1139 minutes! How defiant Sonal Dinusha denied India a 2-0 series sweep

In a gripping Test series between India and Sri Lanka, Sonal Dinusha defied all odds and denied India a 2-0 series victory. Over 1139 minutes, Dinusha scored 420 runs, including three centuries, while taking 722 balls to achieve this feat. His exceptional performance was crucial in helping Sri Lanka survive on the fifth day in Galle and Colombo.

Dinusha's journey in the four innings against India was marked by his early form, with scores of 90/4 and 47/4 in the first Test, and 122/4 and 209/4 in the second. However, the situation in Colombo was the most challenging, with Sri Lanka needing to play for time as India pressed for quick wickets. The 25-year-old faced a similar situation earlier but was determined to make time his ally.

Supported by his teammates and employing smart footwork, Dinusha consumed time and scored runs, sweeping and reverse-sweeping his way to three hundreds. His smart use of footwork, particularly with sweeps, baffled the Indian fielders. Notably, over 40% of his runs came from sweeps, making him only the third batter ever to score twin centuries in a match where his team was following on.

Dinusha's compact game, versatility against spin and pace, and stubbornness made him a nightmare for the Indian bowlers. His performance against the Indian bowlers set a template for batters operating from No.6 and below in the format. Veteran coach Gary Kirsten hailed Dinusha's effort as one of the great saves of Sri Lankan Test cricket, stating that he couldn't give him a half a chance.