India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Day 5: Sri Lanka Fight Back As Dinusha Nears Century
Colombo: Sri Lanka continued to frustrate India on the final day of the second Test, with Sonal Dinusha leading a stubborn lower-order fightback at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
After India declared their first innings at 503/9, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 290, giving India a commanding 213-run first-innings lead. India then enforced the follow-on, leaving the hosts under immense pressure.
However, Sri Lanka’s lower order once again showed remarkable resilience. Dinusha, who had already scored a century in the first innings, continued to hold the innings together in the second. By the tea interval, he had moved to 98 not out, just two runs short of another hundred, while Sri Lanka had stretched their overall lead to around 170 runs.
The hosts’ resistance has forced India to work much harder than expected for the final wickets. India had started Day 5 with Sri Lanka at 229/6, meaning the visitors were just four wickets away from victory.
Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha then frustrated the Indian attack with a century partnership during the morning session. Dinusha reached his half-century from 99 balls, while Nuwantha also made a valuable contribution before eventually being dismissed for 46.
India’s left-arm spinner Manav Suthar has been among the standout bowlers, claiming three wickets in the innings. But Sri Lanka’s determination to occupy the crease has kept the match alive and eaten into India’s remaining time to chase a target.
The result remains heavily in India’s favour, but Sri Lanka’s lower-order resistance has turned what looked like a straightforward finish into a tense final phase.
With Dinusha only two runs away from his century and India needing to clean up the remaining wickets, the final session promises to be crucial.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
