By Anura Tennekoon

Sonal Dinusha, Sri Lanka’s number six batter, played the innings of a lifetime when he batted throughout the fifth day of the second Test against India to earn his side a hard-fought draw.

At the start of the final day, Sri Lanka were six wickets down and held a lead of just 16 runs. It was not a pretty picture. Few in their right mind would have given Sri Lanka much chance of surviving even until the lunch break, with India seemingly poised to complete a comprehensive victory.

Sonal, however, had other ideas. He resolved to bat as deep into the day as possible, finding willing allies among the lower order. They combined determination and patience with controlled aggression and sound defence. It caught the Indian bowlers by surprise. An attack that had looked lethal earlier in the game gradually began to lose its sting and direction.

The two overnight batters survived the entire morning session, adding 113 runs from 265 deliveries. After lunch, Nuwantha was eventually dismissed for a well-compiled 46, but by then Sri Lanka had begun to believe.

Lahiru Kumara, the burly fast bowler, joined Sonal in the middle and ensured India would have no easy route back into the contest. He did exactly what was required of him, dropping anchor and occupying the crease for 90 deliveries while scoring just 12 runs. Runs were almost irrelevant by then; survival was everything.

The pair batted through the tea break and beyond, taking Sri Lanka towards safety. It was a supreme batting effort, led magnificently by Sonal and aided and abetted by the bowlers at the other end.

I have hardly touched upon Sonal’s own contribution with the bat to this remarkable rescue mission. He employed the sweep, both orthodox and unorthodox, to excellent effect and scored most of his runs by placing the ball judiciously into the gaps and accumulating steadily. It was an innings of the highest order.

If I may point out one flaw, it was his reluctance to play the cover drive and off-drive, thereby depriving himself of some valuable scoring opportunities. But that is a minor observation in what was otherwise a stupendous batting effort for which no amount of praise can be too much.

A thing of beauty is indeed a joy forever, and this was an innings to remember.

Now that you have got off to such a flying start in your Test career, lad, keep improving and keep reaching for the skies.

My very best wishes to you in all your cricketing endeavours.