India, shot out for a paltry 172 in a first innings, were an uplifting 171 for 1 at stumps on Day Four of the rain-hit opening Test, wiping off a 122-run deficit for a 49-run lead. Their hopes of forcing a come-from-behind victory were all but quashed by a belligerent Sri Lanka earlier in the day. The visitors, overnight 165 for four, added 129 runs and stretched their tenure to 40 minutes after lunch to take them to the shores of safety while giving them a shot at victory for themselves. Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan nullified much of that possibility, the openers atoning for first innings failures with a partnership of 166. Rahul is batting on a 73, his 10th fifty while Dhawan fell just six short of what would have been his seventh century.

India's Shikhar Dhawan (right) and KL Rahul complete a run during the fourth day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. Pic/AFP