SLC XI vs India: Devdutt Padikkal's sublime century leads India's fightback on Day 2

Devdutt Padikkal led India’s fightback on Day 2 of the warm-up match against SLC XI on Saturday, August 8 at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo. Padikkal played a sublime innings, scoring an unbeaten 142* (164), laced with 18 fours, helping India finish the day on 357/6, trailing by six runs after SLC XI had declared their first innings on the overnight score of 363/8.

Ravindra Jadeja (63), Manav Suthar (41) and KL Rahul (40) were the other three notable performers for the visitors, making valuable contributions to their team's total. India had the worst possible start to the day after Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a two-ball duck in the very first over, falling prey to Vishwa Fernando.

Following his departure, KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal stabilised the innings with a 96-run stand for the second wicket, before Keshara Nuwantha sent Rahul back into the pavilion, dismantling his stumps. Ravindra Jadeja walked in at number four and joined a well-set Padikkal at the crease, who completed his half-century off just 61 deliveries.

The duo stitched a 72-run partnership for the third wicket as Padikkal completed his hundred with a boundary, reaching the milestone in 121 balls and immediately got retired hurt. India began losing wickets in quick succession as Ramesh Mendis got rid of Rishabh Pant (2 off 5) and Dhruv Jurel (1 off 9) cheaply.

Gurnoor Brar's onslaught in the final session

However, Jadeja kept the scoreboard ticking and brought up his half-century, while being in a 76-run stand with Manav Suthar (41 off 90) for the sixth wicket. The southpaw retired out on 63, while Suthar was trapped in front of the stumps by Asanka Manoj (2/32), who also got rid of Mohammed Siraj two balls later as Padikkal returned to the crease to continue his innings.

He came out playing his shots and had the support of Saransh Jain (22 off 45) and Gurnoor Brar (36* off 18), who threw his bat around just before the close of play to help India get closer to SLC XI's total.