India pass 100 as Gill, Padikkal steady Colombo Test innings

India passed the 100-run mark on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, moving to 105 for 2 after 30 overs.

Captain Shubman Gill, on 23, and Devdutt Padikkal, unbeaten on 18, have steadied the innings after India lost both openers cheaply.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was out for 45 off 53 balls when an Asitha Fernando delivery curved back in and found an inside edge onto the stumps.

KL Rahul had fallen earlier for 18 off 33 balls, edging a short, wide ball from Lahiru Kumara behind to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Padikkal, who hit a century in the first Test at Galle, survived a couple of early scares before settling in alongside his captain.

India go into the match holding a 1-0 series lead after their 165-run win at Galle, with a positive result in Colombo enough to seal the series.

The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo is hosting the second and final Test of the series, running from August 23 to 27.

Sri Lanka’s playing XI for the Test includes uncapped opener Kamil Mishara, with Dhananjaya de Silva captaining the side in place of the unavailable Dinesh Chandimal.

India had lost both openers cheaply earlier in the day, with Yashasvi Jaiswal out for 45 off 53 balls and KL Rahul dismissed for 18 off 33 balls.

Jaiswal’s dismissal came off an Asitha Fernando delivery that curved back in and found an inside edge onto the stumps, while Rahul edged a short, wide ball from Lahiru Kumara behind to the keeper.

Devdutt Padikkal, who scored a century in the first Test at Galle, survived a couple of early scares before settling into his innings alongside Gill.

India go into the Colombo Test holding a 1-0 series lead after their 165-run win in the first Test at Galle.

Photo by Bollywood Hungama, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0