Dinusha, Nuwantha 111-run stand puts Sri Lanka in command on Day 5
Synopsis
What India expected to be a formality — four wickets on the final day — has become a full-blown crisis. Dinusha and Nuwantha's unbroken 111-run stand across a wicketless morning session has swung the second Test dramatically, with Sri Lanka now eyeing a draw and India scrambling for answers.
Key Takeaways
Sonal Dinusha (55*) and Keshara Nuwantha (46*) put on an unbroken 111 runs off 238 balls for the seventh wicket.
Sri Lanka reached 329/6 in 104 overs at lunch on Day 5 , leading India by 116 runs .
Dinusha recorded his fourth consecutive 50-plus score of the series against India — joining an elite group in Test cricket.
India burned a DRS review in the 90th over on a caught-behind appeal that showed the ball hit the turf.
Nuwantha survived a second DRS scare off Ravindra Jadeja on the stroke of lunch, with the ball confirmed sliding down leg.
Manav Suthar (2-98) and Mohammed Siraj (1-19) are India's leading wicket-takers in the innings.
Sonal Dinusha (55 not out) and Keshara Nuwantha (46 not out) shared an unbroken 111-run seventh-wicket partnership off 238 balls to bat through a wicketless morning session on Day 5 of the second Test against India at the SSC Ground, Colombo on Thursday, 27 August. Sri Lanka reached 329/6 in 104 overs at the lunch break, extending their lead to 116 runs and transforming what appeared to be a straightforward Indian chase into a genuine contest.
The Morning Session: A Rearguard for the Ages
Sri Lanka resumed the day with a precarious 16-run lead and four wickets in hand, facing a pitch offering little assistance to the bowlers. Over the next 31.2 overs, Dinusha and Nuwantha added an unbroken 100 runs, walking off to a standing ovation from their dressing room at lunch. With a lead approaching 116 runs — and potentially swelling toward 200 before the innings concludes — Sri Lanka are now daring to dream of a draw, provided the forecasted rain stays away.
Dinusha's Elite Consistency
Dinusha anchored the fightback with a measured knock laced with just two boundaries, relying on deft sweeps and clean drives through the off-side to negate the Indian spinners. The knock extended his remarkable run to four consecutive 50-plus scores in the series, earning him a place in an elite group of batters to register a half-century or more in each of their first four Test innings against India.
Nuwantha Rises to the Occasion
Nuwantha, primarily a bowling all-rounder, looked increasingly assured against both pace and spin. He negotiated second-new-ball spells from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna with soft hands and admirable patience, with the drive his go-to shot. His composure under pressure belied his lower-order billing.
India's Tactics Come Under Scrutiny
India's approach drew attention for its defensive nature — spread-out fields without close-in catchers allowed Dinusha and Nuwantha to rotate the strike and settle into an easy rhythm. No Indian bowler managed to string together a consistently threatening over, with the seamers largely bowling away from the stumps. Frustration boiled over in the 90th over when Siraj burned a review on a caught-behind appeal against Nuwantha, only for DRS to reveal the ball had struck the turf. In the final over before lunch, on-field umpire Ahsan Raza adjudged Nuwantha lbw off Ravindra Jadeja, but DRS confirmed the delivery was sliding comfortably down the leg side.
What Happens Next
With Manav Suthar (2-98) and Siraj (1-19) the pick of India's bowlers, the visitors must now overhaul their tactics in the afternoon session to dislodge the set pair. A lead near or beyond 200 runs would set up a riveting final-day finish, with rain the only other variable that could deny a result. Brief Scores: India 503/9d in 138 overs trail Sri Lanka 290 and 329/6 f/o in 104 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Sonal Dinusha 55 not out; Manav Suthar 2-98, Mohammed Siraj 1-19) by 116 runs.
Point of View
The post-mortem will focus less on Sri Lanka's grit and more on India's failure to press an advantage they held comfortably at the start of the day.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current match situation in the Sri Lanka vs India 2nd Test on Day 5?
At lunch on Day 5, Sri Lanka are 329/6 in 104 overs, leading India by 116 runs. Sonal Dinusha (55*) and Keshara Nuwantha (46*) are at the crease with an unbroken 111-run seventh-wicket partnership, having batted through the entire morning session without losing a wicket.
How significant is Sonal Dinusha's innings in this Test series?
Dinusha's 55 not out is his fourth consecutive 50-plus score in the series against India, placing him in an elite group of batters to achieve that feat in their first four Test innings against India. His knock has been anchored on deft sweeping and clean off-side driving against the spinners.
Can Sri Lanka win or draw the 2nd Test against India?
A win looks unlikely given the time remaining, but a draw is increasingly possible. With a lead of 116 runs still growing and four wickets in hand, Sri Lanka could set India a target that is either unreachable or too risky to chase in the remaining overs, especially if rain intervenes.
What went wrong for India in the morning session on Day 5?
India adopted a defensive field setting without close-in catchers, allowing Dinusha and Nuwantha to rotate strike freely. No bowler maintained a consistently threatening line, seamers bowled away from the stumps, and India wasted a DRS review on a caught-behind appeal that showed the ball had hit the turf.
What are the brief scores of the 2nd Test between India and Sri Lanka?
India scored 503/9 declared in 138 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka made 290 in their first innings and are currently 329/6 in 104 overs in their follow-on, leading India by 116 runs at lunch on Day 5. Manav Suthar (2-98) and Mohammed Siraj (1-19) are India's leading wicket-takers.
