'Smart cricketer' Dinusha helps Sri Lanka draw second India Test

Colombo: Sonal Dinusha scored an unbeaten 133 to help Sri Lanka draw the second Test against India in Colombo on Thursday. The left-handed batsman, who had scored a century in the first innings, declared his innings as a match-saving knock after Sri Lanka was asked to follow-on. Dinusha's 133-ball innings brought Sri Lanka's second innings score to 429-9, giving them a lead of 216 runs over India.

India had won the first Test and the series 1-0 after their opening win. India's captain Shubman Gill acknowledged the significance of Dinusha's performance, describing it as "brilliant" and "Test cricket won today." The Indian skipper praised Dinusha for being a smart cricketer, stating that his innings will be remembered in Sri Lankan cricket history.

Dinusha, who is 25, became the eighth Sri Lankan to score hundreds in both innings of a Test, joining a distinguished list of cricketers. The match-saving innings came after Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha put on 112 runs for the seventh wicket, turning the match on its head after India looked set to win.