Sonal Dinusha produced another determined knock against India as Sri Lanka reached 265/8 at stumps on a rain-hit third day of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Tuesday. India remain firmly in control after taking a 238-run first-innings lead.
India had declared at 503/9 before Sri Lanka began their reply. The hosts, who resumed Day 3 at 8/2, lost wickets at regular intervals but found considerable resistance from their middle and lower order.
Dinusha was the standout performer, remaining unbeaten on 85 off 135 balls. His innings included effective use of the sweep against India’s spinners and extended his remarkable start against India. He became only the third batter after Zaheer Abbas and Everton Weekes to score 80 or more in each of his first three Test innings against India.
Dinusha also received useful support from Keshara Nuwantha, who scored 18 from 74 balls. The pair attempted to stabilise the innings before Manav Suthar broke the partnership in the 69th over. Nuwantha attempted a drive but picked out Saransh Jain at mid-off.
With Sri Lanka reduced to 264/8, Dinusha continued to hold firm alongside Lahiru Kumara, who was unbeaten on eight. The pair added 35 runs for the ninth wicket before rain intervened.
India had made significant progress during the first two sessions. Debutant Kamil Mishara was dismissed for 19 early in the morning session after Prasidh Krishna induced an edge that was taken by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, reducing Sri Lanka to 35/3.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara then counter-attacked and went on to score 80 before Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva was removed by Suthar, while Niroshan Dickwella fell for a duck to Mohammed Siraj.
Suthar and Prasidh were India’s most successful bowlers, claiming three wickets each. Jadeja and Siraj took one wicket apiece, while debutant Saransh Jain bowled an extended spell without finding a breakthrough.
India’s efforts to wrap up the innings were complicated by Sri Lanka’s stubborn lower-order resistance. The visitors took the second new ball late in the day, but worsening weather prevented them from making full use of it.
Rain arrived at around 5 pm local time, forcing the players from the field. With conditions failing to improve, the umpires called stumps at 5:15 pm.
Sri Lanka will resume on 265/8, with Dinusha on 85 and Kumara on eight. The hosts need another 39 runs to avoid the follow-on, while India require only two wickets to complete the innings.
India declared at 503/9
Earlier, India posted a commanding 503/9 declared after winning the toss and opting to bat.
Devdutt Padikkal struck his second Test century, scoring 117, while wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 115. Rishabh Pant added a brisk 63 and captain Shubman Gill contributed 50.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul provided India with a positive start before Rahul was dismissed by Lahiru Kumara. Ravindra Jadeja added 43 before falling to Asitha Fernando.
Fernando was Sri Lanka’s leading bowler with four wickets, while Prabath Jayasuriya and Nuwantha claimed two each and Kumara took one.
India will return on Wednesday seeking the final two Sri Lankan wickets and will look to prevent the hosts from reaching the 304-run mark required to avoid the follow-on. Play is scheduled to begin at 9:45 am IST, although further rain could again affect proceedings.
(With agency inputs)
