by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka were fighting hard to avoid the follow on when rain brought an early end to play on day three of the second Test against India, with the hosts on 265 for eight at SSC yesterday.

Sri Lanka still need a further 39 runs to avoid being asked to bat again, while India remain comfortably placed with a first innings lead of 238 runs.

Of the 98 overs scheduled for the day, only 80.4 were possible due to rain.

Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel at 173 for seven when wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella was dismissed for a third ball duck, leaving India eyeing the prospect of enforcing the follow on.

However, Sonal Dinusha added 57 runs for the eighth wicket with Keshara Nuwantha (18) to frustrate the tourists. India made the breakthrough after tea, but Dinusha found another able ally in fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, who batted for over an hour as the pair added an unbroken 35 runs for the ninth wicket.

The pitch was still good for batting, as Sri Lanka’s lower order showed with their stubborn resistance, and a little more application from the top order could have left the hosts in a far healthier position.

Dinusha, Sri Lanka’s standout performer in the first Test, continued to impress. The all-rounder had scored 100 and 84 last week in Galle and was rarely troubled yesterday, top scoring with an unbeaten 85 after coming in with the team in trouble.

Dinusha faced 137 balls during his knock and hit six fours and two sixes.

Sri Lanka, who resumed on their overnight score of eight for two, lost two wickets in the morning session before India made further inroads after lunch, picking up three more wickets.

Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who had replaced Dinesh Chandimal as a concussion substitute in the second innings of the Galle Test, was handed his Test cap in the lead up to the second Test in Colombo and marked the occasion with a fine 80.

Sooriyabandara looked organized and used nimble footwork to take on India’s spinners, striking nine fours during an impressive knock.

Prasidh Krishna was the pick of India’s bowlers, claiming three wickets. The fast bowler generated decent pace and troubled the batters with extra bounce.

India lead the two match series 1-0, having won the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs.

Sri Lanka spinner Prabath Jayasuriya has become the third player to be sanctioned for an incident during the second ICC World Test Championship contest against India.

Jayasuriyawas found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match”. He’s received an official reprimand and one demerit point was added to his disciplinary record. This was Jayasuriya’s first offence in a 24-month period. The incident occurred after Jayasuriya was dismissed on the final delivery of the day on Monday (August 24), when he struck the boundary wedges with his bat on his way back to the pavilion. Jayasuriya admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft, the match referee.

On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, third umpire Rod Tucker, and fourth umpire Prageeth Rambukwella levelled the charge. Jayasuriya is now the third player from the Colombo Test to be sanctioned by the ICC, following the 25% match-fee penalties given to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando for their involvement in the incident on the opening day of the game. Theon-field altercation saw them slapped with a demerit point each as well.

The incident occurred in the 17th over of India’s first innings after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal. The India batter had walked towards Fernando and the two exchanged words, after which Fernando moved his head towards Jaiswal. In response, Jaiswal leant in, resulting in their heads making contact.

[Cricbuzz]

Dewmini Vihanga the Sri Lanka allrounder, will have to wait for her T20I debut after being ruled out of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup. Left-arm spinner Nimasha Meepage has been named Vihanga’s replacement.

Vihanga did not travel with the squad to the UAE after picking up an injury to her right knee during a practice game. Meepage, who made her T20I debut in December 2025, has played 14 times for Sri Lanka across formats. In T20Is, she has six wickets in nine innings at an average of 38.33 and an economy rate of 7.66.

The rest of the squad remains unchanged. Chamari Athapaththu will lead the defending champions while Harshitha Samarawickrama will be her deputy. Kaushini Nuthyangana is the sole wicketkeeper in the 15-member squad.

Sri Lanka are grouped alongside Bangladesh, Indonesia and UAE in Group B of the Asia Cup. They take on UAE on August 29 to start their title defence. Sri Lanka are the Asia Cup holders, having defeated India in the final in Dambulla in 2024.

Sri Lanka squad for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup

Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Imesha Dulani, Sanjana Kavindi, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama (vice-capt), Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Chamudi Praboda, Chethana Vimukthi, Kawya Kavindi, Mithali Ayodhya, Nimasha Meepage.

[Cricinfo]