Sri Lanka Cricket XI Declares at 8/363; India Reach 6/357 in Warm-Up Match
Colombo: With the Indian team recovering from two setbacks ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, beginning on August 15 — captain Shubman Gill’s minor injury and the withdrawal of top-order batter Sai Sudarshan from the series due to injury — Devdutt Padikkal played a morale-boosting innings of 142 not out (164 balls, 18 fours) to save the Indian batting line-up from a major embarrassment. Overall, India’s middle and lower order got valuable batting practice in this match. Captain Shubman Gill did not play due to a finger injury, with vice-captain KL Rahul leading the side.
Padikkal Bats Twice!
After Sri Lanka Cricket XI declared their first innings at 8/363 on the second day of the three-day match on Saturday, India reached 6/357 by the close of play, trailing the hosts by just six runs. Padikkal added 96 runs for the second wicket with stand-in captain KL Rahul (40 runs, 67 balls, one six, five fours) and went on to build a few more substantial partnerships.
Padikkal retired out after completing his century. However, as this was a practice match, he was allowed to return to the crease under the rules and eventually remained unbeaten on 142. Sri Lanka used eight bowlers, with Ramesh Mendis and Asanka Manoj taking two wickets each.
Jadeja Scores 63, Manav Makes 41
Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets for 64 runs on Friday before producing a long innings of 63 from 117 balls on Saturday, hitting seven fours. He too retired out to give the other batters an opportunity to get valuable batting practice.
Spin all-rounder Manav Suthar (41 runs, 90 balls, one six, five fours) also made good use of his opportunity before being dismissed. New spinner Saransh Jain scored 22 before retiring out.
Gurnoor Brar Finishes the Day with a Six-Hitting Blitz
Fast-bowling all-rounder Gurnoor Brar (36 not out, 18 balls, four sixes, two fours) batted without any pressure in the warm-up match and finished the day in spectacular fashion with a flurry of sixes in the final over.
Brar launched a fierce assault against left-arm spinner Dilum Sudheera, smashing sixes off four of his final five balls. India collected a whopping 25 runs from the expensive over.
Jaiswal Back in the Pavilion After Facing Just One Ball
India’s dependable Test opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had played in Pallekele in Sri Lanka two years ago, but this was his first visit to Colombo. On Saturday, however, he missed a valuable opportunity to get batting practice, being dismissed for a duck after facing just one ball.
The experienced Jaiswal, who has played 58 international matches, edged a delivery from left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando straight to Dilum Sudheera Tilakaratne at backward point on the second ball of his innings.
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