Sri Lanka 284 (Dinusha 100, Dickwella 80, Suthar 4-76, Jadeja 3-57) path India 462 (Padikkal 167, Rahul 82, Jurel 51, Jayasuriya 4-109) by 178 runs
Dinusha introduced up his maiden Take a look at century, however Dickwella was nonetheless saddled with the undesirable document of most Take a look at half-centuries with no hundred when Prasidh Krishna produced a magnificence with a 62-over outdated ball to dismiss him for 80.
Suthar arrived on the bowling crease in earnestness although India did waste the equal of three overs by popping out to bat at 9 down and lasting simply 4 balls. By the point Suthar got here on within the eighth over, Mohammed Siraj had made one breakthrough within the first over. Nishan Madushka ended up taking part in at one simply in need of a size because it seamed away to supply first slip a straightforward catch.
Suthar then rattled Sri Lanka with overspin and sharp flip with the brand new ball. The primary ball was excellent, touchdown on a superb size on center and off, turning and bouncing, and taking the glove of the skilled Dinesh Chandimal. Suthar stored going previous the bat with such regularity that it ended up forcing Lahiru Udara to attempt to manufacture a reduce shot, hitting a straightforward catch to backward level.
You felt Kuldeep Yadav wanted an early wicket for the sake of his confidence, and he did do his bit by beating a charging Kamindu Mendis in flight, however Shubman Gill’s help cannot be forgotten. He dived full size to his left at quick cowl, and took it one-handed inches above the bottom and behind his physique.
Jadeja quickly joined the get together with the ball turning a lot that his pure variations have been deadly. Dhananjaya de Silva did every part proper, although, taking part in for the straight ball, masking his pad and off stump, after which hoping those that turned went previous the sting. And so they did. Till one did not. This one turned lower than normal, and took his edge.
Publish lunch, Dickwella and Dinusha rode their luck a bit bit firstly of the partnership with a few edges falling quick and a few top-edged sweeps not going at hand. Nevertheless, as soon as they bought in and the ball turned delicate, they swept India to distraction. Dickwella performed the regulation sweep – he did that from nearly each line – and Dinusha confirmed a penchant for the reverse and the slog. He even slog-swept Jadeja for a six, which is likely one of the tougher asks.
The center session produced 4 runs an over and no wicket. It featured a testing spell of reverse swing from Siraj. Publish tea, India got here out desirous to bowl regular, however Dickwella began with a 4 first ball off Prasidh, and Dinusha with a six first ball off Jadeja. Nevertheless, Prasidh combined it up with a wobble-seam ball, which really seamed away to take the skin fringe of a distraught Dickwella, who lasted hundred balls for the primary time in 21 Take a look at innings.
A fortunate break adopted when a sweetly-timed cowl drive from Keshara Nuwantha hit foolish level Yashasvi Jaiswal’s knee and lobbed up for a straightforward catch to make Jadeja solely the ninth spinner to have taken 350 wickets.
Sri Lanka nonetheless wanted 20 runs to go previous the follow-on mark, and Dinusha was nearing 100 as properly. A resolute Prabath Jayasuriya made certain he was there when each the milestones have been reached, however top-edged a slog sweep off Suthar instantly after Dinusha’s hundred.
Jadeja got here again to lure Dinusha with a fast supply on the crease, and Lahiru Kumara was stumped to present Suthar a fourth. All 4 of Suthar’s wickets got here from the 4-5m size zone, the place he stayed for greater than half the balls he bowled.
Unhealthy mild denied India 13 overs of batting, leaving them with a attainable 196 overs within the Take a look at to pressure a end result.
Sidharth Monga is a senior author at Cricinfo
