The India opener now has the record for the most runs by an Indian between lunch and tea of a Test match
Bharath Seervi26-Jul-2017126 Runs made by Shikhar Dhawan between lunch and tea in Galle on Wednesday, the second-highest by an Indian in a single session. The one one to do better was Virender Sehwag, when he made 133 (of his 293) in the final session against Sri Lanka at Brabourne stadium in 2009. Here, Dhawan began on 64 after lunch and finished with 190 at tea.3 Batsmen to score more runs in the middle session than Dhawan. Denis Compton holds the record with 173 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 1954. For India, the previous best was 110 runs by Polly Umrigar in Port of Spain in 1961-62.113.09 Dhawan’s strike-rate in his innings of 190 off 168, the second-highest for an Indian during an innings of 150 runs or more. Here too, he is only behind Sehwag, who had a strike-rate of 115.35 when he hit 293. Overall, against Sri Lanka, Dhawan’s strike-rate is the third-highest.184.62 Dhawan’s strike-rate against part-time offspinner Danushka Gunathilaka. He smashed him for 24 runs off 13 balls and allowed for only one dot ball. He scored over 50 runs off both the spinners – 51 off 34 off Rangana Herath and 56 off 64 off Dilruwan Perera. But against Nuwan Pradeep, Dhawan could strike at only 73.33, and was subsequently dismissed by him too.
Bowler Runs Balls SR Dots Dot% FoursMD Gunathilaka 24 13 184.61 1 7.69 4HMRKB Herath 51 34 150.00 11 32.35 9CBRLS Kumara 37 27 137.03 10 37.03 6MDK Perera 56 64 87.50 36 56.25 9N Pradeep 22 30 73.3318 60.00 3Dhawan scored the third-most runs in the second session of a day•ESPNcricinfo Ltd187 Dhawan’s previous best, which came on debut against Australia in Mohali in 2012-13. This was his fifth century and third score of over 150.7 India batsman to be dismissed in the 190s in Tests, including Dhawan. KL Rahul was dismissed on 199 against England in Chennai last year. Against Sri Lanka, Dhawan is the fifth man toppled in the 190s.53.12 Dhawan’s average in first or only Test of a series. He has 850 runs in 16 innings with four centuries. In other matches, he has scored 804 runs in 24 innings at average of 34.95 with one century.4 International hundreds for Dhawan against Sri Lanka, the most he has struck against a single team. He averages 72.26 in 16 innings against them, also his best against an opposition having played more than one innings. Both his Test centuries against Sri Lanka have come in Galle, and he scored 125 in his last ODI against them.8 Century stands for the 2nd wicket for India in Tests since 2016, easily the most among all teams. The average second-wicket stand has been 67.10, which is also highest and no other team has even 50. New Zealand are next with partnership average of 49.96 and five century stands. Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara added 253 runs.5 Centuries for Pujara in last one year, the most among India players. He has scored 1506 runs in 25 innings at average of 68.45 in last 12 months. He brought up his 12th century in this match and his seventh score in excess of 140.