COLOMBO, July 14 (PTI): Yuvraj Singh marked his return to form with a sparkling century but a batting disaster left India on their knees at close on an eventful second day of their warm-up game against Sri Lanka Board President�s XI here today.
Replying to the home team�s mammoth first innings total of 514 for nine declared, the Indians were bundled out for 291 at the fag end of the day with mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis scalping six wickets at the Colts Cricket Club.
India were still trailing by 223 runs when stumps were drawn for the day and the home team has the option to enforce a follow-on when the third and final day begins tomorrow.
Mendis gave away just 67 runs in his 17.2 overs and denied India a chance to redeem their pride after having failed terribly while bowling.
Gambhir (89) missed out on his hundred but Yuvraj Singh scored a measured 118 as the duo shared a 143-run stand for the fifth wicket to save India from a precarious 80 for four.
But once the partnership was broken by Mendis, India just about managed to reach near the 300-run mark.
SCORECARD
Sri Lanka BPXI�s 1st innings: (Overnight 432/5): U Tharanga c Laxman b Ojha 110, R Thirimanne c Gambhir b Ojha 66, T Kandamby st Dhoni b Mishra 101, T Samaraweera c Gambhir b Ojha 102, P Jayawardene st Dhoni b Mishra 13, D Chandimal not out 47, K Silva b Sharma 19, M Senanayake lbw b Mithun 11, A Mendis b Ojha 10, C Welegedara lbw b Ojha 0. Extras: (lb-7, wd-2, nb-26) 35. Total: (For 9 wickets dec in 104.3) 514. Fall of wickets: 1-188, 2-209, 3-389, 4-418, 5-418,6-468, 7-484, 8-513, 9-514. Bowling: I Sharma 23-3-104-1, A Mithun 25-2-99-1, A Mishra 26-1-125-2, V Sehwag 2-0-15-0, P Ojha 27.3-0-153-5, Yuvraj Singh 1-0-11-0.
India 1st innings: G Gambhir c Tharanga b Mendis 89, V Sehwag b Welegedara 18, R Dravid b Welegedara 11, S Tendulkar lbw b Mendis 4, VVS Laxman c Jayawardene b Mendis 6, Yuvraj Singh b Senanayake 118, MS Dhoni c Kandamby b Senanayake 10, A Mishra lbw b Mendis 1, I Sharma c Senanayake b Mendis 5, P Ojha c Kandamby b Mendis 4, A Mithun not out 9. Extras: (b-5, lb-2, wd-1, nb-8) 16. Total: (all out in 64.2 overs) 291. Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-59, 3-67, 4-80, 5-223, 6-241, 7-252, 8-273, 9-278. Bowling: C Welegedara 10-1-45-2, D Fernando 12-1-55-0, M Senanayake 23-1-94-2, A Mendis 17.2-3-67-6, T Kandamby 2-0-23-0.