Colombo: Sri Lanka produced a hard-fought fightback to reach 229/6 after being forced to follow on, taking a 16-run lead, while India’s bowling attack maintained its dominance with six wickets and looked firmly in control as they closed in on completing the job. However, rain brought an early end to Day 4 of the second and final Test of the two-match series on Wednesday, August 26, at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo.
The day resumed with Sri Lanka at 265/8, needing 38 runs to avoid the follow-on, but they were eventually bowled out for 290 in 89.4 overs, falling 13 runs short of the follow-on mark. Sonal Dinusha produced a standout performance, completing his second Test century of the series with an excellent 103 off 162 balls. Despite his determined resistance, Sri Lanka failed to avoid the follow-on and were forced to bat again. Sri Lanka fought back strongly in their second innings and found momentum through a brilliant 92 from Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who narrowly missed out on a maiden Test century, while Kamindu Mendis contributed a fluent 55. The pair stitched together a solid 115-run partnership, But India’s bowling attack regained control with a dominant spell, picking up crucial wickets to halt Sri Lanka’s momentum and trigger a collapse. Manav Suthar led India’s bowling attack with two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja, Saransh Jain and Prasidh Krishna claimed one wicket each. However, rain and bad light brought an early end to play, with Sonal Dinusha remaining unbeaten on 7 alongside Keshara Kulasekara on 3. Sri Lanka finished Day 4 on 229/6 after 72.4 overs, holding a lead of 16 runs.
The day resumed with Sri Lanka at 265/8, needing 38 more runs to avoid the follow-on. Sonal Dinusha remained unbeaten on 85 off 137 balls and resumed the innings with attacking intent. He immediately took on the Indian spin attack, hitting Saransh Jain for a six and then a four in the first over. Sonal Dinusha brought up his excellent century off 162 balls, reaching the milestone with a boundary off Prasidh Krishna. His innings featured eight boundaries and three sixes. It was his second century of the series, following a century and a fluent 84 in the first Test. His consistent performances have established him as Sri Lanka’s standout and most impactful batter across the two matches so far, further underlining his growing importance to the team’s batting lineup. Saransh Jain provided India with the first breakthrough of the day, dismissing Lahiru Kumara for 12 off 58 balls. Kumara stepped across and looked to attack the spin but skewed the ball off the outer half of the bat, with Dhruv Jurel diving sharply at cover-point to complete an excellent low catch. as Jain registered his maiden Test wicket. Sri Lanka still needed 16 runs to avoid the follow-on with just one wicket remaining. Jain then struck again, dismissing Dinusha and ending his outstanding resistance soon after he had reached his century. Jain bowled it around off stump and got the ball to turn away. Dinusha lunged forward but failed to reach the pitch, edging it to KL Rahul at slip, who took a comfortable catch. Jain finished with impressive figures of 2/69. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 290 in 89.4 overs, falling 13 runs short of the follow-on target. India captain Shubman Gill enforced the follow-on, sending the hosts back out to bat for their second innings.
Sri Lanka suffered an early setback in their second innings, losing both openers cheaply. Lahiru Udara managed just 3 off 15 balls before Mohammed Siraj struck early. Kamil Mishara showed good composure with a fluent 32 off 39 balls, hitting a few boundaries before Ravindra Jadeja trapped him lbw. Sri Lanka were soon reduced to 63/2 inside 15 overs, but Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis steadied the innings and sparked a much-needed recovery. Both batters showed positive and attacking intent against India’s pace and spin attack, battling hard to shift the momentum back in Sri Lanka’s favour. Sooriyabandara and Mendis stitched together a crucial 115-run partnership off 172 balls for the third wicket. Sooriyabandara brought up his second consecutive half-century in 78 balls before accelerating further to score a brilliant 92 off 173 balls. His standout innings included 10 boundaries and one six. Mendis provided valuable support at the other end, completing an impressive half-century with a fluent 55 that included two fours and three sixes. However, the crucial partnership was eventually broken when Prasidh Krishna returned to the attack. Krishna bowled a short delivery around the left shoulder, rushing Mendis as he went for the pull. The ball went high behind square leg off the splice, with Gill running across to his left to complete an excellent catch. Sri Lanka reached tea at 199/3. The final session, however, belonged entirely to India’s bowling attack as they tightened their grip on the innings and triggered a collapse. Sri Lanka lost their fourth wicket at 209 before slipping further to 218/6. Manav Suthar led India’s dominant spell with two wickets in quick succession. He first dismissed Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva for just 7 off 37 balls before ending Sooriyabandara’s impressive innings, with the batter narrowly missing out on a maiden Test century. Suthar fired it full and wide outside off, beating Sooriyabandara, as Rishabh Pant quickly collected and whipped off the bails to complete the stumping. Saransh Jain then dismissed Niroshan Dickwella for just 6 off 12 balls, leaving Sri Lanka six wickets down. India looked set to finish the day strongly, but rain and bad light brought an early end to play at 4:37 pm, more than an hour before the scheduled close. Sri Lanka ended Day 4 on 229/6 after 72.4 overs, holding a slender 16-run lead.
Heading into the final day, India remain firmly in control of the Test. They need just four more wickets to bowl Sri Lanka out and will look to finish the job as early as possible on Day 5, giving themselves enough time to chase whatever target the hosts manage to set. Sri Lanka’s only realistic route back into the contest is to build a substantial lead on the final day. However, with India already holding a commanding 213-run first-innings advantage, the visitors remain strong favourites to complete another victory and seal the Test series.
