Cricket / 1st Test: Rishabh Pant’s Fiery 66 Help India Set Sri Lanka 372-Run Target at Galle

Galle, Aug 18: India’s second innings in the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium ended at 193 on Day 4, leaving the hosts a daunting target of 372 runs.

Rishabh Pant’s fiery half‑century stood out, his 69‑ball 66 anchoring the innings before tea was taken nearly 20 minutes earlier than scheduled.

Pant’s knock was the highlight, while KL Rahul (35) and Devdutt Padikkal (44) also contributed as India sought quick runs to force a result. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, however, responded with discipline.

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Asitha Fernando was the standout, using short‑pitched deliveries to dismantle India’s batting, claiming four wickets. Prabath Jayasuriya picked three, Lahiru Kumara two, and debutant Keshara Nuwantha chipped in with one.

India began Day 4 with a lead of 178 and batted with intent. Pant, the “anchor in chief,” not only registered his 20th Test half‑century but also reached a historic milestone — becoming the first Indian to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.

After Yashasvi Jaiswal fell in the first over to Fernando, Rahul and Padikkal steadied the innings with a 65‑run stand for the second wicket. Rahul played cautiously before opening up, striking two sixes and two fours.

Padikkal, fresh from his 167 in the first innings, looked composed again, hitting six boundaries in his 44. Their partnership was broken when Jayasuriya removed Rahul, caught at deep mid‑off. Captain Shubman Gill followed soon after, trapped LBW by Jayasuriya for eight.

Pant was measured early, guiding India to 116/4 at lunch with a lead of 294. After the break, he shifted gears. He avoided unnecessary risks, leaving short balls and refusing to attack Nuwantha down the ground, having fallen to him in the first innings.

Instead, Pant relied on sweeps and reverse sweeps to counter spin. He struck two sixes off Kumara, the second bringing up his 100th Test six and his fifty. His innings ended when he top‑edged a bouncer from Kumara to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Sri Lanka’s pacers continued with the short‑ball tactic. Kumara dismissed Ravindra Jadeja, who miscued a pull to deep backward square leg, caught by substitute Pasindu Sooriyabandara, on for the concussed Dinesh Chandimal. Manav Suthar briefly resisted, hitting a four off Nuwantha, but Fernando soon found his edge with another short delivery, Dickwella completing the catch.

The tail folded quickly. Jayasuriya removed Kuldeep Yadav, caught in slips for five, before Fernando bounced out Prasidh Krishna for two to finish with four wickets. India’s innings closed at 193, leaving Sri Lanka with a stiff chase of 372.

The hosts now face a formidable task on a turning Galle pitch, with India’s spinners expected to play a decisive role. Pant’s milestone and Fernando’s hostile pace defined the day, setting up a gripping finale in this landmark Test.

Brief scores: India 462 & 193 (Rishabh Pant 66, Devdutt Padikkal 44; Asitha Fernando 4-31, Prabath Jayasuriya 3-43) lead Sri Lanka 284 (Sonal Dinusha 100, Niroshan Dickwella 80; Manav Suthar 4-76, Ravindra Jadeja 3-57) by 371 runs.

(IANS)