Sri Lanka Survive Follow-On As Dinusha 133 Not Out Forces Colombo Test Draw

Sonal Dinusha finished unbeaten on 133 as Sri Lanka batted out the Colombo Test for a draw on Thursday. India still took the two-match series 1-0. Sri Lanka reached 429 for nine at the Sinhalese Sports Club after following on 213 runs behind. Dinusha faced 264 balls. It was his second hundred of the match.

India had declared on 503 for nine and then dismissed Sri Lanka for 290. The follow-on was enforced. Sri Lanka batted through most of what remained. The tenth wicket never fell.

The last four wickets

India took six Sri Lankan wickets in the second innings and could not force the rest. Keshara Nuwantha made 46 from 150 balls. He and Dinusha put on 112 for the seventh wicket across 246 deliveries, according to Telangana Today. Lahiru Kumara then blocked 90 balls for 12. Prabath Jayasuriya faced 28 for two.

Asitha Fernando was the last man in. He survived 24 balls without scoring. Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets in the innings, and IANS put his figures at 3 for 94, with Manav Suthar returning 3 for 105. Neither could prise out the tail.

• India first innings: 503 for nine declared
• Sri Lanka first innings: 290, trailing by 213
• Sri Lanka second innings: 429 for nine
• Result: match drawn, India win the series 1-0

Dinusha across the series

Dinusha reached 98 before tea on the final day. He took a couple off the first ball of the last session to bring up the hundred. It was his third century of the series and his second of this match. IANS reported his series aggregate at 419 runs at an average of 139.66.

Sri Lanka lost the opening Test at Galle by 165 runs. That defeat decided the series. The Colombo draw cost India the sweep and little else in the table.

India's blunted attack

India used spin from both ends for long spells. Jadeja and Suthar bowled the bulk of the overs. Saransh Jain, handed a debut at 33 earlier in this match, added his share. The pitch offered less and less as the game went on.

Enforcing the follow-on committed India to bowling twice in succession. It is a decision that only looks wrong once the last pair digs in. Sri Lanka's lower order faced more than 140 balls between them.

The championship table after Colombo

The ICC reported that India stayed fifth in the World Test Championship standings on 51.52 percentage points. Sri Lanka held sixth. A win in Colombo would have moved India clear of the chasing group rather than into the top four.

Percentage points, not match wins, decide the final two places. A drawn Test still returns four points from a possible twelve. India's rate takes a dent that a two-nil series would have avoided.

Next for both sides

Sri Lanka leave Colombo with a result their first innings did not earn. India leave with the series and a reminder about closing out matches abroad. Both squads now move on to their next assignments in the championship cycle.