Colombo: India declared their first innings at 503/9 in 138 overs after wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel reached his second Test century on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground on Monday.
Jurel remained unbeaten on 115 off 177 balls, an innings featuring nine fours, two sixes and several key partnerships with the lower order, including a 112-run stand with Rishabh Pant, who made 63. Pacer Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler with 4-106, while Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha picked up two wickets apiece, though they gave away too many runs.
Sri Lanka are now left with approximately an hour to bat before stumps. Following a two-hour and ten-minute rain interruption, play resumed with Jurel on 95 and five runs away from his first Test century in Sri Lanka.
Resuming alongside Mohammed Siraj, Jurel took his time and didn’t take the bait of being surrounded by close-in fielders. Siraj then got off the mark with a pull to long leg, leaving Jurel on strike to face the fielders Sri Lanka brought into the ring. Jurel played out a maiden over against Jayasuriya as the hosts sought to choke the singles and force a mistake.
The wait for his century finally ended after 22 deliveries when Jurel drove a full ball from Fernando over the bowler’s head, diving full length to complete a risky single as a direct hit missed the stumps. Jurel celebrated by raising his sleeve to display a tattoo reading ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan,’ while Siraj embraced him in the middle.
With his century secured, Jurel shifted gears immediately, stepping out to launch Fernando high over long-on for a six. Jayasuriya ended Siraj’s 29-ball stay by trapping him plumb LBW with a slider, with India burning a review.
Joined by Prasidh Krishna, Jurel continued to attack by pulling Fernando over deep backward square leg for another six before scampering two runs off a low full-toss. Krishna then added the final touches to the innings by scything a low full-toss through cover for a boundary to push India past the 500-mark, before skipper Shubman Gill signalled for the duo to come back and call for the visitors to declare their innings and have a crack with the new ball.
Brief Scores: India 503/9 in 138 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 155 not out; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) against Sri Lanka
(IANS)
