Daijiworld Media Network - Galle
Galle, Aug 17: Niroshan Dickwella and Sonal Dinusha struck unbeaten half-centuries to lead a stirring Sri Lankan fightback against India in the second session on day three of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Monday.
Resuming at 99/5, Sri Lanka reached 214/5 at tea after Dickwella (71 not out off 102 balls) and Dinusha (62 not out off 102) survived 29 overs without losing a wicket. The duo added an unbeaten 124 runs for the sixth wicket as Sri Lanka cut India's first-innings lead to 248 runs.
Sri Lanka still need 48 runs to avoid the follow-on.
Dickwella, returning to Test cricket after three years, was the more aggressive of the two. He repeatedly used the sweep to counter India's spinners and disrupt their rhythm on a turning surface.
India squandered several opportunities to dismiss the wicketkeeper-batter. In the 32nd over, left-arm spinner Manav Suthar trapped Dickwella on the pads, but India's review showed the ball's impact was outside the off stump.
Ravindra Jadeja then appealed strongly for lbw in the 35th over. India reviewed the decision again, only for ball-tracking to show the delivery bouncing over the leg stump.
Soon after, KL Rahul dropped a difficult edge at slip off Suthar when Dickwella was on 20.
Dickwella made India pay for the missed chances, completing his 23rd Test half-century and his first in four years off 68 balls. He reached the milestone with a flicked double off Jadeja in the 46th over.
Dinusha provided equally assured support at the other end, combining soft-handed defence with calculated aggression against the turning ball.
The youngster brought up his second Test fifty from 93 balls in the 49th over, sweeping Kuldeep Yadav to deep mid-wicket. He followed it by launching Suthar over deep mid-wicket for a clean six.
Indian captain Shubman Gill rotated his bowling options and briefly brought back Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna in search of reverse swing. However, the seamers found little assistance from the pitch as Dickwella and Dinusha continued to frustrate the visitors.
Sri Lanka's recovery has significantly altered the complexion of the innings after India appeared firmly in control at the start of the day.
Brief scores: India 462 in 116.4 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82; Prabath Jayasuriya 4/109, Keshara Nuwantha 3/175) lead Sri Lanka 214/5 in 57 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 71 not out, Sonal Dinusha 62 not out; Manav Suthar 2/52, Mohammed Siraj 1/29) by 248 runs.