Dhruv Jurel scores his second Test hundred, Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel added 112 for the seventh wicket, Rishabh Pant received blows to his body during his innings of 63
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka, 1-0 down in the two-match Test series, faced a difficult task to save the second Test at the SSC after India declared on 503-9 and reduced the hosts to 8-2 by close of play yesterday.
Sri Lanka must reach 304 to avoid follow-on on a surface that is beginning to offer more turn and bounce to the spinners.
India declared after surpassing 500 to give themselves overs against the Lankan batsmen. Play resumed after a short delay, but deteriorating light halted the session after just two balls from Mohammed Siraj. When play restarted, Lahiru Udara fell for one and Prabath Jayasuriya, sent in as nightwatchman, lasted only two before the umpires stopped play again because of the light.
This was the 11th occasion a team posted 400-plus in the first innings of a Test at the SSC; of the previous 10, six ended in wins and four in draws.
Sri Lanka have struggled for starts this year and in the series. Their opening stands read 8, 2, 2, 15, 13, 0 and 1 — 41 runs in seven innings, an average of 5.85.
India began the day on 300-5 but lost Saransh Jain early. Rishabh Pant, who had injured his wrist on day one, joined Dhruv Jurel and the pair added 112 for the seventh wicket, both reaching half-centuries in the process. Pant was out to the first ball after lunch for 63 off 89 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes). Jurel continued with support from Manav Suthar and Mohammed Siraj and reached his second Test hundred off 171 balls (9 fours). A rain break between those partnerships delayed Jurel’s hundred and India’s declaration.
India were 419-6 at lunch and added more runs before rain brought forward the tea interval with India on 475-8. Suthar contributed 18 after lunch, but Jurel dominated the scoring. At the break Jurel needed five runs for his century and Asitha Fernando had one wicket remaining for a five-wicket haul.
The morning session belonged to India as they added 119 for one wicket and took control. Pant withstood a series of blows from Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, then took the initiative and pushed India beyond 400. Jurel combined solid defence with attacking shots at the other end. The Lankan pacers bowled with effort, but the spinners were largely ineffective despite the pitch starting to assist them.
Fernando finished as Sri Lanka’s best bowler with 4 for 106; the two spinners shared four wickets between them. Play will resume 15 minutes early tomorrow at the SSC.
Asitha, Jaiswal fined 25% of match fee by ICC
- Inappropriate player physical contact
The ICC match referee confirmed that Sri Lanka fast bowler Asitha Fernando and India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal were each fined 25% of their match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first day of the second Test at the SSC.
The referee found both players breached Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which covers inappropriate physical contact with another player, support personnel, umpire, match referee or spectator. The finding and sanctions appear in the match referee’s written report issued after the session.
One demerit point was added to each player’s disciplinary record; neither had any previous offences in the preceding 24 months.
The incident occurred after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal in the 17th over of India’s first innings. Jaiswal approached Fernando and the two exchanged words. Fernando then moved his head towards Jaiswal and Jaiswal leaned in, causing their heads to make contact.
Both players admitted the offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so formal hearings were not required. The charge was brought on the evidence and reports of on-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Prageeth Rambukwella. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, plus one or two demerit points.
SCOREBOARD
INDIA 1ST INNINGS
(300-5 continued)
Y Jaiswal b Fernando 45
L Rahul c Dickwella b Kumara 18
D Padikkal b Nuwantha 117
S Gill c Dickwella b Fernando 50
R Pant c Udara b Nuwantha 63
R Jadeja b Fernando 43
D Jurel not out 115
S Jain c Mishara b Fernando 6
M Suthar c Dickwella b Jayasuriya 18
M Siraj lbw b Jayasuriya 3
P Krishna not out 4
Extras (b-8, lb-3, nb-3, w-7) 21
Total (9 wickets decl.) 503
Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Rahul), 2-66 (Jaiswal), 3-186 (Gill), 4-281 (Padikkal), 5-296 (Jadeja)m, 6-307 (Jain), 7-419 (Pant), 8-458 (Suthar), 9-489 (Siraj).
Bowling: Fernando 29-5-106-4 (1nb, 1w), Kumara 20-4-68-1 (1w), Jayasuriya 42-7-132-2 (4w), Nuwantha 38-3-154-2 (2nb, 1w), Dinusha 3-0-8-0, De Silva 2-0-8-0, Mishara 4-0-16-0.
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS
L Udara c Jaiswal b Krishna 1
K Mishara not out 5
P Jayasuriya lbw b Suthar 2
Extras 0
Total (2 wickets at close) 8
Fall of wicket: 1-1 (Udara), 2-8 (Jayasuriya).
To bat: P Sooriyabandara, K Mendis, D de Silva, S Dinusha, N Dickwella, K Nuwantha, L Kumara, A Fernando
Bowling: Siraj 1-0-1-0, Krishna 1-0-1-1, Suthar 1-0-6-1.
