Cricket / Prasidh Krishna Strikes Twice, Sri Lanka Resist in Colombo Test

Colombo, Aug 25: India’s performance on the third morning owed much to Prasidh Krishna, who struck twice to halt Sri Lanka’s progress. By lunch, the hosts had reached 130/4, showing far greater resilience than the previous evening when they lost two quick wickets.

Pasindu Sooriyabandara stood tall amid the pressure, completing his maiden Test half‑century with composed strokeplay, while Krishna’s incisive spells ensured India remained firmly in the contest.

Resuming at 8/2, Sri Lanka began the morning positively. Sooriyabandara and opener Kamil Mishara settled into their roles, with Mishara striking boundaries square of the wicket while Sooriyabandara grew increasingly assured against India’s pace attack.

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Krishna, who had removed Lahiru Udara late on Monday, struck again when he went short at Mishara. The rising delivery climbed onto the gloves, and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel completed the catch. Mishara fell for 19, leaving Sri Lanka 35/3.

Kamindu Mendis then joined Sooriyabandara, and together they shifted momentum. India’s spinners struggled to maintain control, allowing the pair to attack and keep the scoreboard ticking.

Sooriyabandara, playing only his second Test innings after debuting as a concussion substitute in Galle, grew in confidence. He used the pace of India’s quicks behind square and later attacked the spinners with sweeps and lofted drives.

Mendis too played positively, striking a six off Manav Suthar. Their fourth‑wicket stand added 87 runs, forcing captain Shubman Gill to recall Krishna for a second spell. The move proved decisive.

With lunch approaching, Krishna dismissed Mendis for 32 off 58 balls. Attempting a pull, Mendis failed to keep the ball down and picked out Ravindra Jadeja at mid‑wicket, ending a partnership that had given Sri Lanka a foothold.

Shortly before the wicket, Sooriyabandara reached his maiden Test fifty, raising his bat after a single off Jadeja. He remained unbeaten on 65 off 93 balls at the interval, having displayed composure and shot selection throughout. Dhananjaya de Silva joined him and immediately found the boundary, pulling Krishna through the leg side.

Sri Lanka still trail India’s imposing first‑innings declaration of 503/9 by 377 runs, but Sooriyabandara’s presence offers hope. Krishna has been India’s standout bowler, returning 3‑35 from nine overs, while Suthar has one wicket. The spinners, however, have struggled to exert control, allowing Sri Lanka to score freely during the middle phase.

Brief Scores: India 503/9 in 138 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115 not out; Asitha Fernando 4-106, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) lead Sri Lanka 130/4 in 32 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 65; Prasidh Krishna 3-35, Manav Suthar 1-38) by 373 runs.

(IANS)