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India four wickets away from victory in Sri Lanka Test / Photo: Ishara S. KODIKARA - AFP
India four wickets away from victory in Sri Lanka Test
India closed on victory in the opening Test after striking twice to reduce Sri Lanka to 175-6 at lunch on the final day in Galle on Wednesday.
Set a target of 372 runs, Sri Lanka were 197 runs adrift with four wickets in hand.
A rock-solid Sonal Dinusha was batting on 65 at lunch along with Keshara Nuwantha on eight.
Resuming on an overnight score of 84-4, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva dug deep alongside first-innings centurion Dinusha, adding 95 runs for the fifth wicket.
Their stand, lasting for over two hours, ended when De Silva attempted a sweep shot off Ravindra Jadeja but ended up getting a top edge which was caught at short fine-leg by Manav Suthar.
His 59 came off 151 balls and contained seven fours.
India's perseverance paid off when Prasidh Krishna had wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella caught behind for 10.
But the 25-year-old Dinusha, who struck his maiden Test hundred in the first innings, held firm and used his feet expertly against spin.
Dinusha brought up his half-century with a six off Kuldeep Yadav.
L.Bautista--HdM
