Galle: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill struck useful runs at the top of the order before Mohammed Siraj produced a late burst with the bat as India defeated Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in their three-day warm-up game on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 207, India reached 214 for four in 45 overs, with Siraj providing an emphatic finish by smashing 32 off just 15 deliveries. His innings included three consecutive sixes as India wrapped up the chase in the final session.
Jaiswal and Gill provide flying start
Jaiswal responded strongly after being dismissed for a duck in India’s first innings. The left-handed opener raced to 61 off 46 balls, setting the tone for India’s chase.
He combined with Gill to put together exactly 105 runs for the opening wicket. The partnership gave India complete control early in the innings and allowed the visitors to make rapid progress towards the target.
Jaiswal retired after completing his half-century, giving other members of the squad valuable time in the middle ahead of the upcoming Test series.
Gill, meanwhile, returned to competitive action after missing the first two days of the warm-up match because of a finger injury. The India captain made a useful 44 before being dismissed by spinner Keshara Nuwantha.
His return was one of the biggest positives for India, particularly with the first Test against Sri Lanka approaching.
India briefly lose wickets
After the strong opening stand, India lost wickets at regular intervals but remained comfortably ahead of the required run rate.
Dhruv Jurel contributed 17, while Rishabh Pant scored a patient 28. India were briefly reduced to 155 for three, but the target was never in serious danger.
The lower order then ensured there was no late twist in the contest.
Siraj took charge towards the end of the innings and provided the entertainment. He struck three successive sixes to finish the match in spectacular fashion, taking India beyond the 207-run target with five overs to spare.
His unbeaten 32 off 15 balls underlined the depth in India’s batting line-up and gave the visitors a memorable finish to their final practice match.
Sri Lanka XI set 207-run target
Earlier, Sri Lanka Cricket XI declared their second innings at 200 for six after 45 overs, setting India a target of 207.
Nishan Madushka was the leading scorer with 63 from 73 balls. The opener had also registered a half-century in the first innings, making him one of the most consistent performers for the hosts during the practice game.
Nipun Dhananjaya added 46, while Anjala Bandara contributed 35 as Sri Lanka XI built a competitive second-innings total.
For India, Ravindra Jadeja and Gurnoor Brar claimed two wickets each. Siraj and Prasidh Krishna took one wicket apiece.
Padikkal stars in India’s first innings
The warm-up fixture also provided India with several encouraging performances in the first innings.
Sri Lanka Cricket XI had earlier declared at 363 for eight. India responded by declaring their innings at 357 for six, finishing just six runs behind the hosts.
Devdutt Padikkal was the standout performer for India, remaining unbeaten on 142. His century was one of the biggest individual highlights of the three-day game and gave him valuable match time ahead of the Test series.
Jadeja also contributed significantly with 63, while Manav Suthar scored 41. Gurnoor Brar remained unbeaten on 36 as India ended their first innings at 357 for six.
The performances provided India’s team management with useful information about the form and readiness of players competing for places in the Test squad.
Gill’s return a major positive
Gill’s return to the middle was particularly important for India after he missed the first two days of the fixture due to his finger injury.
Although his 44 was not a major score, the time spent batting offered reassurance about his availability ahead of the Test series.
Jaiswal’s aggressive second-innings 61 also provided encouragement after his first-innings failure, while Padikkal’s unbeaten 142 gave India another significant batting performance to take from the fixture.
Siraj’s late hitting added an unexpected highlight to the final innings.
India begin Test preparations
The three-day warm-up match served as India’s final opportunity for competitive preparation before their two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
The first Test is scheduled to begin in Galle on August 15, giving the Indian team only a short window to assess the performances from the practice game and finalise preparations.
With Gill returning from injury, Jaiswal finding his rhythm and Padikkal making a commanding century, India can take several positives from the fixture.
The bowling unit also gained useful match time, with Jadeja, Brar, Siraj and Krishna among the wicket-takers in Sri Lanka XI’s second innings.
While a warm-up match does not carry the pressure or intensity of a Test, India’s six-wicket victory provides momentum ahead of the series.
The successful chase of 207, combined with the strong individual performances across both innings, has given the visitors valuable match practice before the opening Test in Galle.