Daijiworld Media Network - Colombo
Colombo, Aug 24: Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 95 after a composed display of risk-free batting as heavy rain brought an early end to the second session on day two of the Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC Ground on Monday.
India reached 475/8 in 131.2 overs by the time the early tea break was taken. Strong winds and darkening skies forced the umpires to halt play, while rain intensified shortly afterwards, prompting groundstaff to cover the entire playing area.
Jurel was five runs short of his second Test century and his first hundred in Sri Lanka. Mohammed Siraj was unbeaten without scoring after facing 17 deliveries.
Sri Lanka made an immediate breakthrough after lunch, with Rishabh Pant departing off the first ball. Pant, who scored an entertaining 63 off 89 balls, hit Keshara Nuwantha straight to long-off, ending a 112-run partnership off 152 deliveries.
Jurel then took charge alongside Manav Suthar as the pitch began offering increasing assistance to the spinners.
Suthar showed composure against Sri Lanka’s short-ball tactics and also stepped down the pitch to loft Nuwantha over mid-off for a boundary. The pair added 39 runs and took India beyond the 450-run mark before Prabath Jayasuriya finally broke the partnership after a 35-over spell.
Jayasuriya induced Suthar into pushing outside off-stump, with the batter edging behind to Niroshan Dickwella. Suthar departed for 18.
With Siraj largely focused on defence at the other end, Jurel expertly managed the strike while maintaining a steady scoring rate.
The wicketkeeper-batter displayed excellent footwork against the turning deliveries and used a fine reverse sweep off Sonal Dinusha to move into the 80s.
As dark clouds gathered over the ground, Sri Lanka brought back pacer Asitha Fernando in search of his fifth wicket.
Jurel responded by dispatching a full toss on his pads through mid-wicket for four, taking his score to 95 from 155 balls and moving India closer to the 500-run mark.
However, the rain intervened before he could complete his century, bringing the session to an early close.
Brief Scores: India 475/8 in 131.2 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 95 not out; Asitha Fernando 4-78, Keshara Nuwantha 2-154) against Sri Lanka.