Sonal Dinusha batted through the final day for an unbeaten 133 as Sri Lanka secured a remarkable draw against India in the second Test in Colombo on Thursday. The hosts reached 429 for nine in their second innings after following on, denying India a 2-0 sweep, although the visitors won the two-match series 1-0.
Sri Lanka began the fifth day at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground only 16 runs ahead and with four wickets remaining. India appeared close to victory after enforcing the follow-on, but the rain-affected match changed direction as Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha survived the entire morning session and carried the lead beyond 100.
Dinusha finished on 133 from 264 balls, according to match reports, completing his second century of the match and his third hundred in four innings during the series. His first-innings 103 had anchored Sri Lanka's 290, and his latest innings made him the central figure in a resistance that consumed India's time and blunted its varied attack.
Nuwantha made 46 and shared a 112-run partnership with Dinusha before spinner Manav Suthar dismissed him immediately after lunch. India then removed Prabath Jayasuriya for two and Lahiru Kumara for 12, but Kumara occupied 90 balls while Dinusha continued to defend carefully and use the sweep against the spinners.
The teams agreed to the draw with Sri Lanka on 429 for nine after 154 overs and holding an overall lead of 216. Reuters reported that captain Shubman Gill rotated his bowlers and altered his fields, yet the surface offered limited help to the seamers and Dinusha remained composed with the final batter Asitha Fernando.
The result left India fifth in the ICC World Test Championship standings with a points percentage of 51.52, while Sri Lanka retained sixth place, according to the ICC. India still collected the series victory from its win in the opening Test, while Sri Lanka ended the contest with a significant recovery and Dinusha received the player-of-the-match award.
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