Daijiworld Media Network - Galle

Galle (Sri Lanka), Aug 18: India remained firmly in command of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday after a disciplined bowling display left the hosts struggling at 84/4 at stumps on Day 4.

Sri Lanka, chasing 372 for victory, still require 288 runs on the final day. Manav Suthar claimed two wickets, while Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj picked up one each as India tightened their grip on the contest.

The Indian bowlers began defending the target of 371 after the visitors posted 193 in their second innings. Mohammed Siraj and Suthar opened the attack and struck in the seventh and eighth overs respectively before Prasidh joined the wicket-takers with an impressive spell.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 21/3 after Nishan Madushka (6 off 27 balls), Pasindu Sooriyabandara (0 off 1) and Kamindu Mendis (2 off 12) departed in quick succession.

A 26-run fourth-wicket partnership between Lahiru Udara (16 off 58 balls) and Dhananjaya de Silva provided some relief before Suthar returned to remove Udara.

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva, unbeaten on 31 off 73 balls, and Sonal Dinusha, unbeaten on 25 off 36, then steadied the innings with an unbeaten 37-run stand for the fifth wicket to take the hosts safely to stumps.

Siraj and Suthar initially tested openers Madushka and Udara with disciplined bowling. Siraj gave India the first breakthrough in the seventh over when Madushka attempted to deal with a short delivery but was caught at deep fine leg.

Suthar then dismissed concussion substitute and debutant Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who had come into the Sri Lankan side in place of the injured Dinesh Chandimal after the latter suffered a neck and shoulder injury.

Sooriyabandara was beaten by Suthar's flighted delivery, which did not turn but struck him on the back leg. The on-field umpire initially ruled not out, but India successfully reviewed the decision.

The visitors continued to put pressure on the Sri Lankan batters with hard lengths from the pacers and tight spells from the spinners. The occasional delivery turned sharply, further troubling the hosts.

Prasidh was particularly impressive during his opening spell. The tall pacer bowled a series of probing hard-length deliveries and conceded only nine runs from his first five overs, including two maidens, while also claiming a wicket in his opening over.

He removed Kamindu Mendis in the 11th over with a back-of-a-length delivery. Mendis appeared uncertain whether to play the ball with a vertical or horizontal bat and edged it behind, where KL Rahul completed a straightforward catch.

Ravindra Jadeja also kept the pressure on the Sri Lankan batters but would have been disappointed after overstepping when he had Dhananjaya de Silva caught at slip in the 16th over.

Suthar returned for his second spell and ended Udara's resistance in the 22nd over. The dismissal, however, generated some debate. Udara edged a fuller delivery and Dhruv Jurel dived forward to palm a low catch.

Although there appeared to be some doubt over whether the ball had touched the ground, the third umpire upheld the dismissal, saying he could see Jurel's fingers underneath the ball.

India suffered a brief scare when Jurel was struck on the ankle while attempting to evade a flick from Dinusha. The wicketkeeper-batter was seen in discomfort and walked off, with Sarfaraz Khan taking his place.

Kuldeep Yadav was introduced very late into the innings, bowling his first over only in the 29th over. His looping deliveries were used to test the Sri Lankan batters but did not produce a breakthrough.

With the light fading, play was eventually called off with Sri Lanka still a long way from the 372-run target.

Earlier in the day, India batted through two sessions and adopted a positive approach. Rishabh Pant threw caution to the wind during his stroke-filled 66 off 69 balls, while KL Rahul (35) and Devdutt Padikkal (44) added 65 runs for the second wicket.

India were eventually bowled out for 193, setting Sri Lanka a daunting target of 372.

Brief scores

India: 462 & 193 (Rishabh Pant 66, Devdutt Padikkal 44; Asitha Fernando 4-31, Prabath Jayasuriya 3-43)

Sri Lanka: 284 & 84/4 in 34 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 31 not out, Sonal Dinusha 25 not out; Manav Suthar 2-30, Prasidh Krishna 1-13)

India lead by 288 runs.