From getting out on a duck in Galle to being the Sri Lankan batting backbone in Colombo, Pasindu Sooriyabandara stitched together a comprehensive innings for Sri Lanka. Pasindu Sooriyabandara came in when Sri Lanka’s score was 8-2 & did a good recovery for the team & himself. India’s bowlers had to toil a lot picking up wickets. Skipper Shubman Gill was marshalling his troops & made sure that the over-rate was in check.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara Powers the Home Team
On Day 2, India had declared their innings on a whopping 503/9. Sri Lanka’s innings too had begun on a shaky note, with the Indian bowlers reducing the Lankan Lions to 35/3. However, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, alongside Kamindu Mendis (32), fought back with remarkable resilience, leading Sri Lanka to a score of 265/8 at the end of Day 3.
Pasindu brought up his maiden Test fifty before lunch, holding the fort down for Sri Lanka. He became the second standout batter for the Sri Lankans after Sonal Dinusha, who remains unbeaten at 85 off 137 balls. The duo took responsibility against a world-class bowling unit, which speaks a lot about Sri Lanka’s domestic structure.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara’s Unusual Debut
Sooriyabandara, who had an unusual debut as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal and was dismissed for a golden duck in the first Test at Galle, appeared quite composed batting on Day 3. His knock was a mix of caution and attack, tackling the Indian bowlers with careful aggression before falling to Ravindra Jadeja in the 45th over. Sri Lanka were 171/6 at the time of his dismissal.
Both Pasindu Sooriyabandu and Sonal Dinusha have kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive despite the hosts heading into Day 4 of the final Test with a significant deficit. Sri Lanka will hope that they make India work hard for the last 2 wickets. It’s quite crystal clear now that the island nation is playing for the draw and with rain threat looming large in bits & pieces, India will have to take wickets in quick succession to clean sweep Sri Lanka.
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