Sri Lanka mounted a strong lower-order resilience led by <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-sonal-dinusha-niroshan-dickwella-display-exceptional-show-with-willow-sri-lanka-reach-215-runs-at-tea-on-day-3-23645200" rel="nofollow">Sonal Dinusha</a> and Pasindu Sooriyabandara to reach 265 for eight at stumps on Day 3 of the second Test in Colombo.&nbsp;
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 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ind-vs-sl-2nd-test-team-india-pacer-prasidh-krishna-speaks-about-his-bowling-approach-23646525" rel="nofollow">Prasidh Krishna</a> 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.
<h2>Indian bowlers strike early before late Sri Lankan resistance</h2>
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 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/kl-rahul-opens-up-on-how-fatherhood-has-evolved-his-game-23628936" rel="nofollow">KL Rahul</a> 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.&nbsp;
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.

Sonal Dinusha`s unbeaten 85 helped Sri Lanka reach 265/8 on Day 3 of the second Test in Colombo, frustrating Indian bowlers in their bid to enforce the followon

Sonal Dinusha leads fightback for Sri Lanka on Day 3 against India

Morne Morkel hails Prasidh Krishna’s growth into a 'world-class bowler'

Sonal Dinusha's unbeaten 85 helped Sri Lanka reach 265/8 on Day 3 of the second Test in Colombo, frustrating Indian bowlers in their bid to enforce the follow-on


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

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