COLOMBO, July 29: Saurav Ganguly's approach and application under testing conditions at the Sara Stadium was the solitary gain for India in their preparatory run-up to the Test series. On a rectangle that afforded progressive venom for the spinners, Indian batsmen laboured to 295 for nine on Day One of their three-day match against the Sri Lankan Board XI, here today.

Once the medium-pacers were off the firing line, the three-pronged spin attack of Jayanta Silva (left-arm), Ruwan Kalpage (off) and Upul Chandana (leg) kept a tight leash on the batsman.

India rested Mohammed Azharuddin, Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad. It meant that they were virtually playing at their optimum batting strength. Under the circumstances, it was a sad commentary that they lost six wickets for 76 runs in a dramatic post-lunch slide. For batsmen, who are fed on a rich diet of spin at home, it was a poor account and does not augur well when they come up against someone of the class of a huge turner of the ball like Muttiah Muralitharan.

The wicket was dry and gave clear evidence that the spinners would call the tune progressively. It was, thus, imperative that an eye kept on the run rate when the medium-pacers were on. Moreover, the track was not as bad in the morning.

The Navjot Sidhu and Gagan Khoda partnership of 137 for the opening wicket must be seen in the context of the game and the effect it had on the batsmen to follow. It was only in the post-lunch session that they decided to step on the accelerator with Sidhu hitting the first ball on resumption, from Kalpage for six.

Khoda did well considering that he is under pressure and media scrutiny because of his preferential selection. Under the circumstances, it was a gritty innings. But, like his senior partner, he too did not show the required urgency in pushing the scoring.

Sidhu scored 42 runs in 10 scoring strokes, which means that his other 22 runs came in 130 deliveries. Khoda, on the other hand, got 38 runs in nine scoring strokes, getting the rest of his 21 runs in 125 balls.

The opening-wicket stand was broken when Khoda stepped out and gave Kalpage a return catch. Khoda scored his 59 in 171 minutes off 134 balls with eight fours and a six.

Rahul Dravid went for a duck in the following over. But skipper Sachin Tendulkar, who had said yesterday that he wanted to win this match, came in and stroked freely to keep the board ticking.

But once Sidhu was caught at long-off by Chamind Mendis for 64 (213m, 140b, 1x6, 9x4), India lost wickets at regular intervals. Interestingly, the first five batsmen all lost their wickets, stepping out while Nayan Mongia, who arrived with the other replacements late last night, perished at forward short-leg.

However, Rajesh Chauhan gave Saurav Ganguly the requisite support in a stand that defied the Lankan attack for close to one and a half hours. Ganguly looked confident by the minute by starting his scoring with a six over long-off off Chandana. He played some pleasing drives in the arc between cover and the straight field to contribute 52 of the 67 runs that he added with Chauhan.

Chauhan and Ganguly fell at the fag end of the day's play, the latter, in fact, to the last ball to leave India plenty to think about.

Ganguly was the highest scorer with 79 (171m, 147b, 1x6, 11x4).

The Lankan team did not exactly distinguish themselves on the field by dropping several catches. Sidhu was dropped by Sanjeev Ranatunga on 30, Khoda escaped a stumping chance on 56, Tendulkar was floored by Dilhara Fernando on 23, Kambli survived a stumping before opening his account and Chauhan escaped a chance on four by Arnold.

Chandana, who came as a last-minute replacement of Ravindra Pushpakumara, was the most successful bowler with a haul of four wickets.

The focus now shifts on the Indian attack, with all eyes on Rajesh Chauhan's action.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA (1st innings): Gagan Khoda c&b Kalpage 59, Navjot Singh Sidhu c Chaminda Mendis b Jayanta Silva 64, Rahul Dravid c&b Chandana 0, Sachin Tendulkar c Sanjeeva Ranatunga b Jayanta Silva 32, Saurav Ganguly c&b Chandana 79, Vinod Kambli st Galagoda b Jayanta Silva 9, Nayan Mongia c Jayawardene b Kalpage 1, Rajesh Chauhan c Arnold b Chandana 13, Abey Kuruvilla lbw b Chandana 6, Nilesh Kulkarni not out 0; Extras: (b5, lb4, w8, nb15) 32. Total: (for nine wkts in 90 overs, 385 mins) 295

Fall of wickets: 1-136, 2-137, 3-175, 4-183, 5-211, 6-212, 7-279, 8-290, 9-295

Bowling: Mario Villaverayen 11-0-37-0, Fernando 9-1-28-0, Jayanta Silva 26-9-70-3, Kalpage 22-10-55-2, Chandana 18-2-83-4, Arnold 4-1-13-0

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.