The three-day practice match between Team India and Sri Lanka Cricket-11 concluded at the NCC Ground in Colombo on Sunday, August 9, with the visitors securing a morale-boosting 6-wicket victory. More than the result, the focus for the Indian team was to acclimatize to the local conditions, as many players in the squad are touring Sri Lanka for Test cricket for the first time. The match provided an excellent opportunity for both batsmen and bowlers to test their skills across two innings, and almost every player managed to get some valuable game time under their belt.
The Final Day Scenario and Target
On the third and final day of the match, the game took an interesting turn. India had declared their first innings at a total of 357 runs, which gave the Sri Lanka Cricket-11 side a slender lead of 6 runs based on their first-innings performance. In their second innings, the Sri Lankan side opted for an aggressive batting approach to set a challenging target. They declared their second innings at 200 runs, setting India a target of 207 runs to win the match. For the Sri Lankan side, opener Nishan Fernando was the standout performer, scoring a half-century in the second innings to follow up his good form from the first.
Indian Bowling Performance
The Indian bowlers utilized the second innings to fine-tune their lines and lengths. Gurnoor Brar and the experienced Ravindra Jadeja were the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2 wickets each. Their disciplined bowling ensured that the Sri Lankan lead didn't swell beyond 206 runs. Other bowlers also got an opportunity to bowl long spells, which was the primary objective of this practice fixture ahead of the upcoming Test series.
Top Order Stability and Gill's Return
Chasing 207 for victory, India saw a change in their opening combination. Captain Shubman Gill, who couldn't bat in the first innings due to a minor injury, came out to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal, who had been dismissed for 0 in the first innings, looked determined to make amends. The duo shared a century partnership, providing a solid foundation for the chase. Shubman Gill played a composed knock of 44 runs, showing no signs of discomfort from his earlier injury. Jaiswal was equally impressive, scoring 61 runs before retiring to allow other batsmen a chance in the middle.
Pant's Defensive Masterclass and Middle Order
Rishabh Pant used the second innings to work specifically on his defensive technique against spin. Known for his aggressive style, Pant showed remarkable patience, opening his account only on the 22nd ball he faced. He spent a significant amount of time at the crease, scoring 28 runs off 68 balls before retiring. Dhruv Jurel, however, couldn't make a big impact in this innings either, departing after scoring 17 runs. Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar also spent some time batting before making way for the lower order.
Siraj's Explosive Finish
The climax of the match belonged to Mohammed Siraj. With the match entering its final minutes, India required 16 runs off the last over for a win. Siraj, who had already shown his intent by hitting a six earlier, went on a rampage against the spinner Nuvanta. He struck a hat-trick of sixes in the final over to seal the victory for India. Siraj remained unbeaten on 32 runs off just 15 balls, an innings that included 4 sixes in a span of 5 balls. His cameo ensured that India finished the practice match on a high note, winning by 6 wickets. Saransh Jain and Gurnoor Brar also got some batting practice during the final stages of the chase.