India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test: Dinusha Holds Firm on Day 4

Sri Lanka resumed the fourth day of the second Test against India at 265/8 in Colombo, still 238 runs behind India’s declared first-innings total of 503/9. Sonal Dinusha, unbeaten on 85 overnight, and Lahiru Kumara, on eight not out, returned to the crease with the hosts needing 39 more runs to avoid the follow-on.

Play began with Ravindra Jadeja completing the final two balls of an over that had started on Day 3. India entered the morning in a strong position after restricting Sri Lanka to eight wickets, while Dinusha’s unbeaten innings remained the key resistance in the home side’s first innings.

Early on Day 4, India debutant Saransh Jain thought he had made the breakthrough when Dinusha was given out leg before wicket. Sri Lanka reviewed the decision, however, and replays showed the ball was missing the stumps. The decision was overturned, leaving Dinusha at the crease and Jain without his first wicket in the match.

Dinusha leads Sri Lanka’s resistance

Dinusha had already played the central role in Sri Lanka’s effort to reduce the deficit after India posted 503/9 declared. At the close of the rain-affected third day, he was 85 not out, with Kumara unbeaten on eight. Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who made 80, was Sri Lanka’s other major contributor in an innings that had reached 265/8.

India’s bowling effort on Day 3 was led by Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar, who took three wickets each. Their work left Sri Lanka facing the immediate task of passing the follow-on mark, rather than allowing India to move quickly into the next phase of the Test.

The overturned LBW appeal added another important moment to the morning. Dinusha was close to a significant personal milestone, but his greater importance was in extending Sri Lanka’s innings alongside the final recognised support available in the tail. With Sri Lanka eight down, every run was relevant to the hosts’ effort to narrow the large first-innings gap.

Rain had already affected the match on Day 3, when play ended early. The fourth morning in Colombo was cooler, with the sun yet to break through, and further interruptions remained a concern. The available forecast pointed to periods of rain during the day, making time and progress important for both sides.

The pitch assessment before play noted a slight drop in bounce as the Test had progressed, while pace had remained largely true. Rough at one end was also identified as an area that could offer assistance to the spinners. Those conditions formed the backdrop as India continued to search for the final two Sri Lankan wickets.

India seek to press their advantage

India’s position was built on their first-innings declaration at 503/9, which gave them a substantial lead heading into Sri Lanka’s reply. At 265/8, Sri Lanka remained well short of that total and required 39 runs simply to avoid being asked to bat again immediately under the follow-on provision.

For Sri Lanka, Dinusha’s unbeaten 85 was the defining feature of the innings at the start of Day 4. His survival after the successful review ensured the hosts retained their most established batter at the crease as they tried to move beyond the follow-on threshold. Kumara’s role at the other end was to support that effort and keep the innings alive.

India, meanwhile, had the opportunity to complete the innings and maintain control of the Test. The early review denied Jain a debut breakthrough, but Sri Lanka’s position remained precarious with only two wickets in hand. The remainder of the morning would determine whether Dinusha and Kumara could take Sri Lanka past the follow-on line before India wrapped up the first innings.