Sri Lanka 290 (Dinusha 103, Sooriyabandara 80, Prasidh 3-52, Suthar 3-85) and 229 for six (f/o) (Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu 55, Suthar 2-81) lead India 503 for 9 dec by 16 runs
Enjoying simply his second Take a look at and the primary in his group’s beginning XI, Pasindu Sooriyabandara made Sri Lanka dream of the rarest of prospects, however actuality imposed itself on the SSC late on day 4 as India regained their grip on a Take a look at match that had appeared to spiral uncontrolled after the specter of dangerous climate led them to implement the follow-on.
After Sooriyabandara placed on 58 with Kamil Mishara for the second wicket and 115 with Kamindu Mendis for the third, Sri Lanka had been at one stage 209 for 3, or simply 4 runs behind with seven second-innings wickets in hand, on a day-four pitch that was nonetheless trying glorious for batting. India’s bowlers had been into their 149th over throughout two consecutive innings, and searching wanting each penetration and inspiration towards a prime order that had by no means allowed them to settle into their lengths.
Simply then, nonetheless, Manav Suthar, who had borne the brunt of Sri Lanka’s constructive intent, dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva after which Sooriyabandara within the area of two overs, the latter out eight wanting a maiden Take a look at hundred. Quickly after, Saransh Jain trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw, and Sri Lanka had been successfully 5 for six. By the point rain arrived to carry an early finish to the day, Sri Lanka’s seventh-wicket pair had solely added an extra 11 runs to their tally.
If Sri Lanka nonetheless retain any hope going into the ultimate day of this sequence, it is going to relaxation on the shoulders of Sonal Dinusha, batting on 7 in his remaining innings of a exceptional sequence. Earlier within the day, he had transformed his in a single day 85 into his second century of the sequence, together with his solely different accomplished innings bringing him 84.