Sonal Dinusha leads Sri Lankan fightback on Day 3 of second Test against India

Indian team in action against Sri Lanka (Pic: ANI)

Sri Lanka mounted a strong lower-order resilience led by Sonal Dinusha and Pasindu Sooriyabandara to reach 265 for eight at stumps on Day 3 of the second Test in Colombo.

Dinusha remained undefeated on 85 alongside Lahiru Kumara (8) before play was brought to an early close due to rain. The hosts trailed India's mammoth first-innings total of 503 for nine declared by 238 runs, needing 38 more to avoid the follow-on.

Resuming from a tea score of 216 for seven, the home side looked set for a swift collapse. However, Dinusha recorded his third consecutive fifty-plus score of the series to anchor the lower order across two sessions. The 25-year-old left-hander withstood testing spells from Prasidh Krishna as well as spinners Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Saransh Jain during his 201-minute stay.

Dinusha found solid support from the tail, adding 57 runs for the eighth wicket with Keshara Nuwantha, who faced 74 deliveries, followed by an unbroken 35-run stand with Kumara, who survived 50 balls.

Indian bowlers strike early before late Sri Lankan resistance

India dominated the middle session, capturing four wickets while giving away just 86 runs to leave Sri Lanka reeling at tea. Left-arm spinner Suthar induced an edge from Dhananjaya de Silva, caught by KL Rahul at slip, before Jadeja bowled a well-set Sooriyabandara for 80. Soon after, Mohammed Siraj removed Niroshan Dickwella down the leg side, with keeper Dhruv Jurel taking the catch.

Earlier in the morning, Sri Lanka resumed on 8 for two and lost batter Kamil Mishara (19) to a rising delivery from Prasidh. However, Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis forged an 87-run partnership for the third wicket. Sooriyabandara reached his maiden Test half-century in 76 balls before Prasidh broke the stand by having Mendis caught at mid-wicket off a short ball.

Despite middle-order breakthroughs, the Indian attack struggled to dismiss the final wickets before weather halted play, leaving Sri Lanka with two wickets remaining heading into Day 4.

With two days remaining and rain in the forecast, India would hope to get the remaining two wickets in quick succession and seal the match and the series.