India are six wickets away from victory in the Galle Test after Sri Lanka ended Day 4 on 84/4.
Chasing 372 runs, Sri Lanka still need 288 runs on Day 5 to win the first Test. India need six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the two match series.
Manav Suthar has already taken two wickets in the second innings and six in the match.
With the Galle pitch expected to offer more turn on the final day, the young spinner will be one of India’s biggest weapons.
India were bowled out for 193 in their second innings on Day 4. Having taken a 178 run lead in the first innings, India set Sri Lanka a target of 372.
Rain delayed the start of Sri Lanka’s chase, but once play resumed, India quickly put the pressure back on SL.
Mohammed Siraj gave India the first breakthrough by dismissing Nishan Madushka.
Suthar then struck in the following over, removing Pasindu Suriyabandara for a golden duck.
Prasidh Krishna added another wicket when he dismissed Kamindu Mendis for two. Manav Suthar then picked up his second wicket of the innings by removing Lahiru Udara for 16.
Sri Lanka were suddenly 47/4. Sri Lanka needed a partnership to reach stumps without further damage.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha provided exactly that. The pair stayed together until the end of the day, taking Sri Lanka to 84/4.
Dhananjaya was unbeaten on 31, while Dinusha was not out on 25.
Manav Suthar has been one of India’s biggest positives in the Test. He took four wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings and has added two more in the second innings.
With six wickets in the match so far, he will now be expected to play a major role on Day 5.
The Galle pitch is also expected to become more difficult for batting as it wears further, which could give India’s spinners an advantage.
But Sri Lanka still have Dhananjaya and Dinusha at the crease. Day 5 will decide everything. Can Manav Suthar continue his magic and finish what he started, or can Sri Lanka survive the final day?
