India Move Closer to Victory as Sri Lanka Slump to 84-4

GALLE: (Sports Desk) – India moved a step closer to victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday after their bowlers reduced the hosts to 84-4 while chasing a target of 372 on the fourth day.

Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar led India’s attack with two wickets as Sri Lanka’s top order struggled on a Galle surface offering increasing turn.

India were earlier dismissed for 193 in their second innings, with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant leading the scoring with a brisk 66.

Pant’s innings also saw him create a new Test milestone, becoming the fastest player to reach 100 sixes in the format. He reached the landmark in just 89 innings, surpassing former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist, who achieved the feat in 130 innings.

Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a disastrous start. Opener Nishan Madushka Fernando was dismissed for six after top-edging a hook off Mohammed Siraj to fine leg.

Debutant Pasindu Sooriyabandara, brought into the side as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal, had an unfortunate start. He was trapped lbw by Suthar without scoring.

Chandimal had been ruled out after sustaining a head injury while fielding, leaving Sri Lanka to bring in Sooriyabandara as his replacement.

Prasidh Krishna then added to India’s advantage by having Kamindu Mendis caught at first slip for two.

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva survived a major scare when he was caught at slip off Ravindra Jadeja, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball. He was on seven at the time.

Suthar claimed his second wicket when Lahiru Udara was caught low by close-in fielder Dhruv Jurel. The television umpire confirmed the dismissal after reviewing several replays, although the Sri Lankan camp questioned whether the ball had touched the ground before reaching Jurel.

De Silva and Sonal Dinusha, who had already scored a century in Sri Lanka’s first innings, steadied the innings and guided the hosts to stumps without further damage. De Silva was unbeaten on 31, while Dinusha was not out on 25.

Sri Lanka still require 288 more runs for an unlikely victory, while India need six wickets to win. More than 90 overs remain scheduled for the final day, although rain could again interfere with proceedings.

Sri Lanka’s bowling attack had earlier made regular breakthroughs during India’s second innings. Asitha Fernando was particularly effective, finishing with figures of 4-31.

India’s first-innings total of 462 was built around Devdutt Padikkal’s 167, while Sri Lanka responded with 284, giving India a 178-run first-innings advantage before the visitors set up the challenging fourth-innings target.