Prasidh Krishna claimed 3 wickets for 35 runs from 9 overs to keep India firmly in control as Sri Lanka reached 130/4 at lunch on Day 3 of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo on Tuesday, 25 August. The hosts, resuming at 8/2, showed far greater resistance than the previous evening, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara registering a maiden Test half-century to give Sri Lanka a fighting platform. They still trail India's first-innings declaration of 503/9 by 373 runs.

Prasidh Strikes Early, Then Strikes Again

Sri Lanka began the morning session with Sooriyabandara and Kamil Mishara at the crease, and the pair initially found scoring relatively straightforward. Mishara was particularly positive, picking up boundaries square of the wicket, before Krishna went short to expose a weakness the opener had already shown. A sharp, rising delivery climbed onto Mishara's gloves and Dhruv Jurel completed the catch behind the stumps. Mishara departed for 19, leaving Sri Lanka at 35/3.

It was Krishna's second wicket of the innings, having dismissed Lahiru Udara late on Monday, and it underlined his ability to extract uncomfortable bounce even on a Colombo surface that had offered Sri Lanka's spinners more purchase in the first innings.

Kamindu Mendis and Sooriyabandara Build a Platform

Kamindu Mendis arrived at the crease and, alongside Sooriyabandara, gradually shifted the session's momentum. India's spinners struggled to maintain sustained control, allowing the fourth-wicket pair to attack when opportunities arose. Mendis played positively throughout, including a six off Manav Suthar, as the two added 87 runs together — the most productive partnership of Sri Lanka's innings so far.

Sooriyabandara, playing only his second Test innings after appearing as a concussion substitute in the first Test in Galle, grew visibly in confidence. He repeatedly used the pace of the Indian quicks behind square and took the attack to the spinners with sweeps and lofted drives, demonstrating a composure that belied his limited Test experience.

Krishna Returns to Break the Stand

With lunch approaching and the partnership threatening to take the game away from India, captain Shubman Gill turned back to Krishna, who had already bowled six overs in his opening spell. The decision paid immediate dividends. Mendis attempted to pull a short delivery but failed to keep it down, picking out Ravindra Jadeja at mid-wicket. He departed for 32 off 58 balls, leaving Sri Lanka at 122/4 and ending a stand that had given the hosts real hope.

Sooriyabandara, meanwhile, had reached his maiden Test fifty shortly before the wicket — bringing up the milestone with a single off Jadeja — and remained unbeaten on 65 off 93 balls at the interval. Dhananjaya de Silva joined him and immediately found the boundary, pulling Krishna through the leg side, but Sri Lanka's deficit remains daunting.

India's Bowling Scorecard at Lunch

Krishna has been the standout performer with the ball, finishing the session with figures of 3-35 from 9 overs. Suthar has claimed 1 wicket, while the spinners have been less effective, allowing Sri Lanka to score freely during the middle phase of the session. India declared their first innings at 503/9 in 138 overs, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring 117 and Jurel an unbeaten 115. Asitha Fernando was the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers with 4-106.

What Happens Next

India will look to the second new-ball spell and any residual seam movement in the pitch to dismantle Sri Lanka's lower order after lunch. For the hosts, the priority is to protect Sooriyabandara and build another substantial partnership — ideally one that makes the follow-on question academic. Notably, this is the third successive Test session in which Krishna has delivered a decisive breakthrough at a critical juncture, cementing his role as India's primary pace threat on this tour.

Brief Scores: India 503/9 in 138 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115*; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) lead Sri Lanka 130/4 in 32 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 65*; Prasidh Krishna 3-35, Manav Suthar 1-38) by 373 runs.