Sooriyabandara (92) and Mendis (55) briefly elevate the hosts earlier than the guests regain management
COLOMBO: India are closing in on an enormous win in Colombo after Sri Lanka slumped to 229-6 at stumps on day 4 of the second Check, having been made to follow-on on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka lead by simply 16 runs with 4 wickets in hand and going into the fifth and closing day the vacationers shall be seeking to full a 2-0 sequence sweep.
Sonal Dinusha, who batted fantastically for 100 within the first innings, was unbeaten on seven with Keshara Nuwantha (3*) for firm when rain pressured play to finish early.
Sri Lanka, who resumed the day on 265-8 in response to India’s 503-9 declared, had been bowled out for 290 and requested to bat once more.
“We needed to insert the follow-on figuring out very properly that there’s lot of rain round,” India’s spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule mentioned on the crew’s choice to implement the follow-on.
“We knew that it was going to be robust on the bowlers, however everybody felt that we should always put them in once more. Nice to see the character proven by the bowlers, keep affected person and create these alternatives.”
“This can be a younger spin assault that we’ve got. There’s nerves as a few of them have not performed lot of Check cricket. However they had been ready to study.”
Dinusha, who made 103 within the first innings, mentioned, “We have to get as many runs as doable. We misplaced too many wickets within the final session and we have to bat properly tomorrow.”
The hosts misplaced each their openers early earlier than Kamindu Mendis and Pasindu Sooriyabandara (92) gave Sri Lanka hope with a 115-run stand for the third wicket.
Sooriyabandara, who had made 80 within the first innings, as soon as once more performed spin fantastically with intelligent footwork, whereas Mendis took on the quick bowlers in his 55.
However India persevered with the quick ball towards Mendis, retaining three fielders on the boundary and the plan paid off.
Mendis took on Mohammed Siraj and perished, with captain Shubman Gill working in from sq. leg to finish a surprising catch.
The spinners received again into motion and three wickets fell for simply 9 runs as India regained management.
Sooriyabandara missed out on 100 when he charged Manav Suthar.
The left-arm spinner cleverly fired the ball vast, leaving the batter stranded as Rishabh Pant whipped off the bails. Sooriyabandara hit 10 fours and one six in his 173-ball keep.
After an extended day on the sector, India’s bowlers appeared drained, however Sri Lanka’s batters lacked the persistence and threw away their wickets because the guests received again the momentum.