MOHALI: Ravindra Jadeja played a sensational knock of an unbeaten 175; powering India to 574/8 before the declaration and later joined the wicket-takers to push Sri Lanka on the back foot on the second day of the first Test, here on Saturday.
Resuming at an overnight score of 357/6, India declared their innings at a mammoth 574/8 in the second session, thanks to the unbeaten 175-runs knock of Jadeja.
Coming out to bat on the second day, Jadeja and Ashwin added a further 105-runs into their seventh-wicket stand before the latter perished after scoring a magnificent 67. The right-arm spin bowling all-rounder faced 82 deliveries and smashed eight boundaries in the course of his brilliant innings.
Jadeja, on the other hand, stood firm and kept the scoreboard ticking with a little assistance from the number 10 batter Mohammed Shami. The left-handed batter smashed his Test career’s highest score – 175* before the skipper Rohit Sharma called for the declaration. He faced 228 balls and hit 20 boundaries including three sixes.
For Sri Lanka, Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, and Lasith Embuldeniya claimed two wickets each, while Lahiru Kumara and Dhananjaya de Silva struck out a batter each.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, managed to score 108/4 before the conclusion of the second day’s play at the stumps.
The touring openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thrimanne provided a decent start to the side; putting on an important 48-runs partnership before the latter walked back to the pavilion after scoring just 17.
Following this dismissal, the touring side then began to lose wickets at an alarming rate and soon slipped to 103/4.
For India, Ashwin bagged two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Jadeja took one wicket apiece.
Pathum Nissanka (26*) and Charith Asalanka (1*) will now resume the proceedings for the touring side at 108/4 on the third day of the ongoing Test.
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