Dinusha’s century helps Sri Lanka snatch a draw in second test but India wins series 1-0

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sonal Dinusha’s fighting hundred and reaguard revival with the tailenders helped Sri Lanka snatch a draw in the second test on Thursday but India won the two-match series 1-0.

It was Dinusha’s second century of the match after scoring 103 in the first innings.

Batting first after winning the toss, India scored a massive 503-9 declared, with Devdutt Padikkal putting up 117 for his second century of the series and Druv Jurel adding 115.

The Indian bowlers then bundled Sri Lanka out for 290 in the first innings and enforced the follow-on with with a 213-run lead. Sri Lanka declared its second innings at 429-9, leading by 216 runs with only 17 overs remaining for the day, after which stumps were drawn.

Dinusha remained unbeaten on 133 and became only the third player ever to score twin test centuries following on after India’s Vijay Hazare and Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower.

“We did everything we could, they played brilliantly, their batters played really well, had a lot of skill,” India captain Shubman Gill said. “A bit of luck went their way, I don’t think we could have done anything different.”

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva said it was a positive that youngsters like Dinusha and Pasindu Sooriyabandara are playing well as the team has several veterans that who missed the series due to injuries.

“Its all about find the talents for the future of Sri Lanka cricket,” de Silva said. “That’s a good headache the guys who have been playing continuously have, to come back and knock on the door again.”

Regular top order batters Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka missed the series while Dinesh Chandimal was injured during the first test in Galle.

Sri Lanka resumed its second innings Thursday with a narrow lead, four wickets in hand and needing to bat for time in the hopes of salvaging a draw.

Dinusha did just that batting with the tail, with No. 8 Keshara Nuwantha scoring 46 off 150 deliveries and No. 10 Lahiru Kumara adding 12 off 90 deliveries.

Dinusha batted exactly seven hours and faced 264 deliveries, hitting two sixes and eight boundaries.

He was named player of the match while Padikkal was named player of the series for scoring 167 in Galle and 117 in Colombo.

Left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja (3-94) and Manav Suthar (3-121) shared bowling honours for India.

On Day 4, Sri Lanka reached 229-6 to lead by only 16 runs when rain brought an early close to play. Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis scored half-centuries.

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