India’s decision to enforce the follow-on paid immediate dividends. Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja struck early, leaving Sri Lanka at 83/2 at lunch on day four of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Sri Lanka, resuming at 265/8, bowled out for 290 in just four overs after Sonal Dinusha completed his second century of the series. His 103 off 162 balls was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s resistance and left the hosts 213 runs short.
Dinusha completed his hundred by pulling Prasidh Krishna for four but fell soon afterwards.
Lahiru Kumara, who made 12 off 58 balls, edged Saransh Jain towards cover, where Dhruv Jurel completed a low catch.
Jain then removed Dinusha, inducing an outside edge from a fuller off-break, with Rahul taking the catch at slip. It was Jain’s second wicket of the innings after he had earlier been denied his maiden Test wicket twice by DRS.
India then enforced the follow-on, only the second time Sri Lanka have been asked to follow on in their last 27 Tests.
Siraj provided the first breakthrough in the second innings, dismissing Lahiru Udara for a duck with a short delivery that produced a pull to fine leg. He finished the session with 1/7.
Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara initially stabilised the innings before attacking India’s spinners.
Mishara made 32 off 39 balls with three fours and a six, while Sooriyabandara reached 35 off 52.
Siraj briefly left the field after hurting his rib cage while attempting a difficult catch at deep mid-wicket, but later returned.
Jadeja eventually dismissed Mishara for 32 after an lbw decision survived review on umpire’s call.
Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis then negotiated the spinners cautiously, with Mendis unbeaten on 10.
Sri Lanka remained 130 runs short of forcing India to bat again at lunch.
India 503/9 (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115*; Asitha Fernando 4/106) lead Sri Lanka 290 & 83/2 f/o (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 35*, Kamil Mishara 32) by 130 runs.
Also Read: Prasidh Krishna’s Double Blow Keeps India Ahead As Sri Lanka Reach 130/4
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