India in driver's seat in second Sri Lanka Test / Photo: © AFP
India in driver's seat in second Sri Lanka Test
India took control on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Monday, posting 503-9 declared before claiming two quick wickets to leave the hosts reeling at 8–2.
Sri Lanka trail by 495 runs, having lost opener Lahiru Udara (one) to a brilliant diving catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal at third slip on a rain-hit day at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Prabath Jayasuriya was sent in as a nightwatchman, but he survived just seven deliveries before being trapped leg before wicket.
That turned out to be the final ball of the day as play was called off due to bad light.
Only 56 overs were possible because of rain, but the day belonged to Dhruv Jurel, whose second Test hundred helped India tighten their grip on the contest.
The right-handed Jurel was rarely troubled by Sri Lanka's bowlers as he stitched together crucial partnerships to carry India beyond the 500-run mark.
The opening day had ended with India on 300-5 and honours even after the tourists elected to bat.
But Jurel and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (63) added 112 runs for the seventh wicket to put India on a strong footing.
Pant, who was forced to retire after being struck on the forearm on the opening day, resumed his innings on Monday and continued to attack despite copping several nasty blows to the body.
His entertaining knock contained six fours and two sixes.
One of those sixes sailed into the adjoining tennis courts and disappeared, forcing the umpires to call for a replacement ball.
Pant was dismissed off the first ball after lunch when he failed to clear long-off, but there was no stopping Jurel.
Jurel endured a few nervous moments on 99 before reaching the milestone with a quick single to mid-off.
Kamil Mishara swooped on the ball and a direct hit would have left Jurel stranded one run short of three figures, but luck favoured Jurel.
The 25-year-old batter celebrated his hundred by pointing to a tattoo on his biceps.
Last man Prasidh Krishna then drove a full toss from Asitha Fernando to the boundary to take India past 500, prompting the declaration.
Jurel remained unbeaten on 115 off 177 deliveries and hit nine fours and two sixes.
Fernando was the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers, finishing with 4-106.
With Pant unable to keep wickets because of the pain from the blow to his forearm, Jurel was handed the gloves when Sri Lanka began their reply.
Fernando and India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal were fined 25 percent of their match fees following a heated exchange on the first day.
The pair almost came to blows before their teammates intervened.
Devdutt Padikkal, who impressed with scores of 167 and 44 in the first Test, continued his good form with 117 despite being reprieved twice early in his innings.
India lead the two-match series 1-0.
O.Kelly--VC
