The afternoon turned grim; dark clouds hung low, skyscrapers became silhouettes and vanished entirely from view. The rain was that intense, cascading in waves, just like how Arundhati Roy wrote in The God of Small Things: “Slanting silver ropes slammed into loose earth, ploughing it up like gunfire.”

The liquid intervention at 2.13 p.m. lasted 23 minutes. The efficient ground staff at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground covered the entire turf in sheets, and the venue was not ploughed. But the showers forced a break during the second Test’s second day at a time when India was coasting against Sri Lanka.

Gradually, the clouds receded, the sun emerged and play resumed at 4.22 p.m., with India placed on 475 for eight and Dhruv Jurel on 95. He took his time, was stationary on 99 for a while before scampering for a single after tapping Asitha Fernando towards mid-off. Later, he hoisted the seamer for a big six.

Even as Mohammed Siraj left and last-man Prasidh Krishna appeared, Jurel (115 n.o.) ensured that India crossed 500. Aptly, Shubman Gill declared the first innings at 503 for nine. At close, Sri Lanka was struggling at eight for two, with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s diving catch to terminate Lahiru Udara’s stint being the highlight.

India’s batting effort rested entirely on two wicket-keeper batters – the maverick Rishabh Pant and the efficient Jurel. Their 112-run seventh-wicket partnership anchored India past the 400-mark. Pant (63) fell on the first ball after lunch, while trying to clear long-off against off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha.

Jurel, though, remained calm. Accumulating runs at a steady trot even as he saw Manav Suthar flicker a while before edging left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. After Siraj walked in, Jurel held onto the strike as much as he could while the former defended.

Jurel on-drove Asitha for four and then the skies opened up.

Earlier, resuming at the overnight 300 for five, India lost Saransh Jain as he awkwardly fended a short-pitched delivery from Asitha. But there were no Monday morning blues as Pant, who had retired hurt on the opening day, returned.

Lahiru Kumara steamed in and pitched it short around the leg stump. Pant just swivelled and pulled a massive six that hit the roof. While Jurel remained patient, Pant was busy.

Host skipper Dhananjaya de Silva placed fielders at fine-leg, third-man, backward square-leg and sweeper-cover.

Pacers, be it Asitha or Kumara, ran in and bounced, hoping for a miscued hit. Pant remained unruffled, and suffered a few blows too as he ducked and weaved.

Soon, he pinched some fours off Nuwantha while Jurel pulled Asitha past the ropes. Prabath found Pant drilling one straight down the ground, and soon the batter reached his 50. Jurel too followed suit, and then Pant whipped a six off Prabath over mid-wicket as India moved to 419 for six at lunch.

Pant dominated the first act, and it was time for Jurel to flourish in the second part.

He precisely did that for his second Test century.