India left-arm spinner Manav Suthar produced an important breakthrough in the post-lunch session on Day 5 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Suthar dismissed Keshara Nuwantha for 46 to end a crucial 112-run seventh-wicket partnership between Nuwantha and Sonal Dinusha.
The breakthrough came with the fourth delivery of the 105th over of Sri Lanka’s second innings. Suthar tossed the ball up around middle and leg, inviting Nuwantha to defend. The delivery turned away after pitching and took the outside edge, with wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel completing a sharp catch at second slip.
Nuwantha’s patient innings lasted 150 balls and included four boundaries. He played an important role in Sri Lanka’s fightback, adding 112 runs from 242 deliveries with Dinusha. His dismissal left Sri Lanka at 330/7 after 104.4 overs.
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India had earlier declared their first innings at 503/9 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 290. With the weather threatening to affect the Test, India enforced the follow-on and put the hosts under immediate pressure.
Manav Suthar strikes right after lunch to break a stubborn 112-run stand! 🔥
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Jadeja finds the edge, Jurel snaps up a sharp one.👌
Sri Lanka are now 8 down!
Watch #SLvIND, 2nd Test, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #BeautifulGameOfTestCricket pic.twitter.com/npW2kr9Ua0
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Sri Lanka, however, showed considerable resilience in their second innings. Pasindu Sooriyabandara narrowly missed out on a century after scoring 92 from 173 balls, while Kamindu Mendis added a valuable 55 off 92 deliveries.
Rain had interrupted proceedings on Day 4, with Sri Lanka ending the day at 229/6 after 72.4 overs and holding a lead of just 16 runs. Dinusha was unbeaten on seven, while Nuwantha had scored three.
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The pair responded strongly on the final morning, adding 100 runs in 31.2 overs before lunch. Sri Lanka reached 329/6, extending their lead to 116 runs, with Dinusha on 55 and Nuwantha on 46.
Suthar’s dismissal of Nuwantha then ended the partnership and gave the spinner his third wicket of the innings. At the time of writing, Sri Lanka had moved to 394/8, leading by 181 runs. Dinusha remained unbeaten on 104 off 219 balls, while Lahiru Kumara playing at 7 off 76 balls.
