By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka dismissed half the Indian side for 300 on the opening day of the second cricket Test at the SSC grounds yesterday, and may feel that they have done enough to prevent the opposition from running away with the game.
Sri Lanka could have been in a better position had they not given two reprieves to the century maker of the first Test Devdutt Padikkal at 0 and 1 by Sonal Dinusha at backward point and Dhananjaya de Silva at slip, although neither chance was straightforward. Padikkal made Sri Lanka pay by going onto make a century – 117 off 193 balls (12 fours), his second of the series which more or less would have cemented his place at number three in the Indian batting line-up. He added 120 for the third wicket with Shubman Gill before the partnership was broken in the penultimate ball before tea when the Indian captain played a loose cut to be out for 50 (108 balls, 6 fours).
Rishabh Pant faced one ball before tea and survived a big lbw appeal, with ball-tracking showing the delivery would have missed leg stump. But soon afterwards on resumption Pant was struck on his wrist and was forced to retire. A lovely delivery from Keshara Nuwantha brought to an end Padikkal’s innings. Ravindra Jadeja played a battling innings but was dismissed late in the day against the second new ball when he shouldered arms to Asitha Fernando and saw his stumps disturbed with his score on 43.
Dhruv Jurel looked solid in the 41 minutes he has been at the wicket for seven and India will be hoping that Pant would return and boost their total further. Asitha Fernando’s 3-wicket haul kept Sri Lanka in with a chance, and they will have to maximize the second new ball which is five overs old if they are not to let India run away towards a big score.
Openers Lokesh Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal both got starts, but both failed to convert it into bigger knocks in what was a fairly even opening session of Test cricket. After opting to bat, India’s openers made a steady start and looked comfortable for most of the first hour. Rahul appeared well set before chasing a delivery outside off from Lahiru Kumara and edged it through to the wicketkeeper just before the first drinks break.
Jaiswal, in the meanwhile, adopted an aggressive approach and struck three boundaries in an over from Fernando, only to be bowled in the same over for 45 (53 balls, 9 fours). Both Jaiswal and Fernando had an altercation and exchanged words during an intense moment on the field which is likely to come under the scrutiny of match referee Andy Pycroft.
