IND vs SL 2nd Test: Dhruv Jurel shines for Team India with impressive ton on Day

[[{“value”:”

[popcorn number=”13″ desc=”No. of balls taken by Dhurv Jurel to move from 99 to 100 on Monday” class=”Default”]

[popcorn number=”115*” desc=”No. of runs scored by Dhruv Jurel on Monday — the most by an Indian batting at No.7 or lower in Tests in Sri Lanka” class=”Default”]

[popcorn number=”112*” desc=”No. of runs put on by Jurel and Pant on Monday — the highest partnership for the seventh wicket or lower by India in Tests in Sri Lanka” class=”Default”]

The two specialist wicketkeepers in the Indian ranks matched each other for impact, if not numerical returns, as the visitors took charge of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Monday.

The maverick Rishabh Pant and the orthodox Dhruv Jurel aren’t mirror images only when it comes to being left- and right-handed respectively. They embrace entirely contrasting methods at the crease, and were in perfect sync on the second day at the SSC ground to drive India into the ascendancy.

Rishabh Pant during his 63 vs SL on Monday

Pant, who resumed his innings on three after retiring hurt the previous evening, was dismissed immediately after lunch for 63, typically entertaining and full of drama, while Jurel unhurriedly kept his tryst with a second century, spending 12 deliveries on 99 and scrambling a near-suicidal single — a direct hit would have resulted in a run out — to get to his hundred.

Shubman Gill waited until India crossed the 500-mark before applying the closure at 503-9. In the 18 minutes and three overs of play possible either side of a brief stoppage for rain, Sri Lanka were rocked by Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar and stumbled to 8-2 when bad light came to their rescue.

Having recovered sufficiently from a blow to his left wrist inflicted by Lahiru Kumara, Pant took guard in the second over of the morning when Saransh Jain was well caught by Kamil Mishara off pacer Asitha Fernando, Sri Lanka’s best bowler. Untroubled by the pesky injury, Pant batted with customary chutzpah, dictating terms when he was not copping blows to different parts of his body.

Jurel, on the other hand, was a picture of correctness and conventional, driving with aplomb and quick to seize on anything short. Without trying too hard, they scored rapidly and added 112 when Pant fell to the first ball after lunch, tonking Keshara Nuwantha down long-off’s throat.

Suthar helped Jurel add 39; Jurel was on 79 when the former was dismissed, triggering concerns that he could be stranded, but Mohammed Siraj displayed admirable restraint as his partner moved through the gears without attempting anything outrageous. Siraj celebrated with greater gusto than the protagonist himself when Jurel reached his hundred, after which he launched two sixes in celebration.

Sri Lanka came up short in the tricky passage to stumps, losing Lahiru Udara and nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya. They have a long road ahead of them — 495 behind, three days to go.

Brief scores
India 503-9d (D Padikkal 117, D Jurel 115*, R Pant 63; A Fernando 4-106, P Jayasuriya 2-132, K Nuwantha 2-154) vs Sri Lanka 8-2 (K Mishara 5*; P Krishna 1-1, M Suthar 1-6)

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