Sri Lanka ended Day Four at 84 for four wickets while chasing a target of 372 runs against India in the first Test at Galle, requiring 288 more runs on the final day to secure a record chase.
Sri Lanka's pursuit of an ambitious Test victory remains alive after the fourth day of play at the Galle International Cricket Stadium, with the hosts positioned at 84 for four wickets in their second innings. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and lower-order batter Sonal Dinusha combined to stabilize the innings, ending the day unbeaten on 31 and 25 respectively, providing Sri Lanka with some momentum heading into the decisive final day.
The contest has swung significantly following India's second-innings collapse. After India posted 462 runs in their first innings, Sri Lanka responded with 284, establishing India's advantage at 178 runs. However, India's batsmen struggled in their second outing, managing only 193 runs and allowing Sri Lanka the opportunity to chase 372 for victory—a substantial target requiring the hosts to bat with discipline and aggression.
With six wickets remaining and 288 runs still required, Sri Lanka faces a challenging path to an unlikely win. The loss of four early wickets underscored the difficulty of the chase, yet de Silva and Dinusha's partnership demonstrated that the target remains within reach if the remaining batsmen can build substantial partnerships on the final day.
