Sonal Dinusha ton helps Sri Lanka salvage draw vs India in 2nd Test

Sonal Dinusha (Pic: ICC)

Sri Lanka mounted an extraordinary second-innings comeback to earn a hard-fought draw against India in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club. Left-handed batter Sonal Dinusha spearheaded the effort with a heroic unbeaten 133, helping the hosts restrict the Indian bowling attack.

After India declared their first innings at 503/9, built on centuries from Devdutt Padikkal (117) and Dhruv Jurel (115') alongside Rishabh Pant's fluent 63, the visitors bowled out Sri Lanka for 290. Holding a massive 213-run lead, Indian skipper Shubman Gill enforced the follow-on.

Facing defeat, Sri Lanka's batting lineup displayed immense grit. Pasindu Sooriyabandara struck a crucial 92, and Kamindu Mendis added 55 to cut short the deficit. However, Dinusha proved to be the big obstacle for India, facing 264 deliveries in his marathon knock to guide Sri Lanka to 429/9 across 154 overs before play concluded.

Sonal's brilliance caps off his personal best series

This marked only the eighth instance in Test history where Sri Lanka took a second-innings lead after following on. Their final lead of 216 runs set a new national record under such circumstances, eclipsing their previous best of 178 against England at Lord's in 2006. The turnaround was particularly remarkable given Sri Lanka had lost 24 of their previous 27 Tests after being forced to follow on, including all eight against India.

Dinusha capped a stellar individual series, scoring 409 runs across four innings with three centuries and a fifty.

Despite the draw, India claimed the two-match series 1-0 following their 165-run victory in the opening Test. Manav Suthar finished as India's leading bowler of the series with 16 wickets, taking 3/121 alongside Ravindra Jadeja's 3/94 in the second innings. Meanwhile, Asitha Fernando led Sri Lanka's attack with 10 wickets across the two Tests.

However, this draw would mean India have dropped points in the race for the World Test Championship final to be held at the Oval next summer.

Brief Scores:

India: 503/9 dec (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115'; Asitha Fernando 4/106)

Sri Lanka: 290 & 429/9 (Sonal Dinusha 133', Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92; Ravindra Jadeja 3/94, Manav Suthar 3/121). Match drawn (India win series 1-0).