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 Check century, however Dickwella was nonetheless saddled with the undesirable file of most Check half-centuries and not using a hundred when Prasidh Krishna produced a magnificence with a 62-over previous ball to dismiss him for 80.
Suthar arrived on the bowling crease in earnestness regardless that 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 wanting a size because it seamed away to supply first slip a simple catch.
Suthar then rattled Sri Lanka with overspin and sharp flip with the brand new ball. The primary ball was good, touchdown on a great size on center and off, turning and bouncing, and taking the glove of the skilled Dinesh Chandimal. Suthar saved going previous the bat with such regularity that it ended up forcing Lahiru Udara to attempt to manufacture a minimize shot, hitting a simple 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 social gathering with the ball turning a lot that his pure variations have been deadly. Dhananjaya de Silva did every thing proper, although, taking part in for the straight ball, protecting his pad and off stump, after which hoping those that turned went previous the sting. They usually did. Till one did not. This one turned lower than common, and took his edge.
Submit lunch, Dickwella and Dinusha rode their luck a little bit bit initially of the partnership with a few edges falling quick and a few top-edged sweeps not going handy. Nonetheless, as soon as they acquired in and the ball grew to become comfortable, 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 among the tougher asks.
The center session produced 4 runs an over and no wicket. It featured a testing spell of reverse swing from Siraj. Submit 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. Nonetheless, Prasidh blended 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 Check 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 simple 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 nicely. A resolute Prabath Jayasuriya made positive 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 entice Dinusha with a fast supply on the crease, and Lahiru Kumara was stumped to provide 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 gentle denied India 13 overs of batting, leaving them with a doable 196 overs within the Check to power a consequence.
Sidharth Monga is a senior author at Cricinfo