Perera's day to remember

In his short career, Thisara Perera has shown he can do everything in the middle; he can crack big sixes, he can run through sides with his deceptive seamers, and he can create dismissals with his fielding. Today, during Perera's first over, Virender Sehwag swatted one in the air to the bowler's right. Perera instantly arrested his followthrough, dived and plucked the ball mid-air, tumbled down, but still managed to hold onto the ball.

When India bolted to 31 for 0 in three overs, it appeared Sri Lanka were set for another tough day in the field. Mahela Jayawardene turned to … who else but Perera, who removed Sehwag with the last ball of his first over. Three balls later, he had Virat Kohli edging behind. Seven balls later, he bowled Suresh Raina. His figures would have read an incredible 3-3-0-4, but Angelo Mathews put down a sitter off MS Dhoni at first slip.

R Ashwin has a reputation for being a slow runner. In the 24th over, he ran one down to third man and took two comfortable runs. He turned around for the third and took a few steps forward. Gautam Gambhir held his hand up to indicate his lack of interest, but Ashwin had built up some momentum. By the time he slowly turned back, it was too late, despite a dive. It was Ashwin's seventh run-out in 21 completed international innings.

You would think batsmen carry their fussiness with the sightscreen too far at times, but no one could blame Upul Tharanga today after he was disturbed at least three times in the eighth over by too many people moving across in the background. It was in an area that was difficult to control - a small exposed portion of the corridor behind the sightscreen. The officials tried to curb the movements a couple of times without much success, while a frustrated Tillakaratne Dilshan walked down the ground with upraised arms. The third time it happened, the batsmen gave up and just got on with the game.