Archive · 26 Aug 2026
India Fight Back as Sri Lanka Reach 229 for Six
India made Sri Lanka bat again after bowling them out for 290.
This is called enforcing the follow-on.
Sri Lanka started their second innings well and reached 178 for 2.
India then lost fast bowler Mohammed Siraj to a rib injury.
The pitch was not helping the bowlers much, so Sri Lanka’s batters scored by taking singles and hitting boundaries.
India finally created pressure with tighter bowling and more attacking fielders.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara was dismissed for 92, just short of a century.
India took more wickets and reduced Sri Lanka to 229 for 6.
Rain or other bad weather then stopped the match with Sri Lanka only 16 runs ahead.
India dismissed Sri Lanka for 290 in their first innings before enforcing the follow-on.
Sri Lanka reached 178 for 2, making India’s decision appear risky on a good batting surface.
Mohammed Siraj left the field with a rib injury after attempting a catch.
India claimed four late wickets, including Pasindu Sooriyabandara for 92 and Dhananjaya de Silva for 23.
Sri Lanka ended the day at 229 for 6, holding a lead of only 16 runs when weather stopped play.
- Who
- India and Sri Lanka, with key contributions from Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Kamindu Mendis, Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar.
- What
- India bowled Sri Lanka out for 290, enforced the follow-on and reduced them to 229 for 6.
- When
- Day 4 of the match.
- Where
- Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- India enforced the follow-on despite a 213-run lead, possibly because of concerns about the weather; late pressure then produced four wickets before weather stopped play.
- Sri Lanka first innings
- 290 all out
- Sri Lanka second innings
- 229 for 6
- Sri Lanka’s lead
- 16 runs
- Major injury
- Mohammed Siraj left the field after hurting his rib while attempting a catch.
- Top second-innings score
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara scored 92.
- Key late wickets
- India dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva for 23 and Niroshan Dickwella for 6.
- End of play
- Weather intervened with Sri Lanka at 229 for 6.