Second Test at SSC
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Two youngsters in their twenties Pasindu Sooriyabandara (26) and Sonal Dinusha (25) led Sri Lanka’s fight back in the second Test against India on another rain-truncated day at the SSC grounds yesterday.
Both batsmen struck eighties apiece that saw Sri Lanka end the third day on 265-8 in reply to India’s 503-9 declared. Sri Lanka trail India by 238 runs and require a further 39 runs to avoid the follow-on.
Sooriyabandara, who made his Test debut as a concussion substitute in the Galle Test, looked solid when he walked out to the middle. He added 87 with Kamindu Mendis (32) before the partnership was broken on the stroke of lunch. Another brief partnership followed between Sooriyabandara and Dinusha, but Ravindra Jadeja struck to dismiss Sooriyabandara for 80 (133 balls, 9 fours). Dinusha continued from where he left off in Galle and completed his third 50-plus score in as many innings. He looked the best batter on display, handling both pace and spin with little trouble. Keshara Nuwantha (18) and Lahiru Kumara (8*) supported him down the order in partnerships of 57 and 35*. Sri Lanka are not yet out of the woods. India took the second new ball and will look to wrap up the final two wickets quickly today.
Sri Lanka started the day positively, with Kamil Mishara picking up a few boundaries off Prasidh Krishna, but the Indian pacer had the last laugh as he bounced out the debutant. Sooriyabandara and Kamindu carried on with the positive intent, keeping the scoreboard moving and putting some pressure on the Indian bowlers. Saransh Jain, the first spinner introduced, failed to make an impact, while Manav Suthar also struggled for consistency conceding runs. The pair added 87 at a good rate, forcing Indian captain Shubman Gill to turn back to his pacers. Krishna, who was the pick of the Indian bowlers returned to break the partnership by removing Mendis who pulled the ball straight into the hands of mid-wicket. A compulsive player of the pull and hook shots, India exploited that to dismiss Mendis.
Sooriyabandara completed his maiden Test fifty off 76 balls and looked in good touch going to lunch unbeaten on 65.India tightened the grip on the game in the afternoon session when
they picked up three wickets. Dhananjaya de Silva fell to Suthar early on, before Dinusha and Sooriyabandara put together a handy partnership. Just as Sooriyabandara began to settle in, Jadeja returned into the attack and broke the stand. Niroshan Dickwella did not last long. Mohamed Siraj strangled him down the leg side for a duck. With Sri Lanka seven down, Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha showed plenty of resilience to frustrate the Indian bowlers. Dinusha using his feet effectively against the spinners notched up his fifty off 82 balls to remain unbeaten on 85 at the close having faced 137 balls and hit six fours and two sixes. Nuwantha looked solid in defence batting for 82 minutes before he fell to Suthar, but the partnership helped Sri Lanka trim the deficit to an extent although it is still a long way to go.
