Now Reading: India need 207 for victory after Padikkal’s 142 in warm-up
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India need 207 for victory after Padikkal’s 142 in warm-up
Sri Lanka XI declared their second innings at 200 for 6 at tea on Day 3, setting India a target of 207 in a minimum of 45 overs in the final session…
The Story in Brief
Sri Lanka XI declared their second innings at 200 for 6 at tea on Day 3, setting India a target of 207 in a minimum of 45 overs in the final session of the warm-up match at Colombo's Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground. Opener Nishan Madushka top-scored with 63 before retiring. Ravindra Jadeja (2 for 33) and Gurnoor Brar (2 for 37) led India's bowling.
Earlier, India declared at 357 for 6, built around Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 off 164 balls. Jadeja, back in the Test squad, made 63 and added 72 with Padikkal. Spinner Manav Suthar contributed 41. India's top order struggled, with Yashasvi Jaiswal falling for a duck and Rishabh Pant making only 2.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative that India's warm-up matches are meaningless has been punctured by a genuine contest in Colombo. Padikkal's patient 142 and Jadeja's all-round return show depth. But lazy talk about Sri Lanka being pushovers ignores their bowlers' early strikes. The real test: can India's top order, which lost Jaiswal, Pant and Jurel cheaply, fire when the first Test begins on August 15?
Sources (2): sports.ndtv.com, rediff.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
