Jaiswal, Gill get much-needed batting practice as India beat Sri Lanka XI by 6 wickets in warm-up match

New Delhi: Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain scored crucial runs at the top before Mohammed Siraj played a blistering knock to help India beat Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in the three-day warm-up game at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo on Sunday, August 9.

Chasing a 207-run target, the Men in Blue crossed the winning line in 45 overs, finishing on 214/4 with Siraj hitting 32 runs off just 15 balls, including three consecutive maximums. Jaiswal, who got out for a duck in India’s first innings, scored a quickfire 61 runs off 46 balls. He forged a 105-run partnership for the opening wicket along with Gill.

Jaiswal retired after completing his fifty to allow other batters valuable time in the middle. Gill also scored crucial 44 runs after missing the opening two days of the match due to a finger injury. His return to the middle was a massive boost for India ahead of the opening Test against Sri Lanka on August 15.

Dhruv Jurel amassed 17, while Rishabh Pant scored 28 before India were briefly reduced to 155/3. But the target was never out of reach, with the lower order completing the chase in the last session. Siraj then provided the late fireworks, smashing three back-to-back maximums to finish the game in style.

Sri Lanka Cricket XI declare on 200/7

Earlier, Sri Lanka Cricket XI declared their second innings on 200/6 in 45 overs, setting India a target of 207. Opener Nishan Madushka, who had smashed a fifty in the first innings, again batted well and scored 63 off 73 balls, while Nipun Dhananjaya amassed 46 runs and Anjala Bandara made 35.

For India, Ravindra Jadeja and Gurnoor Brar took two wickets each, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna picked up one each. The visitors had earlier declared their first innings at 357/6 after the hosts posted 363/8d.

delivered a brilliant performance, scoring an unbeaten 142 runs off 164 balls with the help of 18 boundaries. Jadeja also amassed 63 runs and Manav Suthar made 41. Gurnoor Brar also remained unbeaten on 36 as India finished just six runs behind the hosts.

The warm-up game provided the Men in Blue with much-needed match practice ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which will begin in Galle on August 15.