Colombo Test: Doughty Dinusha thwarts India’s victory bid

In the instant gratification that limited overs cricket offers, results oscillate between triumphs and defeats. Tests, though, can yield another conclusion, the stalemate, technically called the draw.

A final verdict that remains inconclusive may be presumed dull, but at times a draw can reveal a glorious fightback and reiterate cricket’s philosophical second-skin often whispered as ‘glorious uncertainties’.

Sri Lanka precisely did this while snatching a draw in the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Thursday. Sonal Dinusha (133 n.o.) scripted this miracle on the concluding day, as the southpaw’s hundred, second in the match and third in the series, kept the visitors at bay.

The host finished its second innings at 429 for nine, a stunning comeback after conceding a 213-run first-innings lead. India had to rest content with a muted series triumph at 1-0 when a 2-0 seemed possible, especially after enforcing the follow-on. At one point, Mohammed Siraj swapped bails at the striker’s end, and it reflected the despair coursing through Shubman Gill’s men under the harsh Colombo sun.

In the morning, resuming at the overnight 229 for six, Sri Lanka, ahead by a mere 16, found its saviours in Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha. The duo exhibited synergy and patience while a few miscued shots eluded fielders like Devdutt Padikkal.

Gill switched from spin to pace at both ends as Prasidh Krishna and Siraj operated in tandem. Nuwantha drove Prasidh and, after a play-and-miss routine against Siraj, picked two fours off the speedster. When Ravindra Jadeja stepped in, Dinusha feathered one past a diving leg-slip. Soon the batter got to his 50, and after Nuwantha survived an lbw appeal from Jadeja, Sri Lanka moved to 330 for six at lunch.

The first session, which yielded 101 without any loss of wickets, meant that Sri Lanka could keep its hopes alive. After the break, Nuwantha pushed forward to left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and edged to Dhruv Jurel at first slip. By then he and Sonal Dinusha had added 112 runs for the seventh wicket, constituting a vital part of Sri Lanka’s resistance.

Gill attempted a scorched-earth policy against Dinusha. Placing eight fielders on the off-side while Siraj bowled around the off-stump. At times, the field was reversed, and then the spearhead pegged away on the leg-side. Wear the Sri Lankans down and trigger a mistake, seemed to be the plan.

Just that Dinusha remained unruffled. He punched Prasidh past sweeper-cover, and then guided Jadeja over mid-wicket. Meanwhile, Prabath Jayasuriya fell to Jadeja, finding Jurel nearby.

A swept four off Suthar helped Dinusha move to 97 and at tea, the host was 383 for eight, reflecting a dour second session in which 53 runs were scored. When the last act commenced, Dinusha gained a brace to etch his ton and then soaked in the robust applause from the stands.

He found a doughty partner in Lahiru Kumara (12 from 90 deliveries). Asitha Fernando too replicated the sturdy-tail act as a draw was ushered in.

Scorecard:

INDIA - 1ST INNINGS

503 for nine decl. in 138 overs

SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS

290 all out in 89.4 overs

SRI LANKA - 2nd INNINGS

Lahiru Udara c Saransh b Siraj 3 (15b), Kamil Mishara lbw b Jadeja 32 (39b, 3x4, 1x6), Pasindu Sooriyabandara st Pant b Suthar 92 (173b, 10x4, 1x6), Kamindu Mendis c Gill b Prasidh 55 (92b, 2x4, 3x6), Dhananjaya de Silva c Padikkal b Suthar 23 (44b, 1x4, 1x6), Sonal Dinusha (not out) 133 (264b, 8x4, 2x6), Niroshan Dickwella lbw b Saransh 6 (12b, 1x4), Keshara Nuwantha c Jurel b Suthar 46 (150b, 4x4), Prabath Jayasuriya c Jurel b Jadeja 2 (28b), Lahiru Kumara c Jaiswal b Jadeja 12 (90b, 1x4), Asitha Fernando (not out) 0 (24b); Extras (b-7, lb-8, nb-7, w-3): 25; Total (for nine wkts. in 154 overs): 429.

FALL OF WICKETS

1-5 (Udara, 3.3 overs), 2-63 (Mishara, 14.5), 3-178 (Mendis, 43.1), 4-209 (Dhananjaya, 58.5), 5-212 (Sooriyabandara, 60.3), 6-218 (Dickwella, 64.2), 7-330 (Nuwantha, 104.4), 8-355 (Prabath, 116.3), 9-402 (Kumara, 144.4).

INDIA BOWLING

Prasidh 18.3-3-57-1, Siraj 15-7-26-1, Suthar 41-7-121-3, Saransh 37-4-98-1, Jadeja 38.3-2-94-3, Gill 2-0-8-0, Jaiswal 1-0-9-0, Jurel 1-0-1-0.

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