Sonal Dinusha put up a powerful resistance to maintain the Indian bowlers at bay on the ultimate day, serving to Sri Lanka save the second Test in Colombo after they had been requested to follow-on. In a seven-hour vigil, Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133 and, with helpful decrease order help, ensured that India did not bat a second time within the Take a look at. This was the primary time in 9 events that India did not safe a victory after imposing a follow-on towards Sri Lanka.
Needing solely 4 wickets on the ultimate day to be able to start the chase, the Indian bowlers needed to toil arduous on a floor which provided a little bit of flip, however largely predictable tempo and bounce. In a single day batters Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha saved the Indians all via the morning session regardless that the brand new ball was taken throughout the first half an hour of play.
The seventh-wicket stand stretched to 88 runs, consuming greater than 40 overs, which additionally ensured Sri Lanka cleared the primary innings deficit. The primary strike of the day got here quickly after the lunch break when Manav Suthar obtained a supply to spin in sharply and took the surface fringe of Nuwantha’s bat to the second slip.
Prabath Jayasuriya continued to stay defiant, resisting for 28 balls earlier than his tried drive off Ravindra Jadeja took the surface edge to Dhruv Jurel at second slip. Even because the lead swelled previous the 150-run mark with solely two wickets remaining and practically a session and a half to play, the Indians had sufficient incentive to go for the kill.
Nonetheless, Lahiru Kumara offered much-needed help to Dinusha because the duo put an finish to India’s hopes. The southpaw used the sweep to good impact to counter the flip. The duo chewed up 169 deliveries for 47 runs in a interval of attritional batting, throughout which Dinusha introduced up his century. Kumara did present India an opportunity when he tried a slog sweep which fell in entrance of Jurel at deep mid wicket quickly after Dinusha reached his century. However that was a uncommon alternative.
Kumara finally departed on 12 when an inside edge was pouched at brief leg by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Nonetheless, which the variety of overs decreasing, Dinusha took Sri Lanka until the tip of day with none additional hassle and helped keep away from a whitewash.
Transient scores: India 503/9 decl (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) drew with Sri Lanka 290 (Sonal Dinusha 103, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) & 429/9 f/o (Sonal Dinusha 133*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92; Ravindra Jadeja 3-94, Manav Suthar 3-121)
