India flatten Sri Lanka's top order to seize control in Galle

India were bowled out inside 200 in Sri Lanka for the first time since the 2015 Galle Test, but they had already done enough damage — securing a lead of 371 runs that left the hosts pinned firmly to the ropes at the end of a rain-hit Day 4. Sri Lanka's top order was swept away in the final session, finishing on a shaky 84/4.

With rain in the air throughout the day, India's objective was clear from the moment Yashasvi Jaiswal slashed an edge behind off just the third ball of the innings: maximise the lead quickly. KL Rahul unfurled a couple of delectable lofted hits but was sucked into attempting a third six, while Shubman Gill fell attempting a sweep off Prabath Jayasuriya — succumbing to the same bowler who dismissed him in the first innings. Devdutt Padikkal was, as ever, characteristically measured, drawing on the success of his first-innings knock.

Pant's blithe counter-attack

With the ball turning and keeping low at times, Sri Lanka opted to use the short ball generously and kept a pacer at one end to slow the game down. But they ran into Rishabh Pant and his blithe counter-attack. He launched into attack mode by stepping out to carve Lahiru Kumara for a six over covers.

On 28, Sri Lanka had a chance to nab him, but Dhananjaya de Silva dropped a difficult chance at slip. Even as he lost Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, Pant kept going from one end, reaching his fifty with a disbalanced pull over fine leg — his 100th six of the format. But Kumara stuck to his plan, and a similar ball brought his end, the top-edge only carrying as far as keeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Pant's entertaining 66 was the only real bit of defiance, as Asitha Fernando and Kumara used the short ball effectively to clean up the rest of the batting, with India knocked over for 193 — only three batters reaching double figures.

Short-ball ploy delivers — and Suthar strikes

The same short-ball ploy gave India their first breakthrough in reply. Nishan Madushka was gobbled up at long leg trying to hook Mohammed Siraj. With Dinesh Chandimal, injured while fielding, deemed unfit to continue, Pasindu Sooriyabandara was handed a rushed debut as a concussion substitute — and fell for a golden duck, leaving Sri Lanka on 14/2.

Thereafter Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar pressed on the middle order. Prasidh accounted for Kamindu Mendis with extra lift off the surface, leaving Sri Lanka tottering at 21/3. It could have been 34/4, but Ravindra Jadeja was found guilty of overstepping after inducing an edge off de Silva's bat.

Jadeja remained wicketless, but Suthar claimed two, the second via a sharp catch from Dhruv Jurel on his knees at gully. Replays were needed to confirm whether his fingers were underneath, but the grab sent back Lahiru Udara. Jurel later limped off the field after taking a hit, with Sarfaraz Khan making an appearance.

A mountain to climb

Amid fading lights, de Silva and Sonal Dinusha, the centurion from the first innings, managed to keep India at bay. But there is still a mountain to climb: only twice have Sri Lanka chased down 350 in Tests. And against an Indian attack with its tail up on a Day 5 Galle wicket, the challenge cannot get steeper.

Brief scores: India 462 & 193 (Rishabh Pant 66, Devdutt Padikkal 44; Asitha Fernando 4-31, Prabath Jayasuriya 3-43) lead Sri Lanka 284 & 84/4 (Dhananjaya de Silva 31*, Sonal Dinusha 25*; Manav Suthar 2-30, Mohammed Siraj 1-11) by 287 runs.