India aim to wrap up Sri Lanka innings on Day 4 of second Test in Colombo
India and Sri Lanka resumed the second Test at the SSC in Colombo on Day 4, with India looking to wrap up Sri Lanka's first innings early after play was halted by rain and bad light on Day 3.
India had declared their first innings at 503 for nine, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring 117 and Druv Jurel remaining unbeaten on 115, and lead the two-Test series 1-0 after a 165-run win in Galle; Sri Lanka were 265 for eight at stumps and now need 39 more runs to avoid the follow-on with two wickets remaining.
Sonal Dinusha was unbeaten on 85 from 137 balls when play ended, and is the series' leading run-scorer with 269 at 134.50; the 25-year-old has recorded three consecutive scores above 80 and earlier shared a 57-run partnership with Keshara Nuwantha (18) before adding an unbeaten 35 with Lahiru Kumara (8 batting).
Pasindu Sooriyabandara struck 80 off 133 balls with nine fours in only his second Test innings and added 87 off 126 deliveries with Kamindu Mendis (32) in a rebuilding stand; Sooriyabandara was later bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, and Niroshan Dickwella was dismissed for a duck as two wickets fell within three deliveries to leave Sri Lanka seven down at 173.
Prasidh Krishna finished Day Three with figures of 3-47 from 14 overs, using the short ball to dismiss Kamil Mishara and Kamindu Mendis, while Manav Suthar returned 3-83 as India spent more than 80 overs in the field trying to force a late collapse.
MRF Pace Foundation chief coach M Senthilnathan praised Krishna's development, saying, “We always felt he had the potential to play at the highest level. Slowly, Krishna is turning into a spearhead of the Indian team and cementing his place. The most important thing is that he picks up wickets whenever he comes into the attack and breaks partnerships.” He added, “The more fast bowlers play, the more confident they become. Now he feels that he belongs in the Indian team. The management has given him the confidence and they have seen that there is something special in him after all.”
Former administrator Dr Makarand Waingankar recalled Krishna's formative exposure, saying, “They trained under Thomson, Greg Chappell and Michael Kasprowicz. That exposure stood Prasidh in good stead and helped improve his skills,” and the report notes Krishna later joined the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai and worked under Glenn McGrath, with both McGrath and Brett Lee having spoken highly of him.
Rain and deteriorating light ended play as dark clouds gathered and the ground staff moved into position; India will return to bowl another long spell as they seek the final two wickets to enforce the follow-on and push for a 2-0 series lead. "That'll be first prize if we can get those two wickets tomorrow early," said Morkel when asked about enforcing the follow-on, and "With the weather around and sometimes the time it takes with taking the covers on and off, you know, we want to try and get as many overs as possible," added India's bowling coach.
