Jurel smashes hundred as India take control of Colombo Test

India tightened their grip on the second ICC World Test Championship Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club, closing out Day 2 in Colombo in total command.

A second Test century from wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel powered India to 503/9 before the declaration came.

With the new ball and fading light on their side, India had the hosts reeling at 8/2 in reply at stumps.

Jurel credited teammate Rishabh Pant for his guidance while at the crease, with the pair putting on a century partnership early on the second day to help India take control of the match.

“We all know Pant is such a terrific player and what he has done for India in Australia and England. So, whenever he is in, I only seek his advice, because he has so much experience. So, I always ask him for advice as, what I should do in a particular situation," Jurel said.

“As you can see, Test cricket has different ways of playing, and it makes the game beautiful. When you play with Pant, it’s a very terrific experience. I can’t play like him, the way he has been playing since childhood. My game plan is to see which bowler should I take down, which spell should I play, and I always ask Pant because he is a wicketkeeper, I am a wicketkeeper, and we play in the middle order, so it’s a very good experience."

Pacer Asitha Fernando (4/106) was the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers with four wickets, while Prabath Jayasuriya (2/132) and Keshara Nuwantha (2/154) each collected two.

"I am pleased with my effort and I must mention Lahiru and got a big support from him," Fernando said at stumps.

"But I would have been happier had we got them out for lesser."

Resuming the day at 300/5, India lost debutant Saransh Jain inside the first hour, with only seven runs added to the overnight total. That brought back Pant to the crease alongside Jurel, and the pair batted through a watchful first session to take India to 419/6 at lunch, adding an unbeaten 112 for the seventh wicket.

Pant fell for a well-made 63 with the very first ball after the resumption, brilliantly held by Lahiru Udara off Keshara Nuwantha, but Jurel found another willing ally in Manav Suthar, and the pair put on 54 for the eighth wicket before Suthar was caught behind for 18. Mohammed Siraj then dug in to shield Jurel as the latter closed in on three figures, and with the score on 475/8 and Jurel five runs from his century, heavy rain forced an early tea, wiping out over two hours of playing time.

The interruption did nothing to disturb Jurel's focus. He spent 22 deliveries on 99 after the resumption before working a bold single to mid-off to bring up his second Test century.

Siraj was dismissed shortly after but last man Prasidh Krishna helped push India's total past the 500-run mark, driving a low full toss from Fernando through covers, prompting an immediate declaration in fading evening light.

Jurel finished unbeaten on 115 off 177 balls, building on Devdutt Padikkal's 117 from Day 1, with half-centuries from Shubman Gill and Pant and useful runs from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja and Suthar rounding out a formidable total.

Fernando was outstanding with the ball for the second successive day, finishing with 4/106, while Jayasuriya took 2/132.

With bad light closing in, India still found time to strike twice. Prasidh Krishna removed Lahiru Udara for just 1, with Yashasvi Jaiswal completing a spectacular diving catch at third slip, before Manav Suthar trapped nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya lbw for 2 off the last ball of the day.

Kamil Mishara was unbeaten on 5 at the close, with Sri Lanka 8/2 and trailing India by 495 runs with eight first-innings wickets in hand.

Series schedule:

First Test: August 15-19, Galle (India won by 165 runs)

Second Test: August 23-27, Colombo