Sri Lanka avoided defeat in the second Test against India in Colombo, with batsman Sonal Dinusha scoring an unbeaten 133 to help his team hold on after being asked to follow-on.
Sri Lanka managed to secure a draw in the second Test against India in Colombo, denying the visitors a decisive victory despite being forced to bat again. Sonal Dinusha played a pivotal role, remaining unbeaten on 133 through a seven-hour innings that proved instrumental in frustrating the Indian bowling attack on the final day.
India had enforced the follow-on after scoring 503 for nine declared in their first innings. Needing just four wickets to force a second Indian innings, India's bowlers found conditions that offered some turn but largely predictable pace and bounce. The overnight partnership between Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha proved durable, surviving the opening exchanges after the new ball was taken within the first 30 minutes of play.
Nuwantha was dismissed shortly after lunch when Manav Suthar's delivery took the outside edge to second slip. Later, Prabath Jayasuriya fell attempting a drive against Ravindra Jadeja. However, Lahiru Kumara provided crucial support to Dinusha, and their seventh-wicket stand extended to 88 runs across more than 40 overs. The pair employed attritional batting, with Dinusha using the sweep effectively, consuming 169 deliveries for 47 runs together. Though Kumara departed for 12, Dinusha guided Sri Lanka to the close without further losses.
The result marked a notable milestone, representing the first occasion in nine instances where India failed to achieve victory after enforcing a follow-on against Sri Lanka in Test cricket.
