Set to chase 372 Sri Lanka were 195-6 after lunch with Sonal Dinusha batting on 80
India’s Prasidh Krishna (R) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dixkwella during the fifth day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and India at the Galle International Stadium in Galle on August 19, 2026. Photo: AFP
GALLE: India closed on victory in the opening Test after striking twice to reduce Sri Lanka to 195-6 after lunch on the final day in Galle on Wednesday.
Set a target of 372 runs, Sri Lanka were 195-6 after lunch.
A rock-solid Sonal Dinusha was batting on 80 at lunch along with Keshara Nuwantha on 13.
Resuming on an overnight score of 84-4, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva dug deep alongside first-innings centurion Dinusha, adding 95 runs for the fifth wicket.
Their stand, lasting for over two hours, ended when De Silva attempted a sweep shot off Ravindra Jadeja but ended up getting a top edge which was caught at short fine-leg by Manav Suthar.
His 59 came off 151 balls and contained seven fours. India’s perseverance paid off when Prasidh Krishna had wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella caught behind for 10.
But the 25-year-old Dinusha, who struck his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, held firm and used his feet expertly against spin. Dinusha brought up his half-century with a six off Kuldeep Yadav.
