Sonal Dinusha produced another remarkable display of composure to carry Sri Lanka to an epic draw against India in the second Test at the SSC, completing a series in which the left-hander has emerged as one of the country’s most important new batting prospects.
Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133 as Sri Lanka finished on 429 for 9 declared, having been asked to follow on after making 290 in their first innings. India, who had declared on 503 for 9, were left with no option but to settle for a draw after their bowlers were made to toil for most of the fifth day.
It was Dinusha’s third century in four innings, following his 100 in the first Test at Galle and his 103 in the first innings in Colombo. He finished the series with 419 runs at an extraordinary average of 139.66.
But the second innings hundred was arguably the most significant of the lot.
Sri Lanka began the final day with their survival still uncertain. Dinusha, unbeaten overnight, found a willing partner in Keshara Nuwantha as the pair frustrated India throughout the morning session.
They added 112 for the seventh wicket before Manav Suthar finally broke through, getting enough turn and bounce to have Nuwantha caught at gully soon after lunch. Sri Lanka were still only 117 ahead and India had almost two sessions to force a result.
Yet Sri Lanka’s lower order refused to surrender.
Prabath Jayasuriya survived for 71 balls before edging Ravindra Jadeja to gully, but Lahiru Kumara showed the sort of discipline that had been missing from his first-innings effort. Having previously fallen to a rash slog, Kumara dug in this time, making just 12 from 90 balls during a two-hour stay.
His 47-run partnership with Dinusha consumed 170 deliveries and, more importantly, took the game away from India.
When Jadeja finally found enough turn from the rough to have Kumara caught at short leg, Sri Lanka were within touching distance of safety. Dinusha then found another partner in Asitha Fernando, and the pair negotiated 56 more deliveries before the players shook hands.
India’s spinners had worked relentlessly, with Suthar, Jadeja and Saransh Jain all bowling more than 35 overs in the second innings. But the SSC surface had become increasingly difficult to force a mistake from well-set batters.
There was occasional sharp turn and awkward bounce, but much of it was either too slow or too extravagant to produce consistent chances. India’s seamers, meanwhile, were used sparingly as fatigue became increasingly evident.
Mohammed Siraj came closest to removing Dinusha, but even that chance was far from straightforward.
For Sri Lanka, however, the result was about far more than survival. Dinusha’s batting, and the determination of the lower order around him, had transformed what looked like a difficult final day into one of the most memorable escapes of the series.
For India, it was a frustrating end to a match they had dominated for long periods.
For Sri Lanka, it was a draw that felt like a victory.
Chief Scores
India 1st innings: 503/9 declared
Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115*, Asitha Fernando 4/106
Sri Lanka 1st innings: 290
Sonal Dinusha 103, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80, Prasidh Krishna 3/52, Manav Suthar 3/85
Sri Lanka 2nd innings: 429/9 declared
Sonal Dinusha 133*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Ravindra Jadeja 3/94, Manav Suthar 3/121
Result: India and Sri Lanka drew the Test.
