Padikkal, Jurel keep India ahead on rain-hit second day

On a rain-marred day, when 55 overs of play were lost, India added 172 runs to their overnight score to go to stumps on 460 for 9.

Devdutt Padikkal built on his overnight century and Dhruv Jurel crafted a half-century, but debutant Keshara Nuwantha’s triple strike helped Sri Lanka claw their way back in the first Test in Galle, on Sunday (June 16).

Rain and the consequent wet outfield ensured a delayed start to the day’s play, which began nearly five hours after the schedule. India, resuming the day on 288 for 2, got going with Rishabh Pant pulling a short delivery for a boundary through the mid wicket region as India waded safely for the first half an hour of play and went past the 200-run mark. However, the southpaw couldn’t add much to his overnight score as he departed soon after the second new ball was taken.

Looking to take down Nuwantha, he stepped out of his crease but mistimed the ball to the mid off fielder. It remained the story of the day for India. Promising partnerships being broken against the run of play.

KL Rahul, who had retired on Saturday due to cramps, returned to bat, but he could add only five runs to his score, flicking a turning delivery from Nuwantha straight to short leg.

Sri Lanka continued their work their way back into the contest with disciplined bowling once the new ball was taken, which also brought them regular strikes. Padikkal, who had made an assured start on a surface that largely remained predictable, but his innings was cut short just when it seemed in a position for more. Prabath Jayasuriya’s reintroduction into the attack brought about his fall. In a bid to go down the track against the spinner, he missed the quicker one and was neatly stumped on 167.

To add to India’s woes, after having lost three wickets in the second session, Jadeja was trapped leg-before while playing down the wrong line against Nuwantha, reducing them to 377 for 6. It could have gotten worse for the hosts but Dhruv Jurel, who was looking assured, was dropped at slips by Dhananjaya de Silva on 29.

Sri Lanka’s fightback had brought the contest slightly towards balance, but Jurel and Manav Suthar made the hosts toil a bit towards the latter part of the day. They got going by punishing Lahiru Kumara’s erratic lines and lengths, cracking three boundaries in an over to take the team past the 400-run mark, and displayed tenacity to stitch a 55-run stand on a surface that didn’t have many demons even if there was ample turn.

Dhanajaya made up for the dropped catch by pulling off a stunner at slips to send back Jurel soon after the batter had brought up his half-century. The lower order didn’t offer much resistance - Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav swung their bats around a bit to pick a few useful runs - but more importantly, ensured that Sri Lanka were still left with one more wicket to pick before they get their turn to bat.

However, with only three days of play left, and more rain predicted, India would also be under pressure to speed up the game if they do want to push for a victory.

Brief Scores: India 460/9 (Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82, Dhruv Jurel 51; Prabath Jayasuriya 4-109, Keshara Nuwantha 3-175) vs Sri Lanka