Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha continued his impressive form with the bat, scoring his second century in as many Tests against India. However, the 25-year-old’s effort was not enough to prevent India from enforcing the follow-on in the second Test on Wednesday.Sri Lanka were bowled out for 290 after India had declared their first innings at 503/9. That gave India a 213-run lead and allowed them to send Sri Lanka back to bat immediately.India lead the two-Test series 1-0 after their 165-run win in Galle.
Sri Lanka’s lower order keeps India waiting
Sri Lanka’s last three pairs showed plenty of fight after the team was reduced to 265/8. They stayed at the crease for more than 40 overs before the innings finally ended.It was only the second time Sri Lanka’s last three pairs, from the eighth to the 10th wicket, had survived for more than 40 overs against India in a Test innings.The earlier instance came at the P Sara Oval in 2010. Sri Lanka were 87/7 in 31.2 overs but managed to reach 267 before being bowled out in 85.2 overs. Their last three pairs batted for 54 overs.The most recent such instance against India came in Pune in 2019, when South Africa’s last three pairs survived for 61.2 overs. South Africa were 139/7 in 44.2 overs before being dismissed for 275.
Dinusha completes another century
Dinusha resumed the day unbeaten on 85 and immediately looked to score quickly.He attacked debutant off-spinner Saransh Jain in the first over, hitting him for a six and a four to move into the nineties. In the following over, he completed his second successive Test century with a boundary off Prasidh Krishna.Dinusha eventually fell for 103 off 162 balls, with eight fours and three sixes.He had also scored a century and an 84 in the first Test in Galle, making him Sri Lanka’s standout batter across the two matches so far.
Saransh makes his mark
Saransh gave India their first breakthrough of the day when he dismissed Lahiru Kumara to claim his maiden Test wicket.The debutant later removed Dinusha to end the left-hander’s resistance. He finished with 1/45.Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar were India’s leading wicket-takers, claiming three wickets each. Prasidh finished with 3/52 and Suthar with 3/85.Sri Lanka’s lower order made India work hard for the final wickets, but the 213-run deficit meant the hosts had no way to escape the follow-on.
