Persistent rain and a wet outfield significantly hampered the second day of the first Test in Galle on Sunday, June 16, resulting in the loss of 55 overs. Despite the interruptions, India managed to advance their overnight score of 288 for 2 to 460 for 9 by the close of play.
The day began with a five-hour delay, but India resumed with a positive intent. Rishabh Pant started the proceedings by pulling a short delivery for a boundary, helping the team cross the 200-run mark. However, his stay was brief, and he fell shortly after the second new ball was introduced. KL Rahul, who had retired hurt on Saturday due to cramps, returned to the crease but added only five runs before being dismissed by debutant Keshara Nuwantha, who caught him flicking a turning delivery to short leg.
Devdutt Padikkal, who resumed on his overnight century, continued to look comfortable on a pitch that offered some turn but remained largely predictable. His impressive innings eventually ended at 167 when he stepped out to Prabath Jayasuriya and was stumped. The debutant Nuwantha proved to be a thorn in India’s side, claiming a triple strike that helped Sri Lanka regain a foothold in the match.
The middle session saw India lose momentum, with Ravindra Jadeja trapped leg-before-wicket by Nuwantha while playing down the wrong line, leaving the visitors at 377 for 6. Dhruv Jurel, who provided stability in the lower order, received a reprieve when Dhananjaya de Silva dropped him at slips on 29. Jurel went on to craft a vital half-century, anchoring a 55-run partnership with Manav Suthar that helped push the total past 400. The pair found success by punishing erratic bowling from Lahiru Kumara from Lahiru Kumara.
Dhananjaya de Silva eventually made amends for his earlier error by taking a sharp catch at slips to dismiss Jurel shortly after his fifty. While the tail-enders Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav added some quick runs, the primary objective was to ensure India remained in the middle as long as possible. The day concluded with India at 460 for 9, leaving Sri Lanka with one final wicket to claim.
With only three days remaining in the Test and further rain in the forecast, India faces mounting pressure to accelerate their scoring if they intend to force a result. In the brief scores, India stands at 460/9, led by Padikkal’s 167, Rahul’s 82, and Jurel’s 51, while Prabath Jayasuriya has claimed 4 for 109 and Keshara Nuwantha 3 for 175. The report also notes that when 55 overs of play were lost, India added 172 runs to their overnight score to go to stumps on 460 for 9, on a rain-marred day. The report also notes that he missed the quicker one and was neatly stumped on 167, in a bid to go down the track against the spinner. The report also notes that after having lost three wickets in the second session, Jadeja was trapped leg-before while playing down the wrong line against Nuwantha, reducing them to 377 for 6, to add to India’s woes. The report also notes that promising partnerships being broken against the run of play. The report also notes that which also brought them regular strikes, sri Lanka continued their work their way back into the contest with disciplined bowling once the new ball was taken. The report also notes that prabath Jayasuriya’s reintroduction into the attack brought about his fall.
