After being reduced to 90 for 5, Sonal Dinusha struck a maiden Test century while sharing a crucial 146-run stand with Niroshan Dickwella to lead Sri Lanka’s fightback. However, the hosts were eventually bowled out for 284, giving India a 178-run first-innings lead on day three of the first Test in Galle.
India’s overnight pair survived for just four balls on the third morning, with Prasidh Krishna nicking behind to the keeper off a short delivery from Asitha Fernando as India were bowled out for 462 in their first innings.
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From Sri Lanka’s bowling point of view, Prabath Jayasuriya was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 for 109. Debutant Keshara Nuwantha took three wickets, while Asitha Fernando finished with 2 for 69.
Sri Lanka’s openers then walked out to the middle, but their partnership lasted just two balls. Mohammed Siraj found the outside edge of Nishan Madushka with a trademark away-moving delivery, with Devdutt Padikkal taking the catch at first slip. Manav Suthar then struck with his very first ball, getting the experienced Dinesh Chandimal caught behind as Sri Lanka slipped to 27 for 2.
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Lahiru Udara was looking comfortable but threw his wicket away after getting a start, becoming Suthar’s second victim. Kamindu Mendis’ stay lasted just 25 balls before Shubman Gill produced a stunning one-handed catch at short cover off Kuldeep Yadav. The hosts were now reeling at 59 for 4. A classic left-arm spinner’s dismissal saw Sri Lanka lose half their side for just 90, with captain Dhananjaya de Silva falling to Ravindra Jadeja just before lunch, KL Rahul taking a sharp low catch at first slip.
After being in deep trouble during the opening session, Sri Lanka found much-needed resilience through Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella. With India in a strong position to enforce the follow-on, the two left-handers launched a determined fightback. The Indian bowlers tried everything, but Dinusha and Dickwella mixed caution with aggression to keep Sri Lanka in the contest. Dickwella, in particular, used the sweep shot effectively and repeatedly put pressure on the Indian spinners, while Dinusha adopted a more conventional approach.
Their sixth-wicket partnership passed the hundred mark, with both batters reaching their half-centuries in the process. The pair batted through the second session, adding 115 runs to give Sri Lanka a much-needed boost. Their 146-run stand was finally broken after tea, with Krishna dismissing Dickwella for a well-made 80 on his return to Test cricket.
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Batting at No.6, young Dinusha continued to lead the fightback and went on to register his maiden Test hundred. A useful 31-run stand between Dinusha and Jayasuriya helped Sri Lanka avoid the follow-on, although the partnership ended with the very next delivery. Jadeja then claimed the key wicket of Dinusha, and Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 284 after 79.4 overs.
With the innings coming to an end as light faded in Galle, the covers were brought onto the field and play was called off for the day, despite 15 overs still remaining.
Brief Scores:
India 462 (116.4) Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82, Dhruv Jurel 51, Prabath Jayasuriya 4/109, Keshara Nuwantha 3/175, Asitha Fernando 2/63
Sri Lanka 284 (79.4) Sonal Dinusha 100, Niroshan Dickwella 80, Manav Suthar 4/76, Ravindra Jadeja 3/57
Stumps – Day 3, India lead by 178 runs.
Stumps
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | run out (Prabath Jayasuriya) | 32 | 37 | 5 | 0 | 86.49 |
| KL Rahul | c Nishan Fernando b Keshara Nuwantha | 82 | 175 | 10 | 1 | 46.86 |
| Devdutt Padikkal | st Dickwella b Prabath Jayasuriya | 167 | 230 | 15 | 1 | 72.61 |
| Shubman Gill | c Lahiru Igalagamage b Prabath Jayasuriya | 16 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Rishabh Pant | c Sonal Dinusha b Keshara Nuwantha | 39 | 62 | 4 | 1 | 62.90 |
| Dhruv Jurel | c Dhananjaya de Silva b Prabath Jayasuriya | 51 | 68 | 4 | 1 | 75.00 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | lbw b Keshara Nuwantha | 13 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 52.00 |
| Manav Suthar | c Lahiru Igalagamage b Prabath Jayasuriya | 24 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 55.81 |
| Mohammed Siraj | c Dhananjaya de Silva b Asitha Fernando | 11 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 73.33 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | not out | 13 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 92.86 |
| Prasidh krishna | c Niroshan Dickwella b Asitha Fernando | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28.57 |
| Extras | 12 (b 4 , lb 3 , nb 4, w 1, pen 0) |
| Total | 462/10 (116.4 Overs, RR: 3.96) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 17.4 | 1 | 63 | 2 | 3.62 | |
| Lahiru Kumara | 13 | 1 | 76 | 0 | 5.85 | |
| Keshara Nuwantha | 39 | 1 | 175 | 3 | 4.49 | |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | 39 | 6 | 109 | 4 | 2.79 | |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 3.75 | |
| Sonal Dinusha | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 4.25 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nishan Fernando | c Devdutt Padikkal b Mohammed Siraj | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Lahiru Igalagamage | c Yashasvi Jaiswal b Manav Suthar | 27 | 44 | 6 | 0 | 61.36 |
| Dinesh Chandimal | c Rishab Pant b Manav Suthar | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Shubman Gill b Kuldeep Yadav | 14 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 56.00 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | c KL Rahul b Ravindra Jadeja | 21 | 41 | 4 | 0 | 51.22 |
| Sonal Dinusha | lbw b Ravindra Jadeja | 100 | 168 | 4 | 2 | 59.52 |
| Niroshan Dickwella | c Rishab Pant b Prasidh krishna | 80 | 115 | 7 | 0 | 69.57 |
| Keshara Nuwantha | c Shubman Gill b Ravindra Jadeja | 2 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 11.11 |
| Prabath Jayasuriya | c Dhruv Jurel b Manav Suthar | 10 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 23.26 |
| Lahiru Kumara | st Rishab Pant b Manav Suthar | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Asitha Fernando | not out | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 16 (b 8 , lb 2 , nb 4, w 2, pen 0) |
| Total | 284/10 (79.4 Overs, RR: 3.56) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Siraj | 9 | 3 | 29 | 1 | 3.22 | |
| Prasidh krishna | 14 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 3.36 | |
| Manav Suthar | 21.4 | 1 | 76 | 4 | 3.55 | |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 14 | 0 | 65 | 1 | 4.64 | |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 21 | 5 | 57 | 3 | 2.71 | |
