India Close In on Galle Glory as Sri Lanka Fight for Survival

India are close to a Test win in Galle after Sri Lanka ended Day 4 on 84/4, still needing 288 runs to win the first Test. India, who scored 193 in their second innings after making 284 in the first, set Sri Lanka a target of 372 runs.

India Face Resistance in Second Innings

India had started their second innings with a 178-run lead but the push met with heavy resistance as Yashasvi Jaiswal edged the third ball of the day behind, while KL Rahul fell after scoring 35. Shubman Gill was soon dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya while attempting a sweep. Devdutt Padikkal looked comfortable after his brilliant first-innings century, anchoring the top order with a gritty 44 and sharing a vital 65-run second-wicket stand with Rahul.

However, it was Rishabh Pant who completely altered the momentum of the day. Displaying his trademark aggression, Pant smashed a rapid 66 off 69 balls, a knock laced with eight boundaries and two towering sixes. He stepped out to hit Lahiru Kumara over cover and, despite being dropped on 28, did not look back. He reached his half-century with a confident pull over fine leg, simultaneously bringing up his historic 100th six in Test cricket.

While Kumara eventually dismissed Pant using a short ball, the wicketkeeper-batter had already done his job. The rest of India’s lower order offered little resistance against a fiery spell from Asitha Fernando, who finished with spectacular figures of 4/31 to wrap India’s second innings up for 193.

Sri Lanka Stumble in Chase

Armed with a staggering total lead of 371 runs, India’s bowling unit immediately dismantled Sri Lanka’s chase. Nishan Madushka was caught at long leg off a Mohammed Siraj bouncer. With Dinesh Chandimal ruled out due to a fielding injury, concussion substitute Pasindu Sooriyabandara walked out only to fall for a golden duck, leaving the hosts reeling at 14/2.

Prasidh Krishna then exacted a sharp top-edge from Kamindu Mendis on a rising delivery to leave Sri Lanka tottering at 21/3. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar compounded the hosts’ misery by taking 2/30 across 11 disciplined overs, highlighted by a sharp gully catch from Dhruv Jurel to dismiss Lahiru Udara.

Ravindra Jadeja uncharacteristically remained wicketless after a front-foot overstep cost him the prized wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva. Capitalising on that reprieve, De Silva (31*) and first-innings centurion Sonal Dinusha (25*) stitched together a fighting, unbeaten 37-run partnership to guide Sri Lanka to 84/4 by stumps.

With Sri Lanka still needing 288 runs on a rapidly deteriorating fifth-day track, history remains heavily stacked against them, leaving a clinical Indian side just six wickets away from a 1-0 series advantage ahead of the second Test in Colombo on August 23.

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