Sonal Dinusha’s gritty century helps Sri Lanka force draw in 2nd Test, India win series 1-0

He had Keshara Nuwantha at the other end and the pair remarkably ensured that Sri Lanka lost no wickets in the first session. The pair forged a seventh-wicket partnership of 112 runs with Nuwantha scoring 46 in 150 balls before finaly falling to Manav Suthar. Just over 10 overs later, Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Prabath Jayasuriya, thus raising hopes of India attempting a chase with Sri Lanka leading by 142 runs.

However, pacers Lahiru Kumara and later Asitha Fernando then played their role of shutting up one end to near perfection. Kumara faced 90 deliveries for 12 runs as Dinusha at the other end scored his century in 196 balls. Dinusha had also scored 103 in the first innings of this Test and 100 and 84 in the first Test in Galle.

By the time Lahiru fell to Jadeja, any realistic chances of an Indian win had faded away. India ended up handing the ball over to their batters towards the end of the day, with captain Shubman Gill, who had bowled just seven balls in his Test career before Thursday, bowling two overs and even nearly getting the last Sri Lankan wicket. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel also bowled an over each. After the fall of the sixth wicket, Sri Lanka’s lower-order batters dug in and collectively spent close to 90 overs at the crease along with Dinusha and saved the Test.