Galle, Aug 18: India moved to the brink of a massive victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka after a counter-attacking batting display led by Rishabh Pant and a ruthless final session from the bowlers left the hosts reeling at 84 for four at stumps on Day 4.
Chasing a daunting 372, Sri Lanka need another 288 runs on the final day with six wickets in hand. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva was unbeaten on 31, while Sonal Dinusha was not out on 25.
India, who were bowled out for 193 in their second innings, had earlier stretched their overall lead to 371 runs, with Pant’s aggressive 66 off 55 balls, Devdutt Padikkal’s 44 and KL Rahul’s 35 providing the crucial runs.
Pant’s innings was another trademark counter-attacking effort. He reached his half-century from just 53 balls, bringing up the milestone with a six off Lahiru Kumara. The shot also took Pant to 100 sixes in Test cricket, making him the first Indian and the fastest batter to reach the landmark.
Pant eventually fell after nicking Kumara behind to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, but by then he had significantly strengthened India’s position. He also added 54 runs with Ravindra Jadeja.
Padikkal continued his outstanding match after his first-innings 167, contributing 44 in the second innings. He attacked Sri Lanka’s spinners with sweeps, cuts and drives before being trapped on the back foot by Keshara Nuwantha.
Rahul, meanwhile, steadied India’s innings after Yashasvi Jaiswal departed early. He scored 35 and formed a 65-run partnership with Padikkal before falling to Prabath Jayasuriya, who also dismissed Shubman Gill leg before wicket.
Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a difficult start after a brief rain interruption. Mohammed Siraj hurried Nishan Fernando into a mistimed pull, with Prasidh Krishna taking the catch in the deep.
Prasidh struck again to remove Kamindu Mendis, who edged a delivery moving away from him to KL Rahul in the cordon.
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar then added to Sri Lanka’s troubles, dismissing Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Lahiru Udara to leave the hosts in deep trouble.
Sooriyabandara, who replaced Dinesh Chandimal as a concussion substitute after Chandimal struck his shoulder and head while fielding, had an extremely brief Test debut. He was dismissed by Suthar with just one delivery.
Sri Lanka’s task is further complicated by the history of the Galle International Stadium. The highest successful fourth-innings chase at the venue is Pakistan’s 344 against Sri Lanka in 2022, while targets above 200 have been successfully chased only twice at the ground since 1998.
With India having already made significant inroads into Sri Lanka’s top order, the hosts face a daunting final day. De Silva and Dinusha will have to produce a substantial partnership if Sri Lanka are to pull off one of the biggest successful fourth-innings chases in Galle’s history.
