17th September 1982 was the first day of Test cricket for Sri Lanka in India. It was an exciting match which ended in a draw after creating possibilities of win for both the sides. It was also a record-breaking Test match for many players.
At Chennai, Sri Lankan captain Bandula Warnapura won the toss and decided to bat. Sri Lanka were without their regular opener due to injury and Warnapura opened with Goonatilleke. Both the openers were gone with the score on 11 and they were in early trouble. But then there was a glorious partnership of 153 runs between Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis, scored in quick time. Dias was gone for 60 but Mendis highlighted the innings with his first century, an innings of 105 runs. Sri Lanka batted till the first session of day two and posted a respectable 346 runs. The Indian left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi took five wickets.
India responded strongly. Sunil Gavaskar and his new opening partner Arun Lal, making his debut, added 156 runs. Arun Lal was the first to dismiss for 63 in his debut innings. Dilip Vengsarkar joined Gavaskar and again built another long partnership. India ended day two on 251/1 with Gavaskar on 122, his twenty-fifth Test hundred. On day three India lost their next wicket on 329 as Vengsarkar missed his century by just 10 runs. Soon they lost Viswanath and Gavaskar also and it looked like Sri Lankans making a good comeback. However, Sandeep Patil batted well and scored the third century of the match. Thanks to his 114 and handy 31 from Kapil Dev and 37 from Madan Lal India posted 566 for six wickets before declaring.
Despite conceding a lead of 220 runs, Sri Lankan batsmen did not go defensive. Again they lost the openers early but Dias again came with all guns blazing. He scored 97 off just 108 balls and again added 110 runs with Mendis. Mendis batted patiently and completed his second century of the match. He became the first Sri Lankan to achieve the feat of scoring hundreds in both innings of a Test match. Not only that, his score of 105 in both innings is the record for highest equal score in both innings by a batsman. Despite Kapil Dev’s five wickets, they posted 394 and when they were all out on the fifth day after Tea, India had 53 minutes and last hour of 20 mandatory overs to score 175. They went for the chase and sent Patil at three and Kapil at four. The duo added 62 runs in quick time but once both of them were out the effort was fizzled out and they finally ended with 135/7 with Gavaskar coming to bat at number nine.`
Sri Lanka ended their first Test in India earning big respect and with a record for Duleep Mendis.
