Team India arrived at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday ahead of the fifth and final day of the first Test against Sri Lanka, needing six more wickets to secure victory.
India, having set Sri Lanka a target of 372 runs, will look to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Sri Lanka ended the third session on Day 4 at 84/4, with Sonal Dinusha unbeaten on 25 and captain Dhananjaya de Silva on 31. The hosts require another 288 runs for victory when play resumes on the final day.
India began Day 4 with a 178-run first-innings lead after dismissing Sri Lanka for 284, with Manav Suthar claiming four wickets. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers responded strongly in India’s second innings, restricting the visitors to 193.
Rishabh Pant top-scored with 66 off 69 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 44 off 75 balls with six fours. KL Rahul made 35 off 47 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes. Asitha Fernando returned figures of 4/31, while Prabath Jayasuriya took 3/43.
Sri Lanka had slipped to 90/5 in their first innings before Niroshan Dickwella and Dinusha revived the innings with a 146-run partnership. Dickwella scored 80 off 115 balls, including seven fours, while Dinusha made 100 off 168 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes.
Suthar’s four-wicket haul, along with disciplined spin bowling from India, helped dismiss Sri Lanka for 284 in reply to India’s first-innings total of 464.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India posted 464, with Padikkal leading the scoring with 167 off 230 balls, including 15 fours and a six. Rahul scored 82 off 175 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six, while Dhruv Jurel made 51 off 68 balls, with four boundaries and a six.
Jayasuriya was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler in India’s first innings with 4/109, while Keshara Nuwantha claimed 3/175.
(ANI Inputs)
