Jadeja and Prasidh reduce Sri Lanka to 175-6 chasing 372 on final day in Galle

Ravindra Jadeja and Prasidh Krishna struck on the fifth day of the first Test at Galle on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, leaving Sri Lanka 175 for six at lunch while chasing 372. Dhananjaya de Silva made 59 and Sonal Dinusha 65 as they led the reply before India moved within sight of victory.

Sri Lanka began the day on 84 for four and the two overnight batters, De Silva and Dinusha, put on a 95-run stand off 202 balls to frustrate India for well over an hour into the opening session. Both players favoured the sweep against the Indian spinners during their resistance. The partnership delayed an Indian finish after the hosts had looked vulnerable overnight.

Jadeja, described in the report as the best Indian spinner on the day, provided the breakthrough when he extracted extra bounce to dismiss De Silva; the batter’s top-edged sweep was taken by Manav Suthar at short fine leg. De Silva had earlier reached his fifty off 125 balls in the second innings.

Dinusha, who scored a century in Sri Lanka’s first innings, brought up his fifty in the second innings with a slog-swept six off Kuldeep Yadav and was on 65 at lunch. Keshara Nuwantha was the other recognised batter at the crease on 8, with the pair attempting to hold the chase together before Jadeja’s intervention reduced Sri Lanka’s hopes.

Manav Suthar bowled only a few overs but was reported to look sharp, while left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav was described as flat and unable to extract much from the abrasive surface. The report added that Kuldeep’s decision to operate around the wicket limited his LBW options.

Niroshan Dickwella, who had played a sensible innings in Sri Lanka’s first dig, appeared to accelerate in the second innings and attempted a series of slog sweeps against Kuldeep and Jadeja before being dismissed by Prasidh Krishna. Dickwella tried to manufacture a shot over covers, gave himself room off Prasidh, and edged the delivery to Rishabh Pant behind the stumps; a photograph accompanying the report showed Prasidh celebrating with teammates after taking that wicket (Photo Credit: PTI).

India will be hoping to wrap up the proceedings at the earliest in the coming session as Sri Lanka resume their chase of 372 with four wickets remaining and lunch having been taken at 175 for six.