India concluded their three-day warm-up match against SLC XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo with a decisive six-wicket victory. After resuming play with an overnight score of 357/6, India watched as the hosts batted through two sessions to set a target of 207. India’s pursuit was anchored by a century-opening partnership, allowing them to reach the required total just before the close of play.
The morning session saw the Indian bowlers make early inroads. Mohammed Siraj struck first by trapping Ravindu Rasantha LBW, followed by a wicket from Prasidh Krishna. Nishan Madushka provided resistance with a purposeful 63, building solid partnerships with Pavan Rathnayake and Anjala Bandara before retiring at the end of the 23rd over. While Bandara (35) and Nipun Dhanajaya (46) contributed useful runs, the SLC XI lineup struggled to maintain momentum against the Indian attack, which saw Gurnoor Brar and Ravindra Jadeja claim two wickets apiece.
In a significant positive for the tourists, captain Shubman Gill returned to action after missing the first innings due to a training injury. Opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gill looked comfortable, hitting early boundaries through the cover region. Jaiswal played an aggressive knock, reaching his half-century in just 43 deliveries before retiring at the 15-over mark. Gill eventually fell for 44, just six runs shy of a fifty. Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel utilized the opportunity to spend time at the crease, adding 45 runs together to bolster their form following low scores in the first innings.
The match concluded with a flourish as Mohammed Siraj showcased his power-hitting, mirroring Gurnoor Brar’s performance from the previous evening. Siraj struck a six off Sonal Dinisha before launching three consecutive sixes and a boundary against Keshara Nuwantha to seal the win. The final scorecard saw SLC XI post 363/8 declared and 200/6 declared, while India responded with 357/6 declared and 213/4. Key contributors included Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 142 in the first innings, and Jaiswal with his second-innings 61.
A fast-paced Day 3 saw an entertaining finish as Mohammed Siraj struck three consecutive sixes to secure India a win in the three-day warm-up fixture against SLC XI at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo.
Bandara (35) and Nipun Dhanajaya (46) also made useful contributions, but neither could push on as SLC XI looked to score quickly.
The duo batted aggressively, with Jaiswal making amends for his first-innings failure by reaching fifty off just 43 balls.
Prasidh Krishna then removed Pasindu Sooriyabandara in the eighth over.
