Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar claimed three wickets apiece as India maintained control of the Colombo Test, with Sri Lanka reaching 265/8 at stumps and still 238 runs behind India’s first-innings 503/9 declared.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — India remained in the driver’s seat at the end of Day 3 of the second Test against Sri Lanka after the hosts finished on 265/8. Sonal Dinusha’s unbeaten 85 kept Sri Lanka’s innings alive, but the hosts still trailed India by 238 runs with only two wickets remaining.
Key Highlights
- Sri Lanka closed Day 3 on 265/8, still 238 runs behind India’s 503/9 declared.
- Sonal Dinusha remained unbeaten on 85 after producing Sri Lanka’s most resolute innings of the day.
- Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar took three wickets each for India.
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara scored 80 and shared an 87-run fourth-wicket stand with Kamindu Mendis.
- Rain and bad light brought play to an early end after the new ball had been taken.
Dinusha Keeps Sri Lanka’s Innings Alive
Sonal Dinusha was unbeaten on 85 when play ended, having produced his third fifty-plus score of the series. He had faced 137 deliveries, striking six fours and two sixes while holding together the lower order.
Lahiru Kumara provided support at the other end with an unbeaten 8 from 50 balls. The pair had survived long enough to take Sri Lanka to 265/8 before weather conditions ended the day’s play.
Dinusha’s innings stood out for its patience in an innings where only five Sri Lankan batters faced at least 50 deliveries. Keshara Nuwantha and Kumara were among those who occupied the crease for extended periods despite their lower-order roles.
Prasidh Krishna, Suthar Do the Damage
Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar were India’s leading wicket-takers, collecting three wickets each. Krishna finished with 3/47, while Suthar returned figures of 3/83.
Krishna’s early spell included the dismissal of Kamil Mishara, who edged a short delivery through to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. His persistence also brought the key wicket of Kamindu Mendis, who picked out midwicket while attempting a pull.
Suthar later removed Dhananjaya de Silva after drawing an edge from the Sri Lankan captain’s forward defensive stroke. He then dismissed Keshara Nuwantha, who attempted another aggressive shot and found mid-off.
Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Build Sri Lanka’s Best Stand
Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis gave Sri Lanka their strongest period of batting resistance. The pair added 87 runs for the fourth wicket and appeared comfortable against India’s bowling during their partnership.
Sooriyabandara used the depth of the crease effectively, cutting late and employing the sweep against spin. He eventually fell for 80 from 133 balls after chopping a quicker delivery from Ravindra Jadeja onto his own stumps.
The dismissal ended a valuable innings from Sooriyabandara, who had been dismissed for a golden duck on his Test debut in the previous match.
Middle Order Fails to Convert Starts
Sri Lanka repeatedly lost wickets after promising partnerships had developed. Kamindu had looked settled before his attacking stroke ended his innings, while Dhananjaya de Silva fell soon after arriving at the crease.
After reaching 173/7, Sri Lanka found some stability through Dinusha and Keshara. Their partnership produced 57 runs from 137 deliveries and temporarily slowed India’s progress.
Keshara, however, eventually attempted another aggressive shot against Suthar and found the fielder at mid-off. His dismissal left Dinusha with another lower-order partner to negotiate the closing stages.
Rain Stops India From Finishing the Tail
The new ball had only just been taken when rain and bad light intervened. India had taken one wicket in the closing phase but could not complete the innings before the players were forced from the field.
Sri Lanka will resume at 265/8, with Dinusha on 85 and Kumara on 8. The hosts still require 39 more runs to reach 304, the score required to avoid the follow-on based on India’s first-innings total.
Scorecard at Stumps
| Team | Score | Overs | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 503/9 declared | 138 | Dhruv Jurel 115* |
| Sri Lanka | 265/8 | 83.4 | Sonal Dinusha 85* |
India bowling: Prasidh Krishna 14-1-47-3, Manav Suthar 21-1-83-3, Ravindra Jadeja 19.4-4-45-1, Mohammed Siraj 11-0-33-1.
Praveen Yadav is the Founder and Editor at The Nation Bulletin. With over 3 years of experience in digital journalism and news reporting, he covers national affairs, governance, and breaking current events with a commitment to factual accuracy and verified reporting.
