Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar had been among the many wickets as India tightened their grip on the Colombo Test regardless of a decided Sri Lankan fightback on the third day, with the hosts ending on 265/8 after shedding six wickets by the day. Sri Lanka nonetheless path by 238 runs, with Sonal Dinusha unbeaten on 85 and Lahiru Kumara on 8 off 50 balls when rain and fading gentle introduced the day to an early finish.
Resuming on 8/2, Sri Lanka made a optimistic begin by Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, however Prasidh Krishna obtained into some good rhythm with the semi-new ball. He eliminated Mishara for 19, getting the left-hander to fend awkwardly at a brief supply that climbed into his gloves and lobbed by to Dhruv Jurel. Sooriyabandara then discovered an ready companion in Kamindu Mendis, and the pair counter-attacked the Indian spinners so as to add 87.
With the fourth-wicket partnership starting to place stress on India, Shubman Gill introduced Prasidh again and the pacer struck once more simply earlier than lunch. Mendis pulled a brief ball however didn’t preserve it down, providing Ravindra Jadeja an easy catch at mid-wicket for 32.
Sooriyabandara continued to look assured after Lunch, citing his maiden Check fifty and placing Sri Lanka in a greater place alongside Dhananjaya de Silva. However the captain lasted solely 14 balls earlier than Manav Suthar discovered an edge, with the ball deflecting off Jurel’s gloves earlier than Rahul took the catch at slip.
Sooriyabandara then added 34 with Dinusha earlier than Jadeja ended his resistance for 80. The left-arm spinner stored attacking the stumps, cramped Sooriyabandara with a supply that took a thick inside edge onto his again thigh earlier than rolling again onto the stumps.
India had one other opening quickly after when Mohammed Siraj dismissed Niroshan Dickwella for a duck, strangling him down the leg aspect with a brief supply that took a faint edge by to Jurel. At 173/7, Sri Lanka had been nonetheless 330 runs behind, however Dinusha discovered help from Keshara Nuwantha.
The pair settled in in opposition to the spinners, with Dinusha utilizing his toes and the sweep successfully whereas Nuwantha supplied stable defence. Dinusha reached his fifty and the pair added 57 for the seventh wicket earlier than Suthar lastly broke by, tempting Nuwantha into an bold drive that went straight to Saransh Jain at mid-off for 18.
Dinusha remained unbeaten by the ultimate session, reaching 84 and persevering with the shape that has made him Sri Lanka’s most reliable batter within the sequence. He negotiated each tempo and spin comfortably and, alongside Kumara, ensured India didn’t end the job earlier than dangerous gentle and rain intervened. India took the second new ball however couldn’t pressure one other breakthrough, with the sunshine deteriorating sufficient for play to be stopped after 83.4 overs.
Temporary Scores: India 503/9 dec lead Sri Lanka 265/8 (Sonal Dinusha 85*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3-47, Manav Suthar 3-83) by 238 runs
