Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Dinusha's Unbeaten Century Helps Sri Lanka Draw Colombo Test
India and Sri Lanka played the second Test of their series in Colombo.
India scored 503 runs before declaring their innings.
Sri Lanka was then dismissed for 290, giving India a large lead.
India made Sri Lanka follow on, which meant Sri Lanka had to bat again immediately.
On the final day, Sri Lanka began at 229 runs for six wickets.
Sonal Dinusha batted very carefully and finished unbeaten on 133 runs.
He and Keshara Nuwantha shared a 112-run partnership that made it difficult for India to take the remaining wickets.
Sri Lanka ended on 429 for nine, so the match was drawn.
India still won the series 1-0 because it had won the first Test.
Sri Lanka drew the second Test after reaching 429/9 in Colombo.
Sonal Dinusha scored an unbeaten 133 from 264 balls in Sri Lanka’s second innings.
India had declared at 503/9 and led by 213 runs after Sri Lanka’s first innings.
Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha added 112 runs for the seventh wicket, with Nuwantha making 46.
India won the two-Test series 1-0 after beating Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle.
- Who
- India and Sri Lanka, with Sonal Dinusha leading Sri Lanka’s resistance.
- What
- The second Test was drawn, while India won the two-Test series 1-0.
- When
- Thursday, August 27, on the fifth and final day.
- Where
- The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- Sri Lanka avoided defeat through Dinusha’s unbeaten century and determined lower-order batting after being forced to follow on.
India’s Missed Victory
Sri Lanka’s Successful Resistance
Follow-on decision
India’s Missed Victory
India’s decision to enforce the follow-on appeared logical after taking a 213-run first-innings lead and reducing Sri Lanka to 229/6.
Sri Lanka’s Successful Resistance
Sri Lanka’s second innings showed that the tired fifth-day pitch and determined batting made the remaining wickets difficult to take.
Final-day strategy
India’s Missed Victory
India needed four remaining wickets quickly to pursue a 2-0 series sweep, but its bowlers could not complete the task.
Sri Lanka’s Successful Resistance
Sri Lanka focused on survival, with Dinusha and the lower order consuming overs and preventing India from creating a chase.
Meaning of the result
India’s Missed Victory
India secured the series but missed an opportunity to win the Test and improve its World Test Championship position.
Sri Lanka’s Successful Resistance
Sri Lanka lost the series but salvaged a draw through a spirited second-innings performance.
- Second Test result
- Draw; Sri Lanka finished on 429/9 after 154 overs.
- Series result
- India won the two-Test series 1-0.
- India first innings
- 503/9 declared, with Dhruv Jurel unbeaten on 115.
- Sri Lanka first innings
- 290 all out, leaving India 213 runs ahead.
- Sonal Dinusha
- 133 not out in the second innings and 103 in the first innings.
- Key partnership
- Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha shared 112 runs for the seventh wicket.
- Leading Indian bowlers
- Manav Suthar took 3/121 and Ravindra Jadeja took 3/94.
Sources
Dinusha gritty hundred help Sri Lanka draw Colombo Test; India claim series 1-0
IND vs SL, 2nd Test: Sonal Dinusha's Heroics Deny Team India Victory As Sri Lanka Salvage Draw At Colombo
Sonal Dinusha’s twin centuries deny India a 2-0 sweep in Colombo
IND vs SL: Dinusha's Ton Helps Sri Lanka To a Draw in 2nd Test, India Win Series 1-0
IND vs SL, 2nd Test: Sri Lanka pull off sensational draw as India take series 1-0
Dinusha digs deep to deny India clean sweep, dent WTC final hopes; matches Vijay Hazare’s 78-year-old feat
Dinusha’s unbeaten 133 denies India victory
