Sonal Dinusha’s second century of the series could not prevent Sri Lanka from being bowled out for 290 as India enforced the follow-on on Day 4 of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka resumed on 272/8 and added only 18 runs before losing their final two wickets, with Dinusha completing a fighting 103 before India wrapped up the innings in the morning session.
Dinusha reached his century in the 85th over, pulling a short delivery from Prasidh Krishna through square leg for four. He made 103 off 162 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes, continuing his impressive run after scores of 100 and 84 in the first Test.
His effort, however, only delayed the inevitable after Sri Lanka had fallen well behind India’s first-innings total of 503/9 declared.
Saransh Jain accounted for both wickets to fall on Wednesday. He first dismissed Lahiru Kumara for 12, with Dhruv Jurel taking a sharp diving catch, before removing Dinusha in the 90th over after Rahul took the edge at slip.
Kumara had faced 58 balls for his 12 and provided valuable support to Dinusha, who had carried Sri Lanka’s resistance through the final stages of the innings.
India’s bowling effort was led by Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar, who claimed three wickets apiece. Ravindra Jadeja took one, while Jain finished with two.
Sri Lanka’s 290 left them 213 runs adrift, giving India a commanding advantage and allowing the visitors to enforce the follow-on.
For Sri Lanka, the task now shifts immediately to survival in their second innings. After spending nearly 90 overs fighting to reach 290, they must bat again with India firmly in control of the Test.
Brief Scores: India 503/9 in 138 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115 not out; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) lead Sri Lanka 290 all out in 89.4 overs (Sonal Dinusha 103, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) by 213 runs and enforce the follow-on.