Rain washes out morning and delays play on day two of India–Sri Lanka Test at Galle

Monsoon rains delayed the start of play on day two of the first test between Sri Lanka and India at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday, with the morning session completely washed out. There was no play at the start of the afternoon either, with India on 288-2 (73 overs) at stumps on day one. Devdutt Padikkal scored 131 not out – his maiden test hundred – with Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 27.

Galle, Aug 16: Heavy rain has delayed the scheduled start of play on day two of the opening Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium here on Sunday.The entire ground was brought under covers from early morning hours as persistent showers hit the coastal city. Play was originally slated to begin 15 minutes ahead of scheduled time to compensate for the overs lost to inclement weather on day one.Rain delays start of play"Update from Galle. Start of play on Day 2 has been delayed due to rain. Stay tuned for further updates," the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) posted on its 'X' account. With the weather forecast offering little optimism for early clearance and rest of the day, the 130 ground staff members at Galle face an uphill task to dry and prepare the ground for play to begin as quickly as possible.Pakistan Hockey Team Faces Embarrassment After Reportedly Forgetting Protective Gear During FIH World Cup Clash | VideoPadikkal powers India on day oneEarlier on Saturday, India ended their 20-Test wait for a century from the crucial number three position when left-hander Devdutt Padikkal hit a stroke-filled, unbeaten 131 off 178 balls and took the visitors to a commanding 288/2 in 73 overs in the side’s landmark 600th Test match.Padikkal found solid support in vice-captain KL Rahul, who, despite going into his shell at times, compiled a fluent 77 before being forced to retire hurt due to forearm cramps. Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 32 in a chaotic mix-up, while Indian skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed for 16. Rishabh Pant was unbeaten on 27 alongside Padikkal when stumps were called on day one.Also Watch:Sri Lanka face uphill battleSri Lanka struggled to maintain consistent pressure despite the pitch offering occasional sharp turn for the spinners. With the second new ball just seven overs away, Sri Lanka will face an uphill battle to curtail India's control once play resumes in what is also Galle’s 50th Test match.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)