Devdutt Padikkal accomplished his second Check hundred and have become the primary India No. 3 since Cheteshwar Pujara in 2018-19 to attain centuries in consecutive away Exams. After being dropped on 0 and 1, Padikkal made Sri Lanka pay with a nice 117 on Day 1 of the second Check at SSC, Colombo, following his 167 in Galle.
Padikkal’s knock was the standout effort on a combined day when India finished on 300 for 5, with Shubman Gill’s 50 the next-best rating, whereas Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja made 40s. Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka’s most profitable bowler with 3 for 46.
India made a gentle begin after opting to bat, however Sri Lanka struck twice to maintain the opening session in stability. Jaiswal was the extra aggressive of the 2 openers, whereas KL Rahul settled in earlier than falling for 18. Rahul had dealt comfortably with the brand new ball for many of his keep, even lofting Prabath Jayasuriya for a six, however a misjudged slash at a Lahiru Kumara supply gave Niroshan Dickwella a simple catch. Padikkal then had a few early lives – first being dropped at backward level by Sonal Dinusha off Kumara after which at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva in Keshara Nuwantha’s over – earlier than constructing a partnership with Jaiswal.
Jaiswal introduced up India’s 50 within the sixteenth over with a boundary and batted positively, having reached 45 with 9 fours. However after placing three boundaries in an over from Asitha Fernando, he fell to the identical bowler’s subsequent supply, getting a giant inside edge onto the stumps. The dismissal was adopted by a heated alternate between Jaiswal and Fernando earlier than the Sri Lankan captain intervened. Gill joined Padikkal, and the pair negotiated the remaining overs with out additional harm, taking India to 88 for two at Lunch.
Gill and Padikkal continued India’s progress after the break, with Sri Lanka struggling to create openings on a pitch that supplied little help. The pacers resorted to short-pitched bowling, whereas the spinners operated with a line outdoors leg stump, however neither method brought on a lot hassle. Padikkal grew more and more assured and introduced up his fifty with a well-placed drive, whereas the partnership crossed 100 quickly after. Gill was equally composed, transferring by way of the 40s with minimal fuss as India superior to 150 for two.
The pair seemed set to hold India by way of to Tea, with Gill citing a well-made fifty within the fiftieth over. However simply when Sri Lanka appeared in need of concepts, Gill gifted Fernando his second wicket of the innings, slashing loosely at a supply outdoors off and edging by way of to Dickwella to finish a 120-run third wicket stand. Rishabh Pant walked in and survived a assured LBW attraction from Fernando off his solely ball earlier than Tea, with ball-tracking exhibiting the supply would have missed leg stump. India went into the interval at 187 for 3, with Padikkal unbeaten on 63.
India continued to strengthen their place within the first hour after Tea, however Pant’s innings was reduce quick when he was pressured to retire damage after being struck on the wrist by a Lahiru Kumara quick ball. Pant, who made 3 off 14 balls, tried his trademark sway-away-from-the-line pull however was hit on the wrist, instantly showing in discomfort. After therapy from the physio, Pant walked off, and Ravindra Jadeja got here out to affix Padikkal. The change did little to disrupt India’s progress, with Padikkal transferring into the 90s and Jadeja contributing a couple of boundaries because the pair took India ahead.
Padikkal went on to finish a memorable century, elevating his hundred with a single off Jayasuriya. His innings ended in direction of the top of the third session, bowled by flat and sharply turning supply from Keshara Nuwantha, which ended a 74-run partnership with Jadeja. Sri Lanka opted for the second new ball as quickly because it was due and tasted success with it as Jadeja was bowled on 43 by Fernando, shouldering arms. Saransh Jain, India’s debutant, bought his first Check runs with a boundary in the identical over to convey up the 300 in what was the final over of the day.
Temporary scores: India 300/5 (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Shubman Gill 50, Yashasvi Jaiswal 45, Ravindra Jadeja 43; Asitha Fernando 3-46) vs Sri Lanka.
