COLOMBO: Sonal Dinusha produced a remarkable match-saving innings on Thursday as Sri Lanka held India to a draw in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, denying the visitors a series sweep after they had appeared firmly in control on the fourth day.
Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133 as Sri Lanka declared their second innings at 429-9 in the final session of the fifth day, leaving India without enough time to force a result. The players shook hands with the mandatory 15 overs still to be played.
India, who won the opening Test, took the two-match series 1-0.
The draw was set up by an extraordinary fightback from Sri Lanka, who had resumed the final day on 229-6, holding a lead of only 16 runs with four wickets remaining.
Dinusha, unbeaten on seven overnight, and Keshara Nuwantha, on three, frustrated India throughout the morning session before adding 112 runs for the seventh wicket.
The partnership was finally broken shortly after lunch when left-arm spinner Manav Suthar had Nuwantha caught at second slip for 46. Prabath Jayasuriya then fell to Ravindra Jadeja for two, leaving Dinusha to bat with the tail.
Lahiru Kumara provided crucial support, facing 90 balls for his 12 as Dinusha continued to dominate the bowling. He defended with assurance and attacked the spinners with well-controlled sweeps as India struggled to find a way through on a pitch offering little assistance.
Dinusha’s unbeaten 133 was his second century of the match, following his 103 in Sri Lanka’s first innings, and his third century in four innings. The 25-year-old, playing only his fifth Test, became the eighth Sri Lankan to score hundreds in both innings of a Test.
His effort also earned him player-of-the-match honours after he accumulated 420 runs in the series.
“When the team is down, I wanted to get runs for the team,” Dinusha said. “Getting runs against India is a pleasure as a player.”
India had looked set for victory on the fourth day after enforcing the follow-on.
The visitors had declared their first innings on 503-9 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 290. Debutant spinner Saransh Jain claimed the final two wickets, prompting India captain Shubman Gill to send the hosts back in.
Sri Lanka lost both openers early in their second innings before Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis launched a counter-attack.
Sooriyabandara, who had scored 80 in the first innings, made 92 while Mendis contributed 55 as they put on 115 for the third wicket. The pair briefly shifted the momentum towards Sri Lanka, with Sooriyabandara again displaying impressive footwork against spin.
Mendis was eventually dismissed while attempting to take on Mohammed Siraj, top-edging a short delivery. Gill, stationed at square leg, ran back and across before completing a difficult catch.
India then regained control as three wickets fell for nine runs.
Sooriyabandara, who appeared set for his maiden Test century, was dismissed for 92 when he charged Suthar at a wide delivery and missed, allowing wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant to complete the stumping.
Rain again interrupted proceedings and Sri Lanka eventually finished the fourth day on 229-6, leaving India needing four wickets to win.
But Dinusha had other ideas.
India rotated their bowlers and Gill repeatedly altered his fields, yet the left-hander refused to give them an opening. The result was a memorable rescue act that preserved Sri Lanka’s position in the World Test Championship standings.
“I don’t think we could have done anything differently,” Gill said. “We fielded for about 250 overs, for three days consecutively, and we did everything we could, but they played really well.”
“A lot of positives for us, learning from the opposition. The way they came back, it was tremendous to see.”
Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten described Dinusha’s innings as one of the greatest match-saving knocks in Sri Lankan cricket.
“He is a smart cricketer,” Kirsten said. “This innings today would go down in history in Sri Lankan cricket as one of the greatest match-saving knocks.”
The series also brought recognition for India’s Devdutt Padikkal, who was named player of the series after scoring 328 runs, including centuries in both Tests.
India remain fifth in the World Test Championship standings, with Sri Lanka sixth.
Scoreboard
INDIA (1st Innings) 503-9 decl (D. Padikkal 117, D. Jurel 115; A. Fernando 4-106)
SRI LANKA (1st Innings):
L. Udara c Jaiswal b Krishna 1
K. Mishara c Jurel b Krishna 19
P. Jayasuriya lbw Suthar 2
P. Sooriyabandara b Jadeja 80
K. Mendis c Jadeja b Krishna 32
D. de Silva c Rahul b Suthar 8
S. Dinusha c Rahul b Jain 103
N. Dickwella c Jurel b Siraj 0
K. Nuwantha c Jain b Suthar 18
L. Kumara c Jurel b Jain 12
A. Fernando not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-6, NB-6, W-2) 14
TOTAL (all out, 89.4 overs) 290
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Udara), 2-8 Jayasuriya, 3-35 (Mishara), 4-122 (Mendis), 5-137 (de Silva), 6-171 (Sooriyabandara), 7-173 (Dickwella), 8-230 (Nuwantha), 9-288 (Kumara)
BOWLING: Siraj 11-0-33-1 (1w, 1nb); Krishna 16-2-52-3 (1w); Suthar 22-1-85-3; Jain 20.4-5-69-2 (2nb); Jadeja 20-4-45-1 (3nb)
SRI LANKA (2nd Innings, overnight 229-6):
L. Udara c Jain b Siraj 3
K. Mishara lbw Jadeja 32
P. Sooriyabandara st Pant b Suthar 92
K. Mendis c Gill b Krishna 55
D. de Silva c Padikkal b Suthar 23
S. Dinusha not out 133
N. Dickwella lbw Jain 6
K. Nuwantha c Jurel b Suthar 46
P. Jayasuriya c Jurel b Jadeja 2
L. Kumara c Jaiswal b Jadeja 12
A. Fernando not out 0
EXTRAS (B-7, LB-8, NB-7, W-3) 25
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 154 overs) 429
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-5 (Udara), 2-63 (Mishara), 3-178 (Mendis), 4-209 (de Silva), 5-212 (Sooriyabandara), 6-218 (Dickwella), 7-330 (Nuwantha), 8-355 (Jayasuriya), 9-402 (Kumara)
BOWLING: Krishna 18.3-3-57-1 (2w); Siraj 15-7-26-1 (1w); Suthar 41-7-121-3 (1nb); Jain 37-4-98-1 (5nb); Jadeja 38.3-4-94-3 (1nb); Gill 2-0-8-0; Jaiswal 1-0-9-0; Jurel 1-0-1-0
RESULT: Match drawn
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Sonal Dinusha
SERIES: India won two-match series 1-0.
MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Devdutt Padikkal
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