Dinusha’s unbeaten 133 helps Sri Lanka draw 2nd Test against India
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Colombo: Sonal Dinusha capped a defining series with a determined second-innings masterclass, scoring a marathon unbeaten 133 off 264 balls as Sri Lanka secured a hard-fought draw against India in the second Test at the SSC Ground on Thursday. India nevertheless won the two-match series 1-0.
Forced to follow on after being bowled out for 290 in their first innings and beginning the fifth day with a slender 16-run deficit, Sri Lanka were rescued by Dinusha’s remarkable resistance. The hosts reached 429/9 in 154 overs before declaring late in the final session.
The extent of India’s bowling fatigue on an unresponsive pitch was evident as captain Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel were called upon to bowl the closing overs.
The day, however, belonged to Dinusha, who completed his second century of the match with the very first ball after the tea break. Clipping a full delivery from Mohammed Siraj into the mid-wicket area for a couple, Dinusha removed his helmet and raised his bat to a standing ovation, completing his third century of the series.
The feat made him only the third Sri Lankan, after Aravinda de Silva and Kumar Sangakkara, to score three centuries in a two-match Test series. He also became the eighth Sri Lankan batter to score twin centuries in a Test.
India’s tiring attack struggled to break Sri Lanka’s lower-order resistance during the final session. Siraj was restricted to fewer overs because of a physical niggle, while Ravindra Jadeja also battled discomfort.
Sri Lanka’s tailenders then dug in to completely extinguish India’s hopes of victory. Lahiru Kumara defended resolutely for 12 off 90 balls before falling to Jadeja, with Jaiswal taking a brilliant catch at short leg.
Dinusha then shifted gears, hitting Jadeja and Gill for sixes over deep mid-wicket before striking consecutive boundaries off Jaiswal’s leg-spin. He added 27 runs for the final-wicket partnership with Asitha Fernando, who remained unbeaten on 0 after facing 24 balls.
When the players shook hands and the match was called a draw, Dinusha had amassed 419 runs in the series at an average of 139.66. The Sri Lankan dressing room gave the youngster a standing ovation for the third time that day, while Indian players warmly congratulated him for his marathon effort that rescued the hosts from a position where they had been in danger of a quick defeat.
Brief scores: India 503/9 declared in 138 overs drew with Sri Lanka 290 and (follow-on) 429/9 in 154 overs (Sonal Dinusha 133 not out, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92; Manav Suthar 3-105, Ravindra Jadeja 3-94).
With IANS inputs
