Colombo [Sri Lanka], August 24 (ANI): India reached 475/8 before rain forced an early close to the second session on Day 2 of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Monday, with Dhruv Jurel unbeaten on 95, just five runs short of his maiden Test century, and Mohammed Siraj at the other end.
Jurel added 36 runs to his score to reach 95, taking charge of India's lower order with assured batting. He remained unbeaten alongside Mohammed Siraj when worsening weather forced the players off the field as an early Tea was called on Day 2.
Resuming at 419/6 after lunch, India lost Rishabh Pant (69 off 89) to Keshara Nuwantha off the very first ball of the second session.
After Pant's wicket, Manav Suthar joined Jurel on the crease and formed a 39-run stand before Prabath Jayasuriya took his first wicket of the innings. Suthar scored 18 runs off 51 balls.
After Suthar's dismissal, Mohammed Siraj joined Dhruv Jurel at the crease and faced 17 deliveries without scoring. The pair remained unbeaten as rain brought an early Tea break.
Earlier, Pant and Jurel propelled India to a commanding 419/6 at lunch on Day 2.
The duo of Pant and Jurel added a crucial 112 runs off 151 balls for the seventh wicket, putting India firmly on top at lunch on Day 2.
This was only the second time India recorded a century partnership for the seventh wicket or lower in a Test in Sri Lanka. The previous instance came in 2015, when Cheteshwar Pujara and Amit Mishra added 104 runs at the same venue.
This was the 11th instance of a team scoring 400-plus in the first innings of a Test at this venue. Of the previous 10 occasions, six resulted in victories, while the other four ended in draws.
Pant and Jurel settled in well and looked largely in control. Sri Lanka's pacers tested Pant with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries, with the batter taking a couple of blows to the shoulder before the drinks break.
However, Pant showed good resilience, while Jurel provided solid support as the pair forged a valuable partnership to steady India's innings, adding 47 runs till the drinks break.
Pant also etched his name above legendary MS Dhoni in India's record books, becoming the country's highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests.
Jurel and Pant forged a crucial partnership to put six-down India firmly in control on Day 2. Both batters brought up their half-centuries, helping the visitors gain a commanding position and shift the momentum in their favour before lunch.
Earlier in the match, Devdutt Padikkal's magnificent century and a composed half-century from skipper Shubman Gill helped India overcome early setbacks and take control of the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Colombo SSC Ground on Sunday.
After opting to bat first, India were reduced to 66/2 in the morning session, but Padikkal and Gill stitched together a crucial 120-run partnership to steady the innings. Padikkal went on to score 117 off 193 balls, while Gill contributed with a fifty before India finished the day at 300/5 after 85 overs. (ANI)
Jurel's 95* guides India to 475/8 as rain forces an early Tea on Day 2
