By Dwayne Ferreira.
Sonal Dinusha scores centuries in both innings as Sri Lanka produce a remarkable fightback to draw the second Test against India in Colombo.
Sri Lanka produced one of their most determined Test match fightbacks in recent years as the Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test ended in a dramatic draw at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, despite the hosts being forced to follow on.
At the heart of the resistance was Sonal Dinusha, whose remarkable unbeaten 133 on the final day completed a pair of centuries in the match and denied India what had appeared to be an almost inevitable victory.
India nevertheless claimed the two-match series 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs.
India Take Complete Control
India had controlled almost the entire contest after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Devdutt Padikkal continued his outstanding series with 117, while wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel produced an unbeaten 115 as India piled up 503 for nine declared.
Captain Shubman Gill made 50, Rishabh Pant contributed 63 and Ravindra Jadeja added 43 as Sri Lanka’s bowlers were forced to spend almost 140 overs in the field.
Asitha Fernando was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler, finishing with four wickets.
Sri Lanka’s reply immediately ran into trouble before Dinusha once again emerged as the home side’s main source of resistance.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara struck 80, but wickets continued to fall around him before Dinusha completed a brilliant 103.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 290, giving India a massive 213-run advantage and allowing Gill to enforce the follow-on.
Sri Lanka Fight Back From the Brink
India appeared firmly on course for a series-clinching victory when Sri Lanka slipped to 218 for six in their second innings.
However, the hosts refused to surrender.
Sooriyabandara once again played a crucial role with 92, while Kamindu Mendis made 55.
But Dinusha transformed the direction of the match.
Having already made 103 in the first innings, the left-hander produced an even more important innings second time around.
He faced 264 deliveries for his unbeaten 133, hitting eight fours and two sixes while repeatedly frustrating India’s bowlers.
The decisive partnership came alongside Keshara Nuwantha.
Nuwantha contributed 46 from 150 deliveries as the pair added 112 runs for the seventh wicket, consuming precious time and gradually removing India’s hopes of victory.
Even after Nuwantha departed, Dinusha continued to protect the lower order.
Lahiru Kumara survived 90 deliveries for 12, while Asitha Fernando remained alongside Dinusha when the match was finally called.
Sri Lanka finished their second innings at 429 for nine from 154 overs.
Dinusha Delivers a Performance to Remember
Dinusha’s achievement went far beyond simply saving the Test.
His scores of 103 and 133 not out made him one of the rare Sri Lankan batters to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.
The performance also completed an extraordinary series in which he registered three centuries across the two Tests against India.
He was deservedly named Player of the Match, while India’s Padikkal collected the Player of the Series award after scoring 328 runs across the two matches.
Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar claimed three wickets each in Sri Lanka’s second innings, but India’s attack ultimately could not find the final breakthrough.
India Win Series, Sri Lanka Find Hope
The draw meant India were unable to complete a 2-0 clean sweep.
Captain Shubman Gill defended the decision to enforce the follow-on, explaining that the decision had been influenced partly by uncertain weather conditions in Colombo. India had reduced Sri Lanka to 229 for six by the end of the fourth day before Dinusha and the lower order changed the complexion of the contest.
For Sri Lanka, however, the manner in which the Test was saved may prove almost as important as the result itself.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva highlighted the performances of younger players including Dinusha, Sooriyabandara and Keshara Nuwantha after the match as encouraging signs for the future.
India leave Sri Lanka with the series trophy.
But after spending much of the Colombo Test staring at a heavy defeat, Sri Lanka leave the SSC with something significant of their own: evidence that a new generation may be capable of fighting its way out of seemingly impossible situations.
Match Summary
India – 503/9 declared
Devdutt Padikkal 117
Dhruv Jurel 115*
Rishabh Pant 63
Shubman Gill 50
Asitha Fernando 4/106
Sri Lanka – 290 all out
Sonal Dinusha 103
Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80
Prasidh Krishna 3/53
Sri Lanka – 429/9 (follow-on)
Sonal Dinusha 133*
Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92
Kamindu Mendis 55
Keshara Nuwantha 46
Ravindra Jadeja 3/94
Manav Suthar 3/121
Result: Match drawn
Series: India won 1-0
Player of the Match: Sonal Dinusha
Player of the Series: Devdutt Padikkal
