India sets challenging target
India entered Day 4 of the first Test against Sri Lanka with a significant lead of 178 runs, placing them in a strong position. Earlier in the match, India, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, posted a substantial total of 462. Devdutt Padikkal was a key contributor, scoring 167 runs. He received support from KL Rahul, who added 82 runs, and Dhruv Jurel, who made 51 runs.
For Sri Lanka, Prabath Jayasuriya was the leading bowler, taking 4 wickets for 109 runs. Keshara Nuwantha secured three wickets, and Asitha Fernando claimed two wickets as Sri Lanka worked to limit India’s scoring.
Sri Lanka’s fightback and early struggles
Despite the challenging target, Sri Lanka had shown resilience on Day 3, which could provide some confidence. On the third day, Sri Lanka began well, securing the final Indian wicket of Prasidh Krishna early in the morning. However, their momentum was short-lived when Mohammed Siraj took a wicket with only the second ball of Sri Lanka’s innings. India’s spinners then exerted pressure, reducing the hosts to 90/5.
Facing the prospect of a follow-on, Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella formed a crucial partnership, adding 146 runs. Dinusha achieved his maiden Test century, while Dickwella contributed 80 runs, helping to reduce India’s first-innings lead. India eventually concluded Sri Lanka’s innings at 284, with spinner Manav Suthar taking four wickets and Ravindra Jadeja claiming three wickets.
Manav Suthar, playing in his second Test, noted that observing the Sri Lankan bowlers helped him adapt to the pitch conditions. He emphasized the importance of consistency and varying pace on the wicket. Jadeja, meanwhile, reached a milestone by becoming the fifth Indian bowler to take 350 Test wickets, also joining an exclusive group of all-rounders with over 4,000 Test runs and at least 350 wickets.
Chasing 372: Key wickets fall
In their chase of 372 runs, Sri Lanka faced early setbacks. Mohammed Siraj dismissed Nishan Fernando with a short ball, caught by Prasidh Krishna at long leg. This meant the opening partnership for Sri Lanka did not materialize as hoped, with 359 runs still needed for victory.
The situation worsened for Sri Lanka when Manav Suthar successfully overturned an on-field decision to dismiss Pasindu Sooriyabandara via LBW. Sooriyabandara, a concussion substitute making his Test debut, was out for a golden duck. He had come in after Dinesh Chandimal was ruled out due to a concussion sustained while fielding.
Prasidh Krishna then claimed the wicket of Kamindu Mendis, who edged a back-of-a-length delivery to KL Rahul at first slip. This dismissal left Sri Lanka at 21/3 after just 10.4 overs, highlighting the pressure from the Indian bowlers. Dhananjaya de Silva, the Sri Lankan skipper, then came to the crease.
Lahiru Udara managed to score a boundary off Mohammed Siraj, driving a half-volley through covers. However, India also used a review unsuccessfully against Udara for a caught-behind appeal, with replays confirming no bat involvement. Ravindra Jadeja was later brought into the attack, replacing Manav Suthar, as Sri Lanka continued their challenging chase.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
