Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha frustrated India with six partnerships as eight Indian bowlers failed to take the final four wickets

Colombo: As the second and final Test of the series between India and Sri Lanka was declared a draw on Thursday, India were officially crowned 1-0 series winners. However, Sri Lanka’s batsmen, particularly middle-order batter Sonal Dinusha (133 not out, 264 balls, two sixes and eight fours), won many hearts with their determined batting. He scored centuries in both innings of the Test.

Dinusha’s unbeaten innings will be written in golden letters in Sri Lanka’s Test history because, with the support of the lower-order batters, he ensured that India could not force a victory. Dinusha stitched together six partnerships of varying lengths in the second innings to help Sri Lanka secure an extraordinary draw. He had scored 103 in the first innings.

How was the Test declared a draw?

With around 27 overs still remaining on the final day, the India-Sri Lanka Test was declared a draw. Sri Lanka’s batsmen, particularly Sonal Dinusha, did not give India an opportunity to bat in the second innings, and with limited time remaining, both teams mutually agreed to end the Test in a draw.

India won the series 1-0. At the time the match was declared a draw, Sri Lanka’s second-innings score was 9/429 declared. After conceding a first-innings deficit of 213 runs, Sri Lanka were 9/216 in their second innings. Following Sri Lanka’s declaration, India would have needed to chase 217, but the match was declared a draw before the visitors could resume batting.

Gill, Yashasvi and Jurel bowled, but…

Rain disrupted the first four days of the Test, but the weather finally relented on Thursday. Dinusha and the other Sri Lankan batsmen then turned into a major headache for India.

India’s five main bowlers — Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain — failed to dismiss Dinusha, who had remained unbeaten on seven overnight on Wednesday. Shortly before the match was declared a draw, captain Shubman Gill himself bowled two overs, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel were also given one over each.

Overall, India used eight bowlers on the final day but could not take Sri Lanka’s remaining four wickets. Sri Lanka had been 6/229 at the end of the fourth day, but finished on 9/429 declared when the match was called off.

Dinusha’s six partnerships frustrated India

Twenty-five-year-old left-handed batter Gamage Sonal Dinusha, who batted at No. 6, had already been involved in five partnerships in the first innings before putting together six more partnerships of varying lengths in the second innings that frustrated India:

(1) A three-run partnership from 10 balls with Pasindu Sooriyabandara (92 off 173 balls) for the fifth wicket.

(2) A six-run partnership from 23 balls with Niroshan Dickwella (6 off 12 balls) for the sixth wicket.

(3) A 112-run partnership from 246 balls with Keshara Nuwantha (46 off 150 balls) for the seventh wicket.

(4) A 25-run partnership from 71 balls with Prabath Jayasuriya (2 off 28 balls) for the eighth wicket.

(5) A 47-run partnership from 170 balls with Lahiru Kumara (12 off 90 balls) for the ninth wicket.

(6) An unbeaten 27-run partnership from 56 balls with Asitha Fernando (0 not out off 24 balls) for the tenth wicket.

Indian bowlers sent down a total of 243.4 overs

In reply to India’s 9/503 declared in the first innings, Sri Lanka scored 290. India enforced the follow-on, but Sri Lanka eventually secured the draw by declaring at 9/429 in their second innings.
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Gill’s strategy failed to work

Captain Shubman Gill made several bowling changes on the final day and also kept making adjustments to the field. However, the Sri Lankan batsmen, particularly Sonal Dinusha, refused to budge and wickets continued to remain elusive for the Indian bowlers.
Gill’s tactics had no adverse impact on Dinusha, who remained firmly in control. Meanwhile, India head coach Gautam Gambhir appeared increasingly concerned in the dugout. He was repeatedly seen on television maintaining a serious and worried expression.
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Dinusha named Player of the Match, Padikkal Player of the Series

Sonal Dinusha was named Player of the Match, while Devdutt Padikkal received the Player of the Series award.
This was Dinusha’s fifth Test and Padikkal’s fourth Test.