reverse sweep. I think that will be key.”

Earlier six Indian batsmen scored 50 or more – including centuries by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane – as the tourists posted their biggest total in Sri Lanka. Indian allrounder Ravindra Jadeja hit an unbeaten 70 as wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha made a patient 67 and Ashwin scored 54 before becoming Herath victims. – AFP.