India 251/5 at lunch on Day 5 leading by 129 runs against Sri Lanka in 1st Test at Eden Gardens

Kolkata, Nov 20: The fate of the first test hanged in balance as India were battling at 251 for loss of 5 wickets at lunch on the final day  of the five-day Test play match against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens here  today.

Skipper Virat Kohli was batting at 41 and Ravichandran Ashwin yet to  open his account.  India were leading by 129 runs with five wickets in hand and Sri Lanka will have their second knock.  India resumed their second innings at 171/1 with overnight not out batsmen opener Lokesh Rahul (79) and first down Cheteswar Pujara (2) in the sunny morning.  Lokesh Rahul was first to go at 79 when an in-swinger from strike bowler Suranga Lakmal disrupted his wickets. Rahul added only six runs to his overnight score. Chetester Pujara, who contributed 52 runs in the first knock to India's total score of 172, was next to return to pavilion at 22. Right handed pacer Lakmal was again on the hunt after Dilruwan Perera held the catch as India were on 213/3. Ajinkya Rahane (0) once again failed to live up to the expectation of his calibre and was held leg before wicket at duck 0 after facing 4 balls.  Rahane, who scored 4 runs in first innings, was out from 30-year-old Lakmal's deceptive delivery. The ball came in with the angle, but there was not anything magical that a player of Rahane's calibre could not have handled.  Rahane called for review after having consulted with non-striking end Virat Kohli. But Rahane had to leave the pitch after third umpire on camera Anil Chaudhari held field umpire Joel Wilson right.  Before lunch Ravindra Jadeja was out cheaply on 9 after facing 41 balls with a second slip catch to Lahiru Thirimanne off Dilruwan Perera's delivery.  Suranga Lakmal took three of the four wickets in the first session today conceding 50 runs.  UNI