Dinusha Dhanusha's maiden hundred fuels Sri Lanka's fight but ends in follow‑on

In Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club ground, Sonal Dinusha turned personal triumph into a fighting spirit for Sri Lanka, yet the team could not escape the follow‑on. After a solid 85‑run unbeaten effort on the third day, Dinusha added 18 more runs to cross the three‑figure mark, finishing on 103 from 162 balls with three sixes and eight fours.

Despite his effort, Sri Lanka’s innings collapsed from 265 for 8 to 290 all out on the fourth day, leaving them 213 runs behind India’s imposing 509. The large gap triggered the compulsory follow‑on rule, marking a rare setback for the hosts.

India’s innings was powered by Devdutt Padikkal’s 117, Dhrupad Jurel’s unbeaten 115, and useful scores from Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Sri Lanka’s second‑innings start was tentative, reaching 43 for 1 in just over ten overs, with Kamal Mishara and Pasindu Soriyabandara contributing 20 each.

The game continues, with Sri Lanka needing a resilient display to avoid an innings defeat, while India looks to consolidate its commanding lead.