Mohali: All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja’s scintillating 175 not out, making a huge total, India tightened their grip on the first Test on the second day of the first Test by giving Sri Lanka four blows from the start here on Saturday. Jadeja’s big century and useful contributions from the lower order batsmen declared their first innings at 574 for eight just before the tea break. Sri Lanka are 108 for four at the end of the second day’s play and are still 466 runs behind India.
Jadeja (175 not out off 228 balls) completed the second century of his Test career and scored the highest score of his career. He kept the Sri Lankan attack a joke by hitting 17 fours and three sixes in his innings. Jadeja added 130 runs for the seventh wicket with Ravichandran Ashwin (61 off 82 balls) and then shared an unbroken 103-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Mohammed Shami (20 not out off 34 balls). The century assumes significance for left-handed batsman Jadeja as he missed four Test matches this season due to a knee injury.
That will be STUMPS on Day 2 of the 1st Test.
Sri Lanka 108/4, trail #TeamIndia 574/8d by 466 runs.
Scorecard – https://t.co/c2vTOXSGfx #INDvSL @paytm pic.twitter.com/LqUs9xCxtc
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 5, 2022
Jadeja said after the match, “Yesterday I enjoyed the batting of Rishabh Pant (96) from the non-striker’s end. Today I batted smoothly. Me and Ashwin enjoyed batting with each other. The pitch has started to turn and it should take more turns.” Left-arm spinner Jadeja (1 for 30) then showed great bowling skills. Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne (28) went on the back foot to play his quick turn but got out leg before after being completely gutted. Earlier, Ashwin (2 for 21) had dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne (17) leg before which Sri Lanka also lost a ‘review’.
India’s third success came from vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah (1 for 20). He dismissed Angelo Mathews (22) leg before. Ashwin punishes Dhananjay de Silva (a) for a straight ball sweep. With the ball taking a lot of turn, it will not be easy for the Sri Lankan batsmen to face Ashwin and Jadeja as the game progresses. Pathum Nisanka 26 and Charit Aslanka were on one run when the stumps were dislodged. India extended the innings by 357 for six in the morning. Jadeja and Ashwin got runs with ease while Sri Lanka took a very defensive approach. Ashwin scored his 12th half-century while maintaining his good batting record on sub-continental pitches.
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India added 111 runs in 27 overs in the first session with the brilliant effort of these two. In the second session, Shami supported Jadeja well. After the completion of the century partnership between these two, captain Rohit Sharma announced the end of the innings. Jadeja showed a great game. His shots were visible which were opening the doors of Sri Lanka’s weak attack. He batted more freely after the completion of the century and did not give any chance to the bowlers. Sri Lankan captain Karunaratne put in the defensive fielding which showed how under pressure his team is under.
The effect of this was that Jadeja and Ashwin easily took a couple of runs and also hit fours in the middle. Sri Lanka finally got the breakthrough after a long wait by Suranga Lakhmal whose short pitch ball kissed Ashwin’s glove and went to wicketkeeper Nirosan Dickwella. Ashwin hit eight fours in his innings. But that didn’t affect Jadeja. He completed his century by taking a run from Lasith Embuldeniya in cover area and celebrated by swinging the bat like a sword in his familiar style. India lost the wicket of Jayant Yadav (two) after lunch. (agency)