IND vs SL 2nd Test: Sri Lanka put on a fight despite early fall of wickets

SL’s Sonal Dinusha (left) and Pasindu Sooriyabandara steal a run against India on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

[popcorn number="Two" desc="Sonal Dinusha is the second SL player to register three 50-plus scores in each of his first three Test innings against India" class="Default"]

Despite prising out six wickets in the 80.4 overs of play possible at the SSC ground on Tuesday, India will not necessarily look back at the middle day of the second Test with total satisfaction.

Their plans of forcing Sri Lanka on to the back foot thwarted by a combination of obdurate batting and a pitch that slowed down considerably, Shubman Gill's men have a big task ahead of them in their bid to force an outright victory over the next two days.

Overnight 8-2 in reply to the visitors' 503-9 declared, Sri Lanka found their heroes in Pasindu Sooriyabandara and the increasingly impressive Sonal Dinusha, who put their heads down and batted with poise and composure to baulk an Indian attack that at times seemed short on penetration.

Pacer Prasidh Krishna was India's most dangerous bowler but there wasn't a great deal on offer from the three-pronged spin attack, even though Manav Suthar matched Prasidh with three wickets in Sri Lanka's end-of-day tally of 265-8. India are 238 ahead but since they have already bowled nearly 84 overs, Gill has a tough choice to make should he have the option of enforcing the follow on. More rain is forecast over the last two days, adding another dynamic to the mix.

India began the day brightly enough when Prasidh had debutant Kamil Mishara caught behind inside the first hour, but Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis offered staunch resistance while adding 87 for the fourth wicket. The former, who debuted as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal in the second innings in Galle last week and fell first ball, played his strokes without inhibition while Mendis looked to have bedded in for the long haul when, with lunch around the corner, he pulled Prasidh tamely to mid-wicket.

Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva fell cheaply to Suthar and Sooriyabandara's long vigil ended in unfortunate fashion when he chopped Ravindra Jadeja on to his stumps off his back leg. Nirshohan Dickwella was strangled down leg by Mohammed Siraj, but Dinusha, who made 100 and 84 in the first Test, found excellent support from Keshara Nuwantha and then Lahiru Kumara.

Nuwantha was finally dismissed attempting a big stroke, caught by Saransh Jain, the off-spinner who had a disappointing first day in office. But Dinusha, who swept with purpose and clarity, and Kumara, who saw off 50 deliveries, baulked India before bad light forced a halt to the proceedings.

Brief scores
India 503-9d vs SL 265-8 (S Dinusha 85', P Sooriyabandara 80, K Mendis 32; P Krishna 3-47, M Suthar 3-83)