India smell victory in Galle Test as Sri Lanka face a mountain to climb

SL vs IND, 1st Test Day 4: Shubman Gill's India are in command at stumps on Day 4, with Sri Lanka needing 288 more runs to win the Galle Test with six wickets in hand.

In Short

• India are on course for a 6th consecutive Test win in Sri Lanka
• Padikkal and Pant helped India set up the 362-run target
• Sri Lanka went into stumps at 84 for 4 in the Galle Test

Brief scores: Sri Lanka (284 and 84/4 in 34 overs), need 288 more to win against India (462 and 193) at stumps on Day 4 of the opening Test in Galle.

India are firmly in control of the Galle Test after reducing Sri Lanka to 84 for four at stumps on Day 4, leaving the hosts needing another 288 runs with six wickets in hand to chase down 362. The target is already daunting, but the conditions are making Sri Lanka’s task even harder, with the pitch offering turn and variable bounce and India’s three-pronged spin attack waiting to exploit it.

India are now well placed to win their sixth consecutive Test in Sri Lanka. Unless the hosts produce a remarkable rearguard effort or rain intervenes, the visitors will head into the final day confident of completing another victory.

SL vs IND, 1st Test Day 4: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD

Sri Lanka have never successfully chased a target as big as 372 in Galle. Their highest successful chase at the venue is 268, against New Zealand in 2019, while Pakistan’s 342 against Sri Lanka in 2022 remains the highest fourth-innings chase in Galle. Sri Lanka have chased targets above 350 twice in Test cricket, but the challenge awaiting them on the final day is considerably greater given the deteriorating surface.

PADIKKAL DOES HIS JOB

India’s second innings was about finding the right balance between adding enough runs and leaving their bowlers sufficient time to attack. Having taken a 178-run first-innings lead, they eventually folded for 193 in 48.5 overs.

The innings began poorly when Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a three-ball duck, edging Asitha Fernando behind after going after a short delivery. It was another dismissal that highlighted his vulnerability against pace when attempting the cut.

Devdutt Padikkal, however, responded in exactly the manner India needed. After his superb 167 in the first innings, he produced a more restrained but equally valuable 44 off 75 balls, hitting six fours.

Padikkal and KL Rahul put together a 50-run partnership to steady India before Prabath Jayasuriya broke through. Rahul had earlier survived a major scare when he was given out lbw to Jayasuriya. He was already preparing to leave before Padikkal persuaded him to review.

Ball-tracking showed the delivery would have gone over the stumps, allowing Rahul to continue. The batter immediately embraced Padikkal, whose intervention proved valuable. Rahul eventually fell for 35, but the reprieve allowed India to add important runs.

Shubman Gill then departed for eight, also falling to Jayasuriya, before Padikkal was trapped lbw by Keshara Nuwantha. India had lost four wickets, but Sri Lanka were unable to completely halt the scoring.

PANT FINDS THE RIGHT BALANCE

Rishabh Pant provided the innings with its defining contribution, scoring 66 off 69 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

After his loose dismissal in the first innings, Pant resisted the temptation to immediately attack. He spent time against the spinners, worked the gaps and waited for scoring opportunities. Once he settled, however, the tempo increased.

Pant brought up his fifty with a six off Lahiru Kumara, a shot that also took him to 100 Test sixes. He became the first Indian and only the fourth batter in Test history to reach the landmark.

The innings contained plenty of Pant’s trademark aggression, but it was also controlled. He used his feet against spin and attacked the pacers when they strayed into areas he could exploit.

Kumara eventually found a way through. Persisting with the short-ball plan, he forced Pant into a pull that was miscued, with Niroshan Dickwella completing the catch.

SRI LANKA KEEP STRIKING

Sri Lanka’s bowlers ensured India could not run away with the innings. Fernando finished with four for 31, while Jayasuriya claimed three wickets. Kumara and Nuwantha also contributed as the Indian lower order came under increasing pressure.

India lost their last six wickets for 77 runs, but the damage had already been done.

The hosts also suffered a significant blow when Dinesh Chandimal injured his right shoulder and head while diving to stop a boundary. A precautionary scan showed no internal injury, but Chandimal subsequently failed a concussion assessment and was ruled out.

Pasindu Sooriyabandara was approved as his concussion replacement, but his introduction could hardly have gone worse.

SIRAJ, SUTHAR AND PRASIDH TURN THE SCREW

India’s bowlers immediately put Sri Lanka under pressure. Mohammed Siraj and Manav Suthar bowled probing lines and kept the openers largely defensive before Siraj made the breakthrough.

Nishan Madushka attempted to pull a short delivery but top-edged it towards long leg, where Prasidh Krishna completed the catch. Madushka departed for six off 27 balls.

Sooriyabandara then walked in as Chandimal’s concussion substitute but lasted just one delivery. Suthar trapped him lbw, with India successfully reviewing the original decision.

India were not flawless with the DRS, though. Siraj appeared to have Lahiru Udara caught behind after finding an excellent wobble-seam delivery, but UltraEdge showed the ball had brushed the pad rather than the bat.

Shubman Gill’s review for a possible glove from Sonal Dinusha’s reverse sweep also failed, leaving India with only one review.

Prasidh then struck to remove Kamindu Mendis for two, with KL Rahul taking the outside edge at first slip. Sri Lanka were suddenly four down and in serious trouble.

DHANANJAYA, SONAL BATTLE HARD

India thought they had produced another breakthrough when Ravindra Jadeja appeared to have Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind. However, the dismissal was overturned because Jadeja had overstepped, handing the Sri Lankan captain a huge reprieve.

The setback did not stop India from applying pressure. Dhananjaya and Sonal Dinusha began showing some resistance, using the sweep effectively against the spinners and attempting to disrupt India’s rhythm.

Suthar eventually struck again, dismissing Udara for 16. Dhruv Jurel completed the catch at gully, although the dismissal was surrounded by controversy as Udara questioned whether Jurel had taken it cleanly.

Replays appeared to leave some doubt, but the third umpire upheld the decision, leaving Sri Lanka in deeper trouble.

As the light deteriorated, Dhananjaya raised concerns and the light meter came out. India continued searching for another breakthrough, bringing Kuldeep Yadav into the attack and even turning to Padikkal’s off-spin.

The fading light eventually provided Sri Lanka with some breathing room, but their task remains enormous.

- Ends