Daijiworld Media Network - Colombo

Colombo, Aug 26: Sri Lanka mounted a spirited fightback against India in the second innings of the Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis putting together a century partnership after India enforced the follow-on on Day 4.

At the end of the second session, Sri Lanka were 199/3 in 56 overs, just 16 runs behind India, with Sooriyabandara unbeaten on 90 and Dhananjaya de Silva on 14.

Sri Lanka began the session at 83/2, still 131 runs adrift. The early dismissal of Kamil Mishara had briefly put India in control, but Sooriyabandara and Mendis counter-attacked the Indian spinners to turn the contest around.

Sooriyabandara combined patience with calculated aggression, repeatedly using the crease and finding gaps against the spin. Mendis matched him with positive strokeplay, taking advantage of scoring opportunities.

Mendis brought up his half-century in the 40th over, pulling a short delivery from Prasidh Krishna over fine leg for six. It was his first fifty of the series and his first against India. He eventually scored 55 off 92 balls, with two fours and three sixes.

The partnership gained historical significance when it crossed 100 runs, becoming Sri Lanka's 13th century partnership while following on in Test cricket and only the second against India. The previous such partnership against India was the 191-run second-wicket stand between Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis at the SSC in 2017.

Sooriyabandara reached his second fifty of the match in the 31st over, advancing down the track to Ravindra Jadeja and lofting the ball over extra cover for four. He became the first Sri Lankan batter since Danushka Gunathilaka against South Africa in 2018 to score twin fifties in a Test at the SSC.

India eventually broke the 126-run third-wicket partnership through a change in tactics. Krishna bowled short to Mendis in the 44th over, prompting the batter to attack the delivery. Mendis skied the ball towards square leg, where Shubman Gill completed an excellent running catch.

The dismissal did not trigger a collapse. Dhananjaya joined Sooriyabandara and the pair negotiated India's attack for the remainder of the session.

India rotated between pace and spin and experimented with field settings. Mohammed Siraj returned to the attack with Rishabh Pant standing up to the stumps, while young spinners Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain were also used. However, they struggled to exert the control Jadeja had managed earlier.

Sooriyabandara reached 90 off 157 balls by tea, while Dhananjaya was unbeaten on 14 from 35 deliveries. Jadeja remained India's most successful bowler, finishing the session with figures of 15-1-43-1.

With Sri Lanka reducing the deficit to just 16 runs, the momentum had clearly shifted towards the hosts despite India's strong position after enforcing the follow-on.

Brief scores: India 503/9 decl; Sri Lanka 290 & 199/3 f/o in 56 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 90*, Kamindu Mendis 55; Mohammed Siraj 1/8, Ravindra Jadeja 1/43, Prasidh Krishna 1/30), trail by 14 runs.