Sri Lanka’s young guns Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Sonal Dinusha once again emerged as bright spots in an otherwise difficult series, producing gritty knocks to keep the hosts fighting on Day Four of the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday. Despite their resistance, Sri Lanka remained firmly on the back foot and are staring at a 0-2 series defeat.After being forced to follow on, Sri Lanka reached 229/6 in their second innings when rain brought an early end to proceedings. With the hosts effectively still 16 runs behind with only four wickets in hand, India require just a final push on the fifth morning to complete victory.Having already impressed in the first innings with an 80, the 26-year-old Sooriyabandara showcased his growing reputation with a classy 92 off 173 balls, striking 10 fours and a six. He combined with Kamindu Mendis, who made a fighting 55 off 92 deliveries, in a crucial 115-run fourth-wicket partnership that temporarily frustrated the Indian attack and gave Sri Lanka hope of extending the contest.While India chipped away steadily through the day, Sooriyabandara’s enterprise stood out. Playing only his second Test after making his debut as a concussion substitute in Galle, the right-hander took on India’s most successful bowler of the series, left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, using sweeps, reverse-sweeps and confident footwork to upset the spinner’s rhythm.His resistance eventually ended on 92 when he charged down the track to Suthar, missed a delivery spinning away outside off stump and was smartly stumped by Rishabh Pant. Suthar’s tactical awareness and Pant’s anticipation combined to produce a breakthrough India desperately needed.Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka resumed their first innings at 265/8, still needing 39 runs to avoid the follow-on. The responsibility once again fell on Dinusha, who continued his remarkable series. Unbeaten overnight on 85, the left-hander completed his second century of the series with a composed 103 off 162 balls, decorated with eight boundaries and three sixes.Dinusha’s hundred came after scores of 100 and 84 in the opening Test in Galle and underlined his emergence as Sri Lanka’s most dependable batter in the series. A magnificent pull off Prasidh Krishna for four was among the shots of the match as he guided Sri Lanka beyond the follow-on target before the hosts were bowled out for 290 in reply to India’s imposing 503/9 declared.India’s bowlers, though, ensured the home side never truly seized momentum. Mohammed Siraj struck early in the second innings when opener Lahiru Udara awkwardly fended a bouncer to Saransh Jain at fine leg. Sri Lanka’s opening troubles continued, with their opening partnerships yielding a meagre 46 runs across eight innings in 2026.Sooriyabandara and Kamil Mishara attempted to counterattack, adding 58 runs in quick time for the second wicket. Mishara looked positive during his 32 from 39 balls before Ravindra Jadeja trapped him leg-before as he missed a sweep.The standout phase of Sri Lanka’s innings came before lunch, when Sooriyabandara and Kamindu took the score to 162 for two. The pair attacked Suthar aggressively, with Kamindu slog-sweeping and dancing down the track to strike a pair of sixes.India found inspiration through their captain Shubman Gill. Mendis miscued a pull off Prasidh Krishna and Gill sprinted in from square leg before diving full length to complete a spectacular catch that broke the partnership and swung momentum back India’s way.Suthar soon struck twice, removing Sooriyabandara and then captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 23. Saransh Jain also played his part, trapping Niroshan Dickwella leg-before as Sri Lanka slipped further.When rain halted proceedings, Dinusha remained unbeaten on seven alongside Keshav Nuwantha on three. Their task on the final day is daunting, but Sri Lanka will draw encouragement from the performances of Dinusha and Sooriyabandara.
