08/19/26 02:24:00
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08/19 02:22 CDT India edges closer to win in 1st cricket test against Sri Lanka
despite Sonal Dinusha's 65
India edges closer to win in 1st cricket test against Sri Lanka despite Sonal
Dinusha's 65
GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) --- Sonal Dinusha continued his resilient innings and
guided Sri Lanka to 175 for 6 at lunch on Day 5 of the first cricket test,
holding on as India pushes for the four wickets it needs for victory.
Sri Lanka resumed Wednesday at 84-4, trailing by 287 runs, with Sonal Dinusha
--- who scored a century in the first innings --- not out on 25 and captain
Dhananjaya de Silva on 31.
Dinusha survived the morning session, moving to 65 not out from 112 balls and
hitting six fours and a six.
India, though, managed to break his long partnership with de Silva, who scored
59, and then snared another wicket as it edged closer to a win.
Sri Lanka needed another 197 runs for an improbable win or to bat through
another 65 overs to salvage a draw.
India posted 462 in its first innings and, after dismissing for Sri Lanka for
284 in reply, tallied 193 in its second innings to set the hosts a 372-run
chase.
Dinusha and de Silva had batted together for 12.2 overs in the final session on
Day 4, and they looked to extend their partnership by cutting down any risky
shots. The partnership scored 54 runs in the first hour of play on Wednesday,
with both batters going past 50.
Skipper de Silva got there first -- 50 off 125 balls -- and Dinusha scored his
half-century off 77 balls. Their partnership neared the century mark until
Ravindra Jadeja provided the breakthrough for India when he had de Silva caught
at short fine leg attempting a sweep shot.
Four overs later, India had another wicket when Niroshan Dickwella (10) was
caught behind off Prasidh Krishna.
Sri Lanka was just past 150 at that stage, but Keshara Nuwantha faced 27
deliveries to stay unbeaten and keep Dinusha company until the first interval.
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