Sri Lanka showed considerable resilience on Day 3 of the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. After being left in serious trouble at 8/2 following India’s huge first-innings total, the hosts managed to rebuild their innings through determined batting performances. However, India continued to take wickets at regular intervals and remained firmly in control when rain brought an early end to play.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis steady Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka began the day with the pressure firmly on them after losing two wickets late on Day 2. Prasidh Krishna added to their problems by removing Kamil Mishara for 19, leaving the hosts at 35/3. Pasindu Sooriyabandara then took charge of the recovery effort. The batter showed impressive patience against India’s attack and built a valuable partnership with Kamindu Mendis.
Mendis provided the aggression during the stand, scoring 32 from 58 deliveries. Just when Sri Lanka appeared to be gaining some momentum, Prasidh struck again to dismiss Mendis and break the partnership. Sooriyabandara continued his resistance and helped Sri Lanka reach 130/4 at lunch, giving the hosts some much-needed stability after their difficult start.
India strike back as Sri Lanka lose middle-order wickets
India tightened their grip after the lunch interval as their spinners began creating problems for the Sri Lankan batters. Manav Suthar made an immediate impact by dismissing Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva for eight. Despite wickets falling around him, Sooriyabandara continued to occupy the crease.
He eventually reached 80 from 133 balls before Ravindra Jadeja ended his determined innings. Mohammed Siraj then added further pressure by removing Niroshan Dickwella for a three-ball duck. Sri Lanka went into the tea interval at 216/7, with India closing in on the lower order.
Sonal Dinusha leads Sri Lanka’s late resistance
With Sri Lanka seven wickets down, Sonal Dinusha produced a crucial counter-attacking innings to keep the hosts in the contest. He found support from Keshara Nuwantha, and together they frustrated India with a 57-run eighth-wicket partnership. Dinusha remained unbeaten on 85 from 137 deliveries, striking six fours and two sixes. Nuwantha contributed 18 before Suthar finally broke the partnership by having him caught by Saransh Jain.
Sri Lanka reached 265/8 before rain forced an early end to the day’s play. Suthar and Krishna finished with three wickets each, but India will still be confident of wrapping up the innings on Day 4. The hosts remain 238 runs behind India, who declared their first innings at 503/9 after Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 115 on Day 2.
Stumps have been called for Day 3 📍
257 runs scored and 6 wickets lost on Day 3 of the Test. Sri Lanka kept fighting hard and will be pretty pleased with how the day unfolded. But India are still ahead by 238 runs and will believe that they’re well ahead of the game 🏏✔… pic.twitter.com/1ECbzaRtLy
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) August 25, 2026
