India seize control as Sri Lanka's resistance crumbles in final session

India moved decisively into the ascendancy on Day 4 of the second Test at the SSC, dismantling Sri Lanka's brave fightback over the final session to leave the hosts with a mountain to climb on the last day. Asked to follow on after being bowled out for 290 in reply to India's 503/9 declared, Sri Lanka reached 229/6 at the close — leading by just 16 runs with tailenders at the crease and the light fading.

Day 4 began with Sri Lanka on 265/8, still trailing by 238 runs, with Sonal Dinusha unbeaten on 85. The left-hander shifted gears quickly, taking on offspinner Saransh Jain with a six and a four early on before bringing up his second hundred of the series with a pull for a boundary off Prasidh Krishna. His resistance ended on 103 as Saransh tossed one up outside off and drew the edge, with the catch carrying safely to Rahul at slip.

Lahiru Kumara had earlier threatened to break free, striking Saransh over mid-on for four, but his attacking approach cost him two balls later as he miscued a lofted shot towards deep cover and Dhruv Jurel held an excellent low catch to hand Saransh his maiden Test wicket.

Mendis and Sooriyabandara lead the fightback

Trailing by 213 runs and asked to follow on, Sri Lanka made a positive start despite losing Lahiru Udhara early. Kamil Muthara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara then counter-attacked the Indian spinners, with both Manav Subhara and Saransa conceding runs before Ravindra Jadeja trapped Muthara leg-before for 32.

Sooriyabandara continued to anchor the innings alongside Kamindu Mendis, and the pair steadily shifted momentum towards Sri Lanka. Sooriyabandara brought up his second fifty of the match with a four off Jadeja, becoming the first Sri Lankan batter since Danushka Gunathilaka in 2018 to score twin fifties in a Test at the SSC. Mendis reached his first half-century against India with a six off Prasidh, and the third-wicket pair extended their stand past 100 as the deficit fell below 50.

The breakthrough finally came when Prasidh went short to Mendis and Shubman Gill took a superb some running catch at square leg, ending the 116-run stand. Sooriyabandara and Dhananjay de Silva then shut shop, reaching Tea on 199/3 — only 14 runs behind India — with 116 runs coming in that session in 34 overs for a single wicket and the opener in the 90s.

Final-session collapse

Sri Lanka's resistance unravelled in the final session as India made regular inroads. Dhanan-Elson de Silva briefly threatened to accelerate, launching sp suddenly for a six, but the left-arm spinner struck soon after when the Sri Lankan captain jabbed a flatter delivery onto his own thigh pad and a sharp catch at gully from Devdutt Padhikkal left Sri Lanka at 209/4.

Sooriyabandara, who had batted superbly for 92, then threw his wicket away. Having survived an LBW review after an inside edge saved him, he charged Subhara but could not reach a slower, wider delivery, allowing Rishabh Pant to complete a simple scoring stumping. Sarnsh then trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw to leave Sri Lanka at 218/6 before Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha dug in, remaining unbeaten as the light deteriorated and rain brought an early close.

Day 5 in the balance

India's spinners did the damage across the day, with Prasidh Krishna taking 3/52 and Manavan Suthara 3/85 in the opening innings before he added two more in the second to help India tighten their grip. Sri Lanka, leading by just 16 with four wickets in hand, will need substantial resistance on the final day to escape with a draw, while India will feel they have the ideal platform to complete a series sweep.