Colombo, July 14 (IANS) Yuvraj Singh put himself on the right track for the Test series with a fluent century but could not save India from the guile of Ajantha Mendis, who took six wickets to bowl out the visitors for 291 in the first innings, against Sri Lanka Board President’s XI here Wednesday.
Yuvraj briefly pulled India out of trouble with a 154-ball 118, but Mendis brought India’s downfall on the second day of the three-day warm up match.
Sri Lanka Board President XI, who piled up 514 for nine with three centuries in their first innings, now lead by 223 runs.
Apart from Yuvraj, Gautam Gambhir was the only batsman to throw some challenge and scored 89. The rest of the Indian batsmen surrendered meekly.
Pacer Chanaka Welegedara and off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake took two wickets each.
Ajantha Mendis, who has not been picked for the first Test aganist India starting July 18, did the maximum damage.
Mendis took the first Indian wicket dismissing Virender Sehwag (18) early and then went on to take the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman. India were soon tottering at 80 for four before Gambhir and Yuvraj put up 143 runs for the fifth wicket.
Yuvraj, who was included in the Test squad, after being dropped from the Asia Cup series for form and fitness, hit 11 fours and six sixes.
Gambhir, who survived some dropped chances, struck 13 fours in his 134-ball knock.
Mendis got the breakthrough, dismissing Gambhir and then ran through the tail. Mendis, who was India’s nemisis in the 2008 series, bowled an impressive line and length to return figures of 17.2-3-67-6
