Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid scored half-centuries to lift India against Sri Lanka A on day two of the three-day tour match against Sri Lanka A at the Leicestershire County Club ground at Grace Road in Leicester on Saturday.
Both batsmen scored 67 each as India declared their first innings at 238 for 5 wickets, 28 runs short of Sri Lanka A's first innings total.
In reply, Michael Vandort once again scored a half-century (61 not out) as Sri Lanka A reached 112 for 1, stretching their overall lead to 140 runs.
Dilruwan Perera was unbeaten on a solid knock of 48, inclusive of 10 boundaries, as the two batsmen put on unbroken 110 runs for the second wicket.
While Dravid and Gambhir scored half-centuries, some of the other batsmen failed to utilize the opportunity to get some useful batting practice on a good batting wicket. Mahendra Singh Dhoni was dismissed for a second ball duck, while VVS Laxman played a rash shot to be dismissed for 14.
For Sri Lanka, pacer Dammika Prasad took 2 wickets but conceded 72 runs in 12 overs. Rangana Herath also toiled hard, taking 2 wickets for 62 runs in 18 overs.
First session:
resuming at 25 for 1, Indian batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Jaffer looked to get their eye with some sensible batting in the first hour.
The two batsmen made sure that they made most of the practice match by looking to spend as much time as possible on a good batting wicket. They started the day nervously as both the batsmen played and missed quite a few times, while a few leg before wicket appeals were also made in the first hour.
But once they got their eye in, they started to open out with shots on both sides of the wicket.
Gambhir and Jaffer added 85 runs for the opening wicket before the latter was dismissed, caught at mid-on, trying to loft spinner Rangana Herath.
The Mumbai opener made 48, hitting six boundaries in his 101-ball knock.
Gambhir continued scoring runs at a good rate and time and again looked to charge the spinners.
Captain Dravid got off the mark in fine style, with a cracking boundary on the off-side.
At the lunch break, Gambhir was unbeaten on 45 with six boundaries to his credit as India reached 127 for 2 in 39 overs, still trailing Sri Lanka A's first inning score by 139 runs.
The Indian batsmen would now be looking to make the most of the next two sessions with some good batting. For Dravid, it would be very vital to spend some time at the wicket and get some useful practice before the third Test at the Oval next week.
Post lunch session:
After lunch, India accelerated the scoring rate as Dravid started playing a few shots.
Gambhir reached his half-century in the third over after the break, off 108 deliveries, inclusive of six boundaries as India reached 134 for 2 in the 42nd over.
A great knock by the Delhi opener, but still he is not on the verge of making it to the Indian team for the third Test with Karthik and Jaffer set to be the openers..
Gambhir, however, could not continue much longer as he was forced to retire on 67 in the 54th over. The obvious intent of the Indian team was to give the other batsmen some time at the wicket. Gambhir, after a nervy start, had played a pretty good knock, hitting seven boundaries in his 135-ball knock.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] walked in to replace Gambhir but could not last long as he bowled by Dammika Prasad off the second ball he faced for a duck as India slipped to 190 for 4.
In the next over, Dravid hit two boundaries off Herath to race to his half-century off 72 deliveries, with seven boundaries.
VVS Laxman played very conservatively during his half-century in the second Test at Trent Bridge, but here he looked a bit positive. He started off with a couple of boundaries off spinner Herath as the crowd started to marvel at his wristy flicks. But as has been the case with Laxman for the last few seasons, he got out just when looked set for a big knock.
He made 14, inclusive of three boundaries, before he lost his wicket trying to loft Herath over mid-off.
Yuvraj Singh [Images] seemed in top form right from the moment he entered the crease. He started off with a couple to quickly move to 8, after which he hoisted Herath for a huge six over long on in the 68th over.
At the tea break, India reached 238 for 5 in 68 overs. Dravid finally struck some much needed form in the tour, unbeaten on 67 from 105 deliveries, having hit six boundaries. Yuvraj was unbeaten on 15, with two boundaries and a six.
India promptly decided to declare their innings at the tea break, giving Sri Lanka a first innings lead of 28 runs. They would want to see how their bowlers perform in the second essay, while also having another look at Anil Kumble's form.
Post tea session:
Ishant Sharma got an early wicket in the second over of the innings, when he got the wicket of opener Mahela Udawatte for 0. The left-hander edged a wide delivery from Sharma and was neatly held in the second slip by VVS Laxman.
But Michael Vandort, fresh from his first innings half-century, once again led the way. Dilruwan Perera also looked in good form right from the start as he started off with a flurry of boundaries.
The duo put on 50 runs for the second wicket with Vandort batting on 25 and Perera unbeaten on 28, with both having hit a total of 11 boundaries between them.
Ranadeb Bose, who took five wickets in the first innings, once again came back strongly in his second spell. He showed much control with the older ball and both the batsmen played and missed quite a few times. The Bengal pacer was unlucky not to get a wicket as he missed the edges a few times, while they were also quite a few leg before wicket appeals.
Sri Lanka reached 100 for the loss of just one wicket in the 23rd over as both the batsmen looked quite comfortable against the spinners.
Vandort completed his second half-century of the match, off 74 deliveries including eight boundaries.
Veteran Anil Kumble bowled a spell of four overs, but once again failed to impress, giving away 15 runs. Ramesh Powar also went wicketless in his nine-over spell where he conceded 27 runs.
At close on second day, Sri Lanka reached 112 for 1 stretching their overall lead to 140 runs.
Vandort was unbeaten on 61, while Perera was not out a solid knock of 48, laced with 10 boundaries with the two batsmen putting on unbeaten 110 runs for the first wicket.
It remains to be seen whether Sri Lanka would also follow Dravid's example and make a sporting declaration on the third day to make a match out of it.
While, it can also be said that Dravid missed the chance to give himself and the team some useful batting practice when he declared the innings after 68 overs, missing out on batting for 32 more overs.
