Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Pant, Bowlers Put India on Brink of Test Win
India and Sri Lanka are playing the first Test of a cricket series in Galle.
India made 193 runs in its second innings and gave Sri Lanka a target of 372.
Rishabh Pant scored 66 runs while playing many attacking shots.
He also became the first Indian player to hit 100 sixes in Test matches.
India’s bowlers then quickly took four Sri Lankan wickets.
Sri Lanka finished the day on 84 runs and still needs 288 more to win.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha were still batting when play ended.
Dinesh Chandimal was hurt while fielding and was replaced by Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who was later dismissed first ball.
India were bowled out for 193 in their second innings, setting Sri Lanka a target of 372.
Rishabh Pant scored 66 off 69 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.
Pant became the first Indian and fourth batter overall to hit 100 Test sixes.
India reduced Sri Lanka to 84/4, leaving the hosts 288 runs short with six wickets remaining.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha were unbeaten on 31 and 25; Dinesh Chandimal was replaced by concussion substitute Pasindu Sooriyabandara after an injury.
- Who
- India and Sri Lanka, with Dhananjaya de Silva captaining Sri Lanka and Shubman Gill captaining India.
- What
- India set Sri Lanka 372 runs to win and reduced the hosts to 84/4 by stumps on day four.
- When
- The fourth day of the first Test, Tuesday, August 18.
- Where
- Galle, Sri Lanka, at the Galle International Stadium.
- Why
- India built a large lead through Pant’s 66, support from Devdutt Padikkal and KL Rahul, and effective bowling against Sri Lanka’s top order.
- India’s scores
- 462 in the first innings and 193 all out in the second innings.
- Sri Lanka’s scores
- 284 in the first innings and 84/4 at stumps in the chase.
- Target and deficit
- Sri Lanka need 288 more runs to reach India’s target of 372.
- Top Indian scorers
- Rishabh Pant 66, Devdutt Padikkal 44 and KL Rahul 35.
- Pant’s record
- First Indian and fourth batter overall to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket; one report also described him as the quickest to the mark.
- Sri Lanka’s unbeaten batters
- Dhananjaya de Silva 31 and Sonal Dinusha 25 at stumps.
- Galle chase record
- Pakistan successfully chased 344 at Galle in 2022, the venue’s highest successful Test chase.
- Replacement player
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara entered as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal, who was injured while fielding.
- Dismissal-name discrepancy
- Reports differ on the name of the Sri Lankan batter dismissed by Mohammed Siraj, identifying him as Nishan Fernando or Nishan Madushka.
Sources
IND vs SL, 1st Test: India Close in on Win as Sri Lanka Slip to 84/4 Chasing 372 on Day 4
1st Test: Pant leads the charge, bowlers strike as India move closer to victory vs Sri Lanka
Pant, bowlers place India on verge of big win over SL in 1st Test