On a track that is beginning to assist the spinners gradually India placed themselves in a commanding position in the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka ending a truncated second day at 460-9 at the Galle Cricket International Stadium yesterday.
Play was not possible till 2.35 pm due to persistent rain and in the 43 overs that was possible for the day India added 172 runs for the loss of seven wickets to their overnight score of 288-2. Sri Lanka bowled a lot better, with their spinners being consistent with their lengths and the wickets column was a testament to that.
Debutant Keshara Nuwantha, trusted with the second new ball, removed Rishabh Pant for 39 for his maiden Test wicket and followed it up with Lokesh Rahul’s wicket. Rahul came to resume his innings after retiring hurt on the first day but was out for 82 (175 balls, 10 fours 1 six). Devdutt Padikkal continuing from where he left on the first day reached the 150-run mark before being deceived by a superb delivery from Prabath Jayasuriya to get out stumped for 167. He batted 339 minutes and hit 15 fours and one six in the 230 balls he faced.
At the tea break India had lost half the side for 364. Ravindra Jadeja became Nuwantha’s third victim after the break which brought Dhruv Jurel and Manav Suthar together. The duo forged a 55-run stand to take India’s total past 400. Jurel who got a reprieve on 29 from the Sri Lankan Captain Dhananjaya de Silva at slip went on to notch up a fifty (51 off 68 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) before de Silva made up for his early lapse by pulling of a stunning catch to end his knock.
Mohamed Siraj tried to be aggressive but perished for 11 to Asitha Fernando who bowled splendidly without much luck. Manav Suthar fell to Jayasuriya off the very next ball, but Sri Lanka couldn’t finish off the Indian innings as the final pair survived the last 17 balls of the day to take their team’s total to 460. Jayasuriya ended up as the most successful bowler with 4/109 off 36 overs. Batting is expected to get tougher as the Test progresses and Sri Lanka will face an uphill task to stage a comeback in this game.
The match resumes on the third day today at 9.45 am with a minimum of 98 overs to be bowled weather permitting.