India moved within striking distance of a 2-0 Test series victory over Sri Lanka after enforcing the follow-on in the second and final Test at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday, August 26. Sri Lanka showed resistance in their second innings but ended Day 4 at 229/6, leading India by only 16 runs.
India Take Massive 213-Run First-Innings Lead
India had earlier declared their first innings at an imposing 503/9. Sri Lanka resumed Day 4 on 265/8 but managed only another 25 runs before being dismissed for 290, handing India a commanding 213-run advantage.
Captain Shubman Gill immediately enforced the follow-on, giving India’s bowlers another opportunity to attack the hosts with a series victory on the line.
Sonal Dinusha Hits Fighting Century
Sri Lanka all-rounder Sonal Dinusha provided the main resistance in the first innings, converting his overnight 85 into 103 from 162 balls, including eight fours and three sixes.
It was Dinusha’s second century of the series, following his 100 in the opening Test at Galle. His effort, however, could not prevent Sri Lanka from falling short of the follow-on target.
Debutant off-spinner Saransh Jain removed the final two batters, including Dinusha, to finish with 2/69.
Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar Lead India’s Attack
India’s bowling unit shared the workload effectively. Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar claimed three wickets each, while Jain picked up two.
Krishna has emerged as one of India’s standout bowlers in the Colombo Test, using pace, bounce and disciplined lengths to trouble Sri Lanka on a surface where spin had been expected to dominate.
Sri Lanka Fight Back in Second Innings
The hosts produced a much stronger response after being asked to bat again.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara struck 92 as Sri Lanka battled their way to 229/6 at stumps, finally erasing India’s huge first-innings advantage and taking a slender 16-run lead.
India nevertheless regained momentum with wickets later in the day, leaving Sri Lanka with only four wickets remaining heading into the final day.
Rain also interrupted play, reducing India’s opportunity to push for an early finish.
India Four Wickets Away From Another Victory
India entered the Colombo Test 1-0 ahead in the two-match series after winning the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs.
With Sri Lanka only 16 runs ahead and six wickets down, India will begin Day 5 as overwhelming favourites to complete the victory. The visitors’ immediate objective will be to remove the remaining four wickets quickly and keep their fourth-innings target as small as possible.
A victory in Colombo would give India a 2-0 series sweep in Sri Lanka, while the hosts need another major lower-order resistance—or help from the weather—to deny them.
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