India took control on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Monday, posting 503-9 declared before claiming two quick wickets to leave the hosts reeling at 8-2. The day belonged to Dhruv Jurel (115 not out), whose second Test hundred helped India tighten their grip on the contest.
Sri Lanka trail by 495 runs, having lost opener Lahiru Udara (one) to a brilliant diving catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal at third slip on a rain-hit day at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club ground. Prabath Jayasuriya was sent in as a nightwatchman, but he survived just seven deliveries before being trapped leg before wicket. That turned out to be the final ball of the day as play was called off due to bad light.
"We are behind (in) the game now," Sri Lanka paceman Asitha Fernando said after the day's play. "Hopefully our batters will come out tomorrow and bat out the full day," he added. "There was not much on the pitch to be honest. When the pitch doesn't offer much assistance, you need to execute the plans you have for batters."
Only 56 overs were possible because of rain on a day Jurel made his mark. The 25-year-old batsman was rarely troubled by Sri Lanka's bowlers as he stitched together crucial partnerships to carry India beyond the 500-run mark. The opening day had ended with India on 300-5 and honours even after the tourists elected to bat. But Jurel and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant (63) added 112 runs for the seventh wicket to put India on a strong footing.
Nervous moments
Pant, who was forced to retire after being struck on the forearm on the opening day, resumed his innings on Monday and continued to attack despite copping several nasty blows to the body. His entertaining knock contained six fours and two sixes. One of those sixes sailed into the adjoining tennis courts and disappeared, forcing the umpires to call for a replacement ball.
Pant was dismissed off the first ball after lunch when he failed to clear long-off. Jurel endured a few nervous moments on 99 before reaching the milestone with a quick single to mid-off. Kamil Mishara swooped on the ball and a direct hit would have left Jurel stranded one run short of three figures, but luck favoured Jurel. The batter celebrated his hundred by pointing to a tattoo on his bicep.
"Playing Test cricket for India is massive. When we go out there in blue cap we want to give our best," said Jurel. "When I was on 99, they were bowling good lengths and fielding was sharp. I was waiting for the right moment."
Last man Prasidh Krishna then drove a full toss from Fernando to the boundary to take India past 500, prompting the declaration. Jurel faced 177 deliveries, hitting nine fours and two sixes. Fernando was the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers, finishing with 4-106.
With Pant unable to keep wickets because of the pain from the blow to his forearm, Jurel was handed the gloves when Sri Lanka began their reply. Fernando and Jaiswal were fined 25 percent of their match fees following a heated exchange on the first day. The pair almost came to blows before their teammates intervened.
India lead the two-match series 1-0.
BRIEF SCORES:
Sri Lanka 8 for 2 (Prasidh 1-1) trail India 503 for 9 dec (Padikkal 117, Jurel 115*) by 495 runs.
