The first day of the second test between India and Sri Lanka at Colombo is over. India, having scored 300 after losing five wickets, is in command. 85 overs were bowled today, and Devdutt Padikkal starred, scoring a sensational century. India leads the two-match series and will aim for a clean sweep for a better record in the points table.
Fortunately there was no rain today, and no overs were lost, which meant that India made the most of the conditions at Colombo, although the pitch slightly aided the fast bowlers with a tinge of green. Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal shone in India’s run-fest day.
Toss and Ground conditions
The Indian Captain, Shubman Gill, won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny day. The Indian openers started nicely and remained unscathed in the first half hour of play. The Colombo ground is much like the Oval; the boundaries are spread out, with a fast outfield. The average first innings score in a Test match is 323 which means India can score up to 350-400 if they bat really well.
Both teams made changes to their squad, with India picking Saransh Jain over Kuldeep Yadav; it was a forced change as Kuldeep was ill. Sri Lanka made two changes as well, with injured Dinesh Chandimal making way for Pasindu and Kamil Mishara for Nishan Madhushka.
Safe Start by Openers
India dominated the first ten overs as KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal capitalised on the poor deliveries by Sri Lanka. KL Rahul was the aggressor, with Jaiswal taking his time but Jaiswal started things for the visitors, slamming two cracking boundaries in the first over itself of Asitha Fernando.
After ten overs, India’s score was 31 without losing a wicket, but the ball was nipping around, and the green grass on the pitch made it difficult for the batsmen to pick the lengths and play their shots freely. Jaiswal attacked the bowlers one by one, putting pressure on them. He smashed Lahiru Kumara for consecutive boundaries in the second over, and India was cruising.
Sri Lanka’s Disciplined bowling
Despite India’s good start, Sri Lanka applied early pressure to halt India’s innings. On the 10th over, India lost KL Rahul to a slightly full but wide delivery by Lahiru Kumara. Rahul edged it to the keeper, Niroshan Dickwella, and Sri Lanka had the last laugh. Rahul was in great rhythm, having smashed a boundary just before the dismissal, but played a loose shot, throwing away his wicket.
Jaiswal was the next to go, but he put on a show especially during the sixteenth over, slamming three consecutive boundaries to Asitha Fernando, playing like a T20. Jaiswal and Padikkal had a small partnership but in the same over Jaiswal unfortunately dragged a good-length ball to the stumps giving a wicket to Asitha Fernando. Jaiswal displayed huge frustration, engaging in an ugly spat with the bowler.
Jaiswal and Rahul were back in the shed, and Sri Lanka had two wickets in quick time. Jaiswal just missed his fifty, and the pressure must be on him now to deliver as he has scored only 77 runs in two innings and has had a forgettable outing in Sri Lanka.
Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal see off the Morning session
Shubman Gill and Devdutt Padikkal shared a century stand for the third wicket. India went into lunch wicketless as both batsmen capitalised on the short and loose balls. Shubman Gill and Padikkal added another 22 runs before lunch, and things went smoothly for India.
Gill rushed through his innings looking for that first run as he went 13 balls without scoring, whereas Padikkal looked focused as the Sri Lankans continued with a little sledging which did not shake India as much. On the last ball of the 20th over, Gill opened his account with a boundary off Prabath Jayasuriya.
The ball was a tad short, and Gill rocked back playing a half pull-shot but equally stylish to pierce the gap. If India scored fifty in just 16 overs, it required another 13 overs to score its hundred, but more importantly, it did not lose a wicket as Gill and Padikkal together shared 119 runs.
Gill Scores Ninth Test Fifty, Padikkal Century
Shubman Gill scored his ninth Test match fifty with a single off Sonal Dinusha on the third ball of the 50th over; meanwhile, Padikkal reached his fifty in the 43rd over on the second ball. However, both looked scratchy, and Padikkal in particular was dropped early on by the Sri Lankan fielders. Once on zero by Sonal Dinusha and immediately at slips.
Although Gill lost his concentration and played a rash shot moments before tea, Padikkal went on to score his second hundred of the series, eventually his third counting the practice game. On the 51st over, Gill edged a full ball by Asitha Fernando which was outside the off stump, giving a simple catch to the keeper, Dickwell. This left everyone astonished. Certainly, Gill was disappointed walking back to the pavilion, and it was an opportunity missed.
A wicket before tea Excites Sri Lanka
Breaking a century stand was crucial from Sri Lanka’s perspective, and Asitha Fernando did exactly that. A wicket on the stroke of tea gained Sri Lanka’s confidence and the crowd erupted. Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya De Silva looked frazzled today with defensive tactics especially, when the partnership was flourishing.
An unwanted but hilarious thing occurred in the 48th over as Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya started off the over by bowling three wides. Devdutt Padikkal scored his second hundred of the series on the 69th over by taking a single on the last ball off Prabath Jayasuriya. The Indian team was all smiles and the Sri Lankan players appreciated Padikkal. This was only the second instance where a number three batsman from India scored back-to-back hundreds in a test match.
Padikkal hurts Sri Lanka but the hosts get away with regular wickets
India’s score at tea was 187 losing three wickets but Padikkal rode his luck and since the two dropped catches he looked much assured. It was a brief period of play where Sri Lanka gained absolutely nothing but later dragged things back with the most prized wicket of Padikkal who was castled by a rip-snorter delivery by Keshara Nuwantha. Padikkal lost his wicket on the second ball of the 77th over and was extremely disappointed as he scored 117 from 193 balls with 12 boundaries at a strike rate of 60.62.
Rishabh Pant unfortunately got retired hurt on the first ball of the 57th over. Trying to hook a short ball from Lahiru Kumara Pant hit his wrist and was forced off the field. After that he did not return and India lost two wickets with Jadeja blindly leaving a straight ball from Asitha Fernando. Scoring 43 from 82 balls jadeja shocked himself as well as the opponent.
Stumps Day 1
At stumps on the first day India has lost five wickets but have put 300 on the board after a breathtaking century from Devdutt Padikkal who stole the show making several headlines. It was a balanced day as both teams fought equally hard. The second day will bring as much excitement and all hopes are now pinned on Dhruv Jurel unbeaten on seven meanwhile 33 year old debutant, Saransh Jain is the new-comer.
It is to be seen whether Rishabh Pant will bat tomorrow or will India persist with Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps but, tomorrow Jurel and pant if he bats will be extremely important for India and they must look to push the scoreboard by taking India to a safe position. As mentioned earlier, anything close to 350 or 400 is a competitive total on this pitch.
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