Dark clouds hung like cotton candy and beneath them on the turf, Sri Lanka battled hard. Wednesday was about the ebb and flow of cricket’s longest format, as India pushed for a triumph against a resilient host at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground.
The second Test’s fourth day found a rain-induced closure, and at that moist time, Sri Lanka, following-on in its second innings, posted 229 for six, and nursed a meagre 16-run lead.
After being bowled out for 290 in the first outing, Sri Lanka was asked to follow-on as Shubman Gill was anxious about inclement weather reducing time available in the remainder of the clash. The Sri Lankan second innings, expected to be an exercise in stonewalling, turned out to be a brisk affair as the home batters rushed to erase the deficit.
The risky approach was evident when Lahiru Udara miscued a pull off Mohammed Siraj. When left-arm spinner Manav Suthar stepped in, the host batters targetted him. Southpaw Kamil Mishara on-drove, Pasindu Sooriyabandara whipped and the latter also tested the catching ability of Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, with both pacers tumbling down and failing to hold on.
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Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Mishara, playing the sweep and getting pads ruffled. Sri Lanka moved to 83 for two at lunch, still very much in the woods. On resumption, the fifth-gear was employed as Sooriyabandara reverse-hit Jadeja and Kamindu Mendis hoisted two sixes off Suthar.
The big hits became regular as Sooriyabandara toyed with Prasidh and Suthar. Prasidh, who packed the on-side and unleashed a short-ball barrage, found his reward when Mendis spooned one and an on-the-run Shubman Gill picked a fine diving catch. The conclusion of the 115-run third-wicket partnership left Sri Lanka on the cusp of gaining a lead at tea.
In the last session, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva smote a six off Suthar and then was caught in the close-in cordon. Sooriyabandara (92) survived an lbw appeal from Suthar, but undid it by giving the charge against the very next ball and was left stranded.
Next-man Niroshan Dickwella’s streaky four helped Sri Lanka move ahead but when he too retreated with a mark on his pads, the home unit was down for the count.
Earlier, resuming at the overnight 265 for eight, Sri Lanka’s quest was centred on the collective goal, avoiding the follow-on, and the individual aim, a probable hundred from Sonal Dinusha. The first was missed, the second was achieved.
Dinusha survived an lbw appeal from Saransh Jain. Instantly the southpaw shifted gears with a 2, 6, 4 sequence. He pulled Prasidh for four to reach his second hundred of the series. A cheeky grin, eyes briefly shut, and a raised bat, revealed his sense of satisfaction.
Instantly his partner Lahiru Kumara perished and Dinusha (103) edged one to K.L. Rahul at first slip. Both wickets were prised out by debutant off-spinner Saransh. Trailing by 213 runs, Sri Lanka faced another uphill climb, one that has now spilled over into the final day.
Published on Aug 26, 2026
