Rain ended the fourth day of the second Test in Colombo with Sri Lanka on 229 for 6 in their second innings, leaving India four wickets away from a possible final-day chase. Sri Lanka had made 290 after India declared their first innings on 503 for 9 and enforced the follow-on.
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India regained control with three quick wickets in the final session after Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis had resisted through a difficult period for the visitors. Pasindu scored 92 and Kamindu made 50, keeping Sri Lanka’s innings moving before India’s bowlers briefly shut down the scoring.
Sri Lanka’s resistance exposes India’s defensive approach
Pasindu and Kamindu used India’s open fields to rotate the strike, while the Indian spinners struggled to maintain control during the first two sessions. Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja and Saransh Jain were unable to establish sustained pressure against the left-right combination.
India frequently protected the boundary against the reverse sweep, with several fielders stationed deep. Spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule said the field settings reflected assigned roles for the bowlers rather than an unplanned retreat.
“We wanted to hold that position and that is why we had open fields,” Bahutule said, according to the Times of India report from Colombo.
Prasidh Krishna relied heavily on short-pitched bowling with catching fielders placed for hooks and pulls. Prasidh claimed one wicket with that method, but India struggled to build pressure from both ends for much of the day.
Supplemental editorial cricket visual for Rain halts India's late push in Colombo Test.
Pant and Suthar combine to break Pasindu’s rhythm
Rishabh Pant’s move up to the stumps restricted Pasindu’s movement at the crease and helped Manav Suthar create the breakthrough. Pasindu eventually advanced at a delivery outside off stump, allowing Pant to complete the stumping.
Suthar’s dismissal of Pasindu was his second wicket in consecutive overs. Saransh Jain then removed Niroshan Dickwella as India began to work through Sri Lanka’s lower order.
India followed the wickets with a sequence of 36 deliveries without conceding a run. The sustained pressure represented India’s strongest period of control before heavy rain forced the players from the field.
Supplemental editorial cricket visual for Rain halts India's late push in Colombo Test.
Rain leaves the result dependent on Day 5
India must dismiss Sri Lanka’s remaining four batters before attempting whatever fourth-innings target is set, while further rain remains a possible obstacle in Colombo. A successful chase would complete a 2-0 series result for India.
Bahutule said India had monitored the cloud cover and reached a collective decision to enforce the follow-on. The bowlers were prepared for the workload because the team believed the follow-on offered its best route to victory.
Sonal Dinusha remains Sri Lanka’s main lower-order obstacle after the late wickets. India will need an early breakthrough on Day 5 while preserving enough time to complete the chase.
Second Test score summary
India held the advantage when rain brought the fourth day to an early close.
| Team | Innings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| India | First innings | 503 for 9 declared |
| Sri Lanka | First innings | 290 |
| Sri Lanka | Second innings | 229 for 6 |
Leading Sri Lanka batters: Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu Mendis 50.
Selected India bowling figures: Manav Suthar 2/81, Prasidh Krishna 1/31.
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