2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka 265/8, trail India by 238 runs as rain halts play
Synopsis
Sri Lanka's lower order, led by an unbeaten 84 from Sonal Dinusha, denied India a clean Day 3 sweep at the SSC in Colombo — but with a 238-run deficit and just two wickets left, the hosts are fighting a rearguard that can only delay, not deny, India's commanding position heading into Day 4.
Key Takeaways
Sri Lanka closed Day 3 at 265 for 8 , trailing India by 238 runs at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo .
Sonal Dinusha remained unbeaten on 84 off 135 balls , recording his third consecutive fifty-plus score in his first three Test innings against India — only the second Sri Lankan after Duleep Mendis to do so.
Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar took three wickets each ; Ravindra Jadeja claimed one.
Rain halted play at 5:00 PM local time , with stumps called at 5:15 PM .
India, who declared at 503 for 9 , need just two more wickets to wrap up Sri Lanka's innings on Day 4.
Sri Lanka reached 265 for 8 at stumps on Day 3 of the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Tuesday, but the visitors retained a commanding 238-run lead as rain brought an early end to proceedings. A total of 257 runs fell across six wickets on the day, with Sri Lanka's lower order frustrating the Indian attack for extended spells.
Dinusha's Defiance Anchors Sri Lanka
Sonal Dinusha was the centrepiece of Sri Lanka's resistance, remaining unbeaten on 84 off 135 balls. The left-hander blended patience with purposeful stroke play, deploying the sweep effectively against the Indian spinners. Dinusha's knock was his third consecutive fifty-plus score in his first three Test innings against India — a feat achieved by only the second Sri Lankan batter in history, after the legendary Duleep Mendis.
He received crucial support from Keshara Nuwantha, who ground out 18 runs from 74 balls before attempting an ambitious drive off Manav Suthar in the 69th over, only to be caught by Saransh Jain at mid-off. Lahiru Kumara, who walked in next, showed commendable composure alongside Dinusha and was unbeaten on 8 at the close.
India's Bowlers Work Hard for Gains
Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar claimed three wickets apiece, doing the bulk of the damage for the visitors. Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with one wicket, while Saransh Jain bowled a long, testing spell without reward, though he consistently troubled batters with turn and bounce. India's hopes of a swift finish were briefly lifted when the second new ball became available late in the day, but fading light forced the team to continue with spin from both ends.
Rain Forces Early Stumps
At around 5:00 PM local time, rain began to fall over the ground and the players were immediately called off. Ground staff deployed covers as dark clouds gathered over the venue. The umpires assessed the light, but conditions deteriorated further with no sign of improvement. Stumps were called at 5:15 PM, cutting short what had been a hard-fought session for India's bowlers.
What Day 4 Holds
Sri Lanka will resume on 265 for 8, still 238 runs adrift of India's first-innings total of 503 for 9 declared, with only two wickets in hand. India will be eager to wrap up the tail quickly and assess whether to enforce the follow-on or set a target. Brief scores: India 503/9 decl. lead Sri Lanka 265/8 in 65 overs (Sonal Dinusha 85 not out, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80; Prasidh Krishna 3-47, Manav Suthar 3-83) by 238 runs. With the pitch expected to deteriorate further, India's spinners will fancy their chances of engineering a result well within the match.
Point of View
It is a delay. The more pertinent question is whether India's spinners can exploit a deteriorating surface quickly enough on Day 4 to leave Sri Lanka chasing an improbable target — and whether Dinusha, who has already defied expectations twice, can do so a third time.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current match situation after Day 3 of the 2nd Test?
Sri Lanka are 265 for 8 at the close of Day 3, trailing India by 238 runs. India declared their first innings at 503 for 9, and Sri Lanka have only two wickets remaining as play resumes on Day 4.
How did Sonal Dinusha perform in the 2nd Test Day 3?
Sonal Dinusha scored an unbeaten 84 off 135 balls, anchoring Sri Lanka's resistance with a composed innings. It was his third consecutive fifty-plus score in his first three Test innings against India, a feat previously achieved only by Duleep Mendis among Sri Lankan batters.
Which Indian bowlers took wickets on Day 3?
Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar each claimed three wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja picked up one. Saransh Jain bowled a long spell without a wicket but troubled batters with turn and bounce.
Why was play stopped early on Day 3?
Rain began falling over the Sinhalese Sports Club at around 5:00 PM local time, forcing the players off the field. Conditions did not improve, and stumps were called at 5:15 PM.
What can we expect on Day 4 of the 2nd Test?
India will look to claim the remaining two Sri Lankan wickets quickly when play resumes. With the pitch expected to deteriorate further, India's spinners will be in their element, and the team will then decide whether to enforce the follow-on or set a target.
