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Just before the stumps of Day 2 of the ongoing India vs Sri Lanka Test match in Galle, Dhananjaya de Silva took a spectacular catch to reduce the Indian batting order, which was dominating throughout the day. Dhruv Jurel walked back to the pavilion shortly after completing his half-century.
On the first delivery of the 110th over, spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who scalped multiple times on this very ground, dismissed Dhruv Jurel to provide his team some air before wrapping up the day. The fielder, Dhananjaya de Silva, deserves the same appraisal as the bowler.
Dhananjaya de Silva threw his body to dismiss Dhruv Jurel
It was the bowler who forced the batter to take his front leg out to play the ball. It was an 83 kph delivery with some extra flight. Dhruv Jurel mismatched the pace of the ball, as he closed the face of the bat too early.
Getting an edge off the bat, the ball was travelling towards the slip cordon. As there was very little pace, it would not carry straightway to the fielder. Dhananjaya de Silva, who kept his patience and focus even in the closing hours of the match, threw his body and grabbed the ball. The ball was only a few centimeters away from the grass tips when the palm of Silva punched it precisely.
Indian cricket team is leading the match
Despite challenging situations, the Indian cricket team is leading the match because of some brilliant batting displays, with Devdutt Padikkal at the center of the stage. After Padikkal and KL Rahul, it was Dhruv Jurel who propelled the innings steadily for the team.
When Padikkal was on the crease, the Indian batting line-up was looking invincible as he faced 230 balls to score 167 runs. KL Rahul, who retired hurt on Day 1, came back to bat on Day 2 and scored 82 off 175, and a 51-run knock for Dhruv Jurel. Because of these three batters, the Indian cricket team positions themselves well over the four-hundred-run mark.
Sri Lanka bounced back massively in the third session of Day 2
While the first and second sessions of the match were mostly dominated by the Indian batters, the third, which was the final session of Day 2, went in favour of the home team. The dismissal of Dhruv Jurel was a crucial moment of the match as he had been batting with pure control.
Though he could have lost his wicket way earlier in the innings if Dhananjaya de Silva could have snapped the moment. When Dhruv Jurel was on 29 runs, the Sri Lanka skipper, Dhananjaya de Silva, dropped a chance, which was easier than the catch he took later on the day.
Prabath Jayasuriya, the 34-year-old experienced spinner, played a massive role in Sri Lanka's comeback in the contest. So far in the innings, Jayasuriya has taken four wickets in 38 overs. Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, and Manav Suthar were the four batters who lost their scalps against the Sri Lankan spinner.
