Dinusha 98* steers Sri Lanka to 383/8, lead India by 170 in 2nd Test
Synopsis
Two runs short of a century and an entire session to play — Sonal Dinusha's unbeaten 98 has put Sri Lanka firmly in the driver's seat at the SSC Ground. With a 170-run lead and India's bowlers running on empty, the 2nd Test and the series itself could hinge on what happens in the next two hours.
Key Takeaways
Sonal Dinusha is unbeaten on 98 off 195 balls at tea on Day 5 of the 2nd Test in Colombo .
Sri Lanka reached 383/8 in 133 overs , holding a 170-run overall lead over India.
India took only two wickets across the first two sessions of the final day.
Manav Suthar (3-105) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-90) were India's wicket-takers.
Tailender Lahiru Kumara consumed 56 deliveries for an unbeaten 2 , frustrating India's attempts to wrap up the innings.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara contributed 92 earlier to set up Sri Lanka's commanding second-innings total.
Sonal Dinusha moved tantalisingly close to his second century of the series with a gritty, unbeaten 98 off 195 balls, as Sri Lanka reached 383/8 in 133 overs at tea on Day 5 of the 2nd Test at the SSC Ground, Colombo on 27 August, extending their overall lead to 170 runs. India managed only two wickets across two sessions on the final day, adding to the pressure on the tourists as a decisive final session loomed.
Dinusha's Masterclass Under Pressure
Resuming on the final morning, Dinusha anchored Sri Lanka's second innings with a blend of defensive solidity and calculated aggression. The left-hander repeatedly deployed the reverse sweep against off-spinner Saransh Jain and veteran left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja to defuse pressure, complementing those strokes with late cuts and paddling shots of considerable precision. He walked off to his second standing ovation of the day from the Sri Lankan dressing room at the tea interval — a measure of the esteem in which his innings is already held.
Kumara's Blockathon Frustrates India
Tailender Lahiru Kumara provided Dinusha with crucial, if unglamorous, support, surviving 56 deliveries for an unbeaten 2 in a resilient blockathon that sapped the energy of an increasingly tired Indian attack. Kumara survived a close run-out chance when a wide throw from Prasidh Krishna allowed him to dive back safely, and also edged past a vacant second-slip cordon off Jain — fortune favouring Sri Lanka's stubborn resistance.
India's Bowling Struggles on a Flat Pitch
Off-spinner Manav Suthar was India's most threatening bowler, removing the patient Keshara Nuwantha early in the day's play and finishing with figures of 3 for 105. Jadeja provided the second breakthrough of the session, having Prabath Jayasuriya caught at slip for 2, ending with 2 for 90. Despite rotating their bowlers effectively and deploying close-in fielders, India found the pitch offering minimal assistance and Sri Lanka's lower order offering maximum obstruction.
Match Situation Heading Into the Final Session
With Sri Lanka holding a 170-run lead and Dinusha two runs shy of a century, the final session will determine the match and, potentially, the series result. India, who declared their first innings at 503/9 in 138 overs, face a stiff chase if Sri Lanka bat on, or a disciplined bowling effort to dismiss Dinusha and Kumara quickly and set up a run-pursuit. Pasindu Sooriyabandara's earlier contribution of 92 laid the platform for Sri Lanka's commanding second-innings total.
Brief Scores: India 503/9d in 138 overs trail Sri Lanka 290 and 383/8 f/o in 133 overs (Sonal Dinusha 98*, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92; Manav Suthar 3-105, Ravindra Jadeja 2-90) by 170 runs.
Point of View
But 105 runs conceded alongside them reflects the toil. More worrying for India is the tail: Kumara's 56-ball blockathon is exactly the kind of lower-order resistance that turns a gettable target into an unreachable one. If Sri Lanka declare with a lead north of 200, India will need a historically disciplined batting effort — on a wearing surface, in a pressure chase — to avoid going 2-0 down in the series.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the match situation at tea on Day 5 of the 2nd Test in Colombo?
Sri Lanka are 383/8 in 133 overs, leading India by 170 runs at tea on Day 5 at the SSC Ground, Colombo. Sonal Dinusha is unbeaten on 98, with tailender Lahiru Kumara at the other end on 2 not out.
How has Sonal Dinusha performed in the 2nd Test?
Dinusha has been Sri Lanka's standout batter, scoring an unbeaten 98 off 195 balls in the second innings. His innings has been characterised by defensive discipline, calculated strokeplay, and effective use of the sweep and reverse sweep.
Which Indian bowlers have taken wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings?
Manav Suthar is the pick of the Indian bowlers with 3 for 105, while Ravindra Jadeja has taken 2 for 90. India have managed only two wickets across the first two sessions of the final day.
What role did Lahiru Kumara play in Sri Lanka's innings?
Tailender Lahiru Kumara played a crucial supporting role, facing 56 deliveries for an unbeaten 2 in a blockathon that frustrated India's attempts to wrap up the tail and set a manageable target.
What was India's first-innings total in the 2nd Test?
India declared their first innings at 503/9 in 138 overs, which gave them an initial lead over Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 290.
