New Delhi: The Indian cricket team has completely established its dominance in the second test match being played at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo. After registering a historic win of 165 runs in the first Test match, a confident Team India looks ready to defeat hosts Sri Lanka in the second match as well. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Indian team scored a mountain-like score, under which the Sri Lankan batsmen were seen struggling under immense pressure.
Padikkal's brilliant century
Devdutt Padikkal displayed his excellent form and scored a century of 117 runs in 193 balls with the help of 12 brilliant fours. Captain Shubhman Gill also strengthened the middle order by scoring 50 runs in 108 balls.
The game of the second day was entirely in the name of Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel. Both young batsmen completed their respective half-centuries, while Jurel is moving strongly towards his second Test century.
Sri Lankan innings faltered
The Sri Lankan team, which came to bat in response to India's huge score, did not have a good start. After the initial setbacks, Pasindu Suriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis tried to control the innings to some extent. An important partnership of 65 runs flourished between the two and Sri Lanka's score crossed 100 runs in the 25th over. Pasindu batted brilliantly and completed his half-century in just 76 balls.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Pant batted in his familiar aggressive style and played brilliant shots all around the field. The Sri Lankan fast bowlers, especially Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, adopted a strategy of constantly targeting his body with short pitched balls. A fast ball from Fernando also hit Pant's shoulder, but this brave player did not lose his patience. Despite the pain, he destroyed the Sri Lankan attack with the help of six fours and two sky-high sixes.
Pasindu's struggle continues
When this partnership was becoming a bit of a problem for India, then fast bowler Prasidh Krishna gave a big success by sending Kamindu Mendis to the pavilion on a personal score of 32 runs. By lunch break on the second day, Sri Lanka's score was 130 runs at the loss of four wickets. At present, captain Dhananjay de Silva is standing with Pasindu at the crease. The hosts are still 373 runs behind India's mammoth score and are under immense pressure to save face.