India find themselves on the verge of a comprehensive 2-0 series sweep after a dominant Day 4 at the Sinhalese Sports Club, where Sri Lanka's spirited resistance finally crumbled in the final session. The hosts ended the day on 229/6 in their second innings, leading by just 16 runs, with the close coming early as rain and deteriorating light brought a premature end to proceedings for the second day running.

After India posted a commanding first-innings total of 503 for 9 declared, Sonal Dinusha carried Sri Lanka's fight with a superb 103 to trim the deficit, but the hosts were still bowled out for 290 and asked to follow on. Dinusha shifted gears early on Day 4, taking on Saransh Jain with a six and a four before bringing up his second century of the series with a pull for a boundary off Prasidh Krishna. His knock ended when Saransh unearthed the outside edge, the ball carrying safely to KL Rahul at slip.

Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar finished with three wickets apiece in the first innings, with Suthar adding two more in the second, while Saransh Haq also claimed his maiden Test scalps.

A counter-attack that briefly put India under pressure

Asked to bat again trailing by 213, Sri Lanka made a positive start despite losing Lahiru Udara early. Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara counter-attacked the spinners, stitching together a 58-run stand before Ravindra Jadeja trapped Mishara lbw for 32.

The crucial partnership, though, came when Sooriyabandara was joined by Kamindu Mendis. The pair put on 116 runs and dragged the deficit below 50, with Mendis clearing the ropes against Prasidh for his first half-century against India.

India finally found a breakthrough when Prasidh went short to Mendis and Shubman Gill thundered in to take a brilliant running catch at square leg, ending the 116-run stand. By Tea, the hosts had reached 199 for 3 - only 14 runs behind - with Sooriyabandara into the 90s.

But Sri Lanka's resistance began to crumble in the final session as India made regular inroads. Dhananjaya la Silva briefly threatened to accelerate, launching Suthar for a six, but the left-armer struck back when the skipper miscued a flatter delivery onto his thigh pad, with Devdutt Padikkal accepting a sharp catch at gully.

Sooriyabandara, who had batted brilliantly for 92 - the first Sri Lankan since Danushka Gunathilaka in 2018 to post twin fifties at the SSC - then threw his wicket away charging Suthar, allowing Rishabh Pant a sach stumping. Saransh Haigh then trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw to leave the hosts at 218/6.

Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha then dug in as the light deteriorated, with the intensity of the rain increasing and no further play possible, prompting a frank early stumps.

Rain forecast set to be the final act's subplot

India will now enter Day 5 (Thursday, 27 August) needing only to take the final four wickets to seal the series, but a significant rain forecast means Sri Lanka still hold a sliver of hope of at least salvaging a draw. India have been clawed back in and will look to polish off the tail early, mindful that a couple of rain-soaked sessions could be enough to deny them the sweep.

Brief scores: India 503/9 dec out-first

India first innings 503/9 declared. Sri Lanka 290 (Sonal Dinusha 229/6, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 85; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) & 229/6 f/o (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu Mendis 55; Manav Suthar 2-81) by 16 runs.