2nd Test: Pant, Jurel smash rollicking fifties, propel India to 419/6 against Sri Lanka

Colombo, Aug 24 (IANS) Wicketkeeper-batters Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel hit rollicking half-centuries in an unbroken 112-run stand to help India cross the 400-run mark and wrest control back from Sri Lanka on day two of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

At lunch, India reached 419/6 in 112 overs, with Pant unbeaten on 63 off 88 balls alongside Jurel, who is on 59 not out off 107 balls. The duo left Sri Lanka searching for answers after a sweltering opening session.

The highlight of the session was Pant, who retired hurt on three after copping a blow on left wrist, coming back and batting in his usual style to take the game forward alongside a rock-solid Jurel.

In the morning, Sri Lanka made an early breakthrough with the second new ball when fast bowler Asitha Fernando surprised debutant Saransh Jain with a sharp bouncer from round the wicket and the leading edge was safely taken by gully.

The early wicket brought Pant to the crease, who was immediately targeted with a barrage of short-pitched bowling by the Sri Lankan seamers. A short ball down leg from Lahiru Kumara was pulled by Pant over the stadium roof and even damaged a solar panel, as a replacement ball was sought.

With Jurel pristine in his drives and flicks, Pant was tested thoroughly by Lahiru Kumara and Fernando, and took two painful hits to his right shoulder that required medical treatment. Though Sri Lanka turned to the spin duo of Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha, Jurel relied on the pull to send them to the boundary rope.

Pant, on the other hand, used paddle sweep and decisive footwork, apart from edges rolling along the ground, to keep the scoreboard moving. Subsequently, both batters got their fifties easily – Pant thumped a pull to square leg to get his 21st fifty, while Jurel pulled through mid-wicket to bring up his third half-century.

As Sri Lanka persisted with spin from both ends ahead of the lunch break, but didn’t get consistency, Pant and Jurel raised a 100-run partnership for the seventh wicket and put India in the driver’s seat of the match.

Brief Scores: India 419/6 in 112 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Rishabh Pant 63 not out; Asitha Fernando 4-60, Lahiru Kumara 1-61) against Sri Lanka

–IANS

nr/