Sri Lanka’s Pasindu Sooriyabandara, proper, and Kamindu Mendis cheer after scoring runs throughout day 4 of the second Take a look at match in opposition to India in Colombo, Sri Lanka
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Pasindu Sooriyabandara blocked Indian bowlers for an entire session to make a defiant unbeaten 90, carrying Sri Lanka to 199 for 3 of their second innings at tea on day 4 of the second and remaining Take a look at right here on Wednesday.
Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (4) is giving firm to Sooriyabandara on the break, and the house aspect now trails India by 14 runs.
However the spotlight of the center passage was the 115-run alliance for the third wicket with Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis (55, 92b).
The pair fought in opposition to India bowlers for 110 minutes, bridging the heavy 213-run innings deficit that compelled them to follow-on.
Sri Lanka’s effort within the second innings was a marked enchancment from the primary dig wherein they had been bundled out for 290.
That complete was constructed round Sonal Dinusha’s 103, his second hundred of the collection.
Nonetheless, the Sooriyabandara-Mendis partnership within the ongoing innings was something however stubborn. Each the batters performed with freedom and had been by no means hesitant to take the assault to the bowlers.
Mendis creamed Manav Suthar for 2 sixes, and didn’t permit the left-arm spinner to settle right into a constant rhythm.
India’s Saransh Jain celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Kumara on the fourth day of the second Take a look at cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Colombo, Sri Lanka
| Photograph Credit score:
PTI
Later, Sooriyabandara too slog-swept Suthar for a six because the younger tweaker struggled for an influence for the primary time on this collection.
Mendis reached his fifty with a flourish, pulling Prasidh Krishna for a six off 87 balls and shortly Sooriyabandara too joined his teammate with a 78-ball fifty.
Nonetheless, Prasidh broke the swelling stand with a short-pitched ball which cramped Mendis for room, and Shubman Gill accomplished a nice operating catch to present marching orders to the Lankan batter.
However earlier than that Sri Lanka had been wobbling at 83 for 2 at lunch. Resuming from 265 for eight, Dinusha, who was in a single day 85, compiled his second hundred of the collection.
However his courageous knock didn’t assist Sri Lanka avert the follow-on, getting bowled out for 290, a mere 13 runs shy of the follow-on mark.
Dinusha raced to the 90s with a six, a slog sweep, and 4, once more whacked to the on-side, off Saransh Jain.
The precise-hander reached the coveted three-figure with a thunderous pull off Prasidh, a second he celebrated with pleasure and gusto.
However quickly his in a single day associate Lahiru Kumara departed, lofting Jain to Dhruv Jurel at covers. It was the 34-year-old’s maiden Take a look at wicket.
Jurel restarted the outfield responsibility as Rishabh Pant, who copped a blow on his shoulder on the second day and stayed away from the sector on Tuesday, returned to don the wicketkeeper’s gloves.
Dinusha, whose arrival as a Take a look at batter might need warmed the Lankan hearts, didn’t final lengthy, perishing to Jain.
The Madhya Pradesh spinner induced a false drive from Dinusha, which was pouched by KL Rahul at slip.
Nonetheless, India had a second of fear as Siraj harm himself whereas diving for a catch.
The pacer needed to exit to get medical consideration however was again on the sector after a while. However within the second session he bowled with a shorter run-up and infrequently Pant too stayed as much as the wicket.
Printed – August 26, 2026 12:13 pm IST
