Sonal Dinusha’s gritty century helps Sri Lanka force draw in 2nd Test, India win series 1-0

Sonal Dinusha's resilient century proved crucial as Sri Lanka managed a draw in the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Thursday. This result resulted in India winning the two-match Test series 1-0, following a 165-run victory in the first match in Galle. It marked the first instance of India enforcing a follow-on against Sri Lanka in a Test match and not securing a win.

Sri Lanka's final score was 429/9 from 154 overs, while India had appeared to be on the verge of victory by the end of the fourth day after taking a string of wickets from Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis. The fifth day commenced with Sri Lanka at 229/6, featuring Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha, who formed a remarkable seventh-wicket partnership of 112 runs. Nuwantha scored 46 runs off 150 balls before being dismissed by Manav Suthar.

Shortly after, Ravindra Jadeja claimed Prabath Jayasuriya, giving India hope of chasing the target set by Sri Lanka's 142 run lead. However, pacers Lahiru Kumara and later Asitha Fernando ensured Sri Lanka's defense was near-perfect. Kumara faced 90 deliveries while Dinusha scored his century in 196 balls. Dinusha also contributed 103 runs in the first innings of this Test and made scores of 100 and 84 in the first Test in Galle.

With Sri Lanka's lower-order batters, including Dinusha and Nuwantha, defending the crease for close to 90 overs, India handed the ball over to their batters towards the day's conclusion. Shubman Gill, who had bowled just seven balls in his Test career before Thursday, bowled two overs, and even nearly took the last Sri Lankan wicket. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel also each bowled an over. The lower-order batters' determined stand effectively saved the Test.