India close Day 1 at 300/5, Padikkal’s back-to-back tons continue

India closed the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at 300 for 5, on the back of a century from Devdutt Padikkal.

Padikkal scored 117 off 193 balls, his second century in a row, before being dismissed by Keshara Nuwantha shortly before the second new ball.

Captain Shubman Gill added 50 off 108 balls before falling to a loose cut off Prabath Jayasuriya right on the stroke of tea.

Earlier, India had lost both openers cheaply, with KL Rahul out for 18 and Yashasvi Jaiswal for 45, before Gill and Padikkal steadied the innings.

Rishabh Pant retired hurt after being struck on the wrist, while Ravindra Jadeja was bowled late in the day while also managing some discomfort of his own.

At the close, Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 7 alongside debutant Saransh Jain on 4, with India well placed heading into day two of the Colombo Test.

Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 46, while Prabath Jayasuriya accounted for both Rahul and Gill.

India go into day two with a 1-0 series lead after their 165-run win in the first Test at Galle, needing a positive result in Colombo to seal the series.

Padikkal’s century, his second in as many Tests, came after he survived being dropped twice early in his innings, on 0 and again on 1.

Gill and Padikkal put on a vital 120-run third-wicket partnership that repaired India’s innings after early setbacks.

Rishabh Pant retired hurt after being struck on the wrist by a short ball from Lahiru Kumara, while Ravindra Jadeja was bowled leaving the ball late in the day while also managing discomfort in his forearm.

At stumps, Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on 7 and debutant Saransh Jain on 4, with India still needing to bat out the tail on day two.

Photo by Bollywood Hungama, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0