India tightened their grip on the first Test in Galle on Day 4, setting Sri Lanka a target of 372 and then reducing the hosts to 84 for 4 by the close of play. A win, which would require Sri Lanka to achieve only the third successful chase of 350 or more in their Test history, looks a distant prospect heading into the final day.
India were bowled out for 193 in their second innings, the first time they had been dismissed inside 200 in Sri Lanka since the 2015 Galle Test. Only three batters reached double figures, and with rain threatening between innings, the primary objective was clear from the outset: maximise the lead as quickly as possible and leave the pitch to do the rest on day five.
IND vs SL: India Take the Command
Rishabh Pant was the only batter who truly delivered on that mandate. Arriving with India already wobbling, he launched an assault that was as entertaining as it was necessary, stepping out to carve Lahiru Kumara for six over covers early in his innings and refusing to let Sri Lanka settle into any rhythm. He reached his fifty with a disbalanced pull over fine leg that brought up his 100th six in Test cricket, a milestone that barely slowed him down. Sri Lanka had a chance to dismiss him on 28 when Dhananjaya de Silva grassed a difficult chance at slip, but they were made to pay. Rishabh Pant’s eventual dismissal for 66 came off a similar short ball from Kumara, a top edge taken comfortably by keeper Niroshan Dickwella. Devdutt Padikkal contributed a measured 44 at the other end, but once both fell, Asitha Fernando and Kumara cleaned up the tail efficiently. Fernando finished with 4 for 31.
Sri Lanka’s chase began disastrously. Nishan Madushka top-edged a hook off Mohammed Siraj to long leg, and Dinesh Chandimal, injured while fielding, was ruled unfit to continue, forcing a hurried debut for Pasindu Sooriyabandara as a concussion substitute. He fell for a golden duck, leaving the hosts at 14 for 2 before the innings had found its footing.
Prasidh Krishna then had Kamindu Mendis caught off a delivery that extracted extra lift, reducing Sri Lanka to 21 for 3. Ravindra Jadeja was denied what appeared to be a fourth wicket when he was called for a no-ball after inducing an edge from de Silva’s bat. Manav Suthar stepped up in Jadeja’s absence, claiming two wickets, the second a sharp catch from Dhruv Jurel at gully that required replays to confirm before Lahiru Udara was sent on his way. Jurel subsequently limped off the field after taking a blow, with Sarfaraz Khan coming on as a substitute.
De Silva and Sonal Dinusha, who scored a century in the first innings, steadied things in the fading light to close on 84 for 4, with India’s lead standing at 287 runs. The partnership offers Sri Lanka a sliver of hope, but the scale of what is required on a deteriorating Galle surface against an Indian attack in full cry makes the challenge formidable.
Day five promises to be a formality for India. Sri Lanka would need a miracle.
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