Sri Lanka were bowled out for 284 on Day 3 of the first Test against India at the Galle International Stadium. India took a 178 run lead after scoring 462 in their first innings.
Sonal Dinusha scored 100 for Sri Lanka, but India kept picking up wickets around him. Manav Suthar took four wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja took three.
Rain once again affected the Test and brought the third day’s play to an early end.
Sri Lanka had a difficult start in reply to India’s 462. Mohammed Siraj struck with the second ball of the innings, dismissing Nishan Madushka for a duck.
Suthar then removed Dinesh Chandimal for 27 before dismissing Lahiru Udara for four.
Kuldeep Yadav got Kamindu Mendis, while Jadeja dismissed captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 21.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 90/5 and India looked set to take a big lead.
Later Niroshan Dickwella and Sonal Dinusha then put Sri Lanka back into the game. The pair added 146 runs for the sixth wicket, taking Sri Lanka past 200 after they had been five down for 90.
Prasidh Krishna finally broke the partnership by dismissing Dickwella for 80. Dinusha continued his innings and reached his century, but Sri Lanka could not build another partnership around him.
He was eventually dismissed for 100, with Sri Lanka then bowled out for 284. Suthar was India’s most successful bowler, finishing with four wickets.
Jadeja took three, while Siraj, Kuldeep and Prasidh picked up one each. Jadeja also reached a major milestone during the innings, completing 350 Test wickets. He became only the fifth Indian bowler to reach the mark.
Sri Lanka’s 284 left India with a 178 run lead. India had earlier made 462, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring 167, KL Rahul making 82 and Dhruv Jurel adding 51.
India will now try to extend their lead with rain already taking away playing time, India cannot afford to spend too long at the crease.
The weather has affected the Test from the opening day and Day 3 was no different.
Rain stopped play and eventually brought the day’s action to an end. India will therefore start Day 4 with a 178 run lead and their second innings yet to begin.
The situation is simple India have the advantage, but they need to manage their time carefully.
The longer they bat, the less time they will have to take the 10 Sri Lankan wickets needed for a win.
