Colombo, August 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Sri Lanka mounted a spirited fightback against India on the fourth day of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, reaching 229/6 in their second innings before rain brought play to an early close on Wednesday.
India had enforced the follow-on after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 290 in the morning, 213 runs behind India’s first-innings total of 503/9 declared. The hosts, however, responded strongly and at one stage appeared capable of making the decision to bat again costly for the visitors.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 63/2 after Mohammed Siraj dismissed Lahiru Udara for three and Ravindra Jadeja removed Kamil Mishara for 32. But Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis then transformed the innings with a 115-run third-wicket partnership.
Sooriyabandara, who had scored 80 in the first innings, again impressed with a combination of aggression and disciplined defence. He reached his second half-century of the match, while Mendis was equally fluent and brought up his fifty.
India finally broke the partnership when Prasidh Krishna induced Mendis into a pull shot. Shubman Gill ran back and across to complete an excellent catch, dismissing Mendis for 55 off 92 balls.
Sri Lanka were 199/3 at tea, with Sooriyabandara unbeaten on 90 and still just 14 runs behind India.
The final session initially continued to favour the hosts, but India produced three crucial breakthroughs. Manav Suthar dismissed captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 23 after an inside edge ballooned off his thigh pad, with Devdutt Padikkal taking the catch.
Sooriyabandara then missed out on a maiden Test century, falling for 92 from 173 balls. After surviving an LBW review because of an inside edge, he charged Suthar on the following delivery but was beaten by the slower ball and stumped by Rishabh Pant.
Saransh Jain subsequently trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw for six, leaving Sri Lanka at 218/6. Sonal Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha then resisted as India tightened the pressure.
India’s bowling, however, was marred by a high number of no-balls. Their spinners bowled 10 no-balls during the innings, while Jadeja’s three took his Test career tally to 88, the most by a spinner since 2021.
Rain intervened with Sri Lanka at 227/6. Play was halted at 4.37 pm local time, and with conditions worsening, the umpires abandoned the day’s proceedings.
Sri Lanka eventually finished on 229/6, giving them a lead of 16 runs with four wickets remaining. India are now within sight of victory, but further rain on the final day could become a major factor.
With the second new ball less than eight overs away, India will look to remove the remaining wickets quickly and chase a manageable target. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will hope their lower order can add enough runs to put pressure on India’s batting line-up and allow the weather to become an additional ally.
Brief scores: India 503/9 decl.; Sri Lanka 290 & 229/6 (72.4 overs) (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92 not out, Kamindu Mendis 55; Manav Suthar 2/81, Mohammed Siraj 1/11, Ravindra Jadeja 1/48), lead by 16 runs.
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