2nd Test: SL face daunting task after India's massive declaration
What's the story
Team India has declared its first innings at a massive 503 /9 against Sri Lanka in the ongoing second and final Test match at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground in Colombo. While Dhruv Jurel smoked a stunning ton on Day 2, Rishabh Pant registered a fine fifty on the rain-hit day. Furthermore, the Lankans lost two wickets inside three overs to finish at 8/3 at stumps, with their batsmen facing a daunting task to avoid following on.
Match dynamics
India batters dominate 1st innings
The Indian team batted with authority throughout their innings, amassing over 500 runs before captain Shubman Gill decided to declare.
Devdutt Padikkal (117), Gill (50), and Ravindra Jadeja (43) helped India finish Day 1 at 300/6.
Meanwhile, a 112-run stand between Jurel and Pant powered the visitors on Day 2 morning.
The former's unbeaten hundred took the team past 500.
Pant
Pant gets to the top
Pant made 63 off 89 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.
With his first maximum in the second match, the southpaw went past Adam Gilchrist's tally of 100 maximums as a designated gloveman.
Meanwhile, Pant, with 102 big hits, is now the batter with the third-most Test sixes.
Pant has also been a prolific run-scorer for India, amassing 3,725 runs at an average of 43.82 (100s: 8, 50s: 21).
Feats
2,500 Test runs away from home
During his stay, Pant also became the first Indian and fourth batter overall to complete 2,500 Test runs away from home (away plus neutral Tests) as a designated keeper.
Playing his 36th Test outside India, Pant has taken his tally to 2,534 runs at an average of 41.54.
This includes 17 50-plus scores, including two tons.
Jurel
Jurel hammers his second Test hundred
Jurel walked back unbeaten on 115 off 177 balls, having hit nine fours and two sixes.
His second ton in the format has taken the batter to 651 runs at an average of 40.68 across 12 Test matches (50s: 2).
Both his 50-plus scores in away-from-home Tests have come in this series.
Jurel, who scored 51 (68) in India's win in the series opener, added 39 and 31 runs with Manav Suthar and Mohammed Siraj, respectively.
Match response
Sri Lanka's batting order faces stern test
With India posting such a massive first innings total, Sri Lanka's batsmen had to dig deep and bat with considerable discipline and determination.
However, they are off to a terrible start, losing two wickets inside three overs (8/2).
Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar have claimed wickets in their opening overs.
The latter had trapped Prabath Jayasuriya on the very last ball of the day.
Fernando
Fernando claims four-fers in successive Tests
Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's best bowler in this innings, claiming four wickets for 106 runs across 29 overs.
The pacer was impressive in the series opener as well, returning with 2/63 & 4/31.
The pacer's latest four-fer has taken him to 97 wickets across 28 Tests at an average of 26.74 (5W: 3, 4W: 7).
39 of his wickets have come across 15 home Tests at 27.30.
Information
Two wickets each for Jayasuriya, Nuwantha
Spin twins Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha were also among the wickets, striking twice apiece. The former's 42 overs resulted in 132 runs. Nuwantha, meanwhile, returned with 1/154 from 38 overs. Lahiru Kumara (1/68 from 20 overs) was the only other wicket-taker.