Dinusha Century Saves Sri Lanka From Follow-On

GALLE: (Sports Desk) – Sonal Dinusha produced a determined century to prevent Sri Lanka from being forced to follow on against India before rain brought an early end to the third day of the opening Test in Galle on Monday.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 284 in response to India’s first-innings total of 462, giving the visitors a lead of 178 runs. However, persistent rain prevented India from making further progress with the ball and ended the day’s play.

India will now need favorable weather over the final two days if they are to push for a victory and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Weather interruptions have affected every day of the Test so far. Seventeen overs were lost on the opening day, while only 43 overs could be bowled on day two. On Monday, the teams managed 80.2 overs out of the scheduled 98.

The standout performer of the day was 25-year-old Dinusha, who registered a fighting 100 in just his fourth Test appearance. Sri Lanka were in serious trouble at 90-5 when the left-hander joined forces with wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.

The pair changed the course of the innings with a valuable 146-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Dinusha displayed confident footwork against India’s spin-heavy attack, while Dickwella regularly relied on the sweep to counter the spinners.

Dickwella, returning to Test cricket after more than three years, marked his comeback with an impressive 80. He appeared on course for a century before edging fast bowler Prasidh Krishna through to the wicketkeeper. It was his 23rd Test half-century in 55 matches.

Sri Lanka finally secured safety from the follow-on when tailender Prabath Jayasuriya swept left-arm spinner Manav Suthar for four.

Dinusha completed his century shortly afterward, taking a single off Suthar to mid-wicket. His determined four-hour stay at the crease eventually ended when Ravindra Jadeja trapped him leg before wicket.

He faced 168 deliveries, hitting four fours and two sixes.

Suthar, appearing in only his second Test, impressed with disciplined bowling and finished with 4-76, while Jadeja claimed 3-57.

India had resumed the day on 460-9 and added only two runs before Asitha Fernando dismissed Prasidh Krishna with the fourth delivery of the morning.

For India, Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 167, while KL Rahul contributed 82 and Dhruv Jurel made 51. Prabath Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s leading bowler with four wickets.