Sonal Dinusha 133* earns Sri Lanka epic draw in Colombo

Sonal Dinusha put up an impressive resistance to keep the Indian bowlers at bay on the final day, helping Sri Lanka save the second Test in Colombo after they were asked to follow-on. Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133 after a seven-hour stand and, with helpful lower-order support, prevented India from batting again in the Test. This was the first time in nine occasions that India failed to secure a victory after enforcing a follow-on against Sri Lanka.

Needing only four wickets on the final day in order to begin the chase, the Indian bowlers had to toil hard on a surface which offered a bit of turn, but largely predictable pace and bounce. Despite the fact that the new ball was bowled within the first half an hour of play, overnight batters Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha kept the Indians at bay throughout the morning session.

Sri Lanka also overcame its deficit in the first innings thanks to the 88-run seventh-wicket stand that lasted more than 40 overs. Soon after the lunch break, Manav Suthar took the outside edge of Nuwantha's bat to second slip and got the first strike of the day when he got a delivery to spin in sharply.

Prabath Jayasuriya remained defiant for another 28 balls before his attempted drive off Ravindra Jadeja hit Dhruv Jurel at second slip on the outside edge. The Indians had sufficient motivation to go for the kill even as the lead grew to 150 runs with only two wickets remaining and nearly a session and a half to play.

However, Lahiru Kumara provided much-needed support to Dinusha as the duo put an end to India’s hopes. To counter the turn, the southpaw successfully utilized the sweep. During a period of attritional batting, the pair consumed 169 deliveries for 47 runs, during which Dinusha scored his century. Soon after Dinusha scored a century, Kumara attempted a slog sweep that fell in front of Jurel at deep midwicket, giving India a chance. But that was a rare opportunity.

Kumara eventually departed on 12 when an inside edge was pouched at short leg by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Nonetheless, which the number of overs reducing, Dinusha took Sri Lanka till the end of day without any further trouble and helped avoid a whitewash.