COLOMBO, August 23: Devdutt Padikkal continued his remarkable run in Sri Lanka with another composed century as India reached 300 for five at stumps on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC grounds today.
Padikkal, who scored a magnificent 167 in the first Test at Galle, followed it up with 117 off 193 balls, striking 12 boundaries in another outstanding display of temperament and strokeplay.
He shared a century stand with Shubman Gill, who made a patient 50 off 108 balls, before adding another valuable partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. Padikkal was eventually dismissed by Keshara Nuwantha for 117, with India on 281.
India’s innings got off to a shaky start when KL Rahul fell for 18 and Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 45, leaving India 66 for two. Gill and Padikkal then steadied the innings with a 120-run partnership.
Gill reached his half-century before falling to Asitha Fernando, who proved Sri Lanka’s most effective bowler throughout the day.
The fast bowler finished with excellent figures of 3 for 46 from 16 overs, repeatedly troubling India’s batsmen with disciplined bowling. Lahiru Kumara claimed 1 for 38, while Nuwantha took 1 for 93.
Rishabh Pant made only three before retiring hurt after India reached 207 for three, while Jadeja contributed a valuable 43 off 83 balls before falling late in the day.
At stumps, Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 7 and debutant Saransh Jain on 4, with India having faced 85 overs.
India 1st innings: 300/5 (85 overs)
- Devdutt Padikkal 117 (193b, 12×4)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal 45 (53b, 9×4)
- Ravindra Jadeja 43 (83b, 4×4)
- Shubman Gill 50 (108b, 6×4)
- KL Rahul 18 (33b, 2×4, 1×6)
- Dhruv Jurel 7*
- Saransh Jain 4*
- Rishabh Pant 3 retired hurt
Sri Lanka bowling: Asitha Fernando 16-5-46-3, Lahiru Kumara 13-4-38-1, Keshara Nuwantha 22-0-93-1.
