COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The second Test match between India and Sri Lanka entered its fourth day at the Sinhalese Sports Club with India holding a commanding position over the host nation, after the visitors enforced a follow-on and put Sri Lanka under intense pressure ahead of the mid-session break on Day 4.
The day began with Sri Lanka resuming on 265 for eight wickets in their first innings, still 39 runs short of the total required to avoid being forced to bat a second time immediately following India. Lower-middle order batsman Sonal Dinusha, who had already notched one century and an 84-run innings in India’s 165-run win in the first Test at Galle, was closing in on another hundred to anchor Sri Lanka’s fightback. He received gritty support from fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who defied India’s bowling attack for 58 deliveries to scrape together 12 runs.
Off-spinner Saransh Jain eventually broke Sri Lanka’s resistance, picking up the final two wickets of the first innings to wrap up the host’s total at 290. First, he claimed the scalp of Kumara, who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Druv Jurel. Jain then trapped Dinusha out caught by KL Rahul for a well-compiled 103 off 162 deliveries, which included three sixes and eight boundaries. This marked Dinusha’s second century of the bilateral series, keeping alive his impressive run of form against the world’s top-ranked Test side.
Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna finished with figures of three wickets for 52 runs, while left-arm spinner Manav Suthar matched Krishna’s haul with three wickets for 85 runs. Jain ended the first innings with 2 wickets for 69 runs. With India declaring their first innings on 503 for nine, Sri Lanka’s first innings deficit stood at 213 runs, forcing captain Rohit Sharma to enforce the follow-on as Sri Lanka headed straight back into the batting crease.
Sri Lanka’s second innings got off to a disastrous start immediately after the change of innings. Opening batsman Lahiru Udara attempted a hook shot against pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, but only managed to pick out the fielder at square leg to leave Sri Lanka reeling at five runs for one wicket. Opener Kamil Mishara fell next, trapped leg before wicket for 32 by veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, ending a 58-run stand for the second wicket with Pasindu Sooriyabandara. Sooriyabandara survived two dropped catching chances during his innings to reach the lunch break unbeaten.
By the Wednesday lunch interval, Sri Lanka had moved to 83 for two wickets in their second innings, still trailing India by 130 runs overall. Sooriyabandara remained not out on 35, while Kamindu Mendis was unbeaten on 10 at the break, with Sri Lanka yet to complete the mammoth task of erasing India’s lead and setting a competitive target for the visitors.