The first match of the two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka is being played at the Galle International Stadium. On the fourth day of the match i.e. on 18th August, the Indian team performed brilliantly with both bat and ball. India was all out for 193 runs in its second innings. After this, Sri Lanka has scored 84 runs at the loss of 4 wickets in the second innings. Sri Lanka still needs to score 288 runs to win this test, while India is just 6 wickets away from victory.
By the end of the fourth day's play, India was in a very strong position in this Test. The Indian team batted 116.4 overs in the first innings and were all out after scoring 462 runs. In response, the Sri Lankan team could play only 79.4 overs and the entire team returned to the pavilion at 284 runs.
Also read: Fastest 100 sixes in Test cricket… Rishabh Pant broke Gilchrist's record
Indian team started the day with excellent batting.
India started the fourth day with the intention of scoring runs quickly and batted in this style for most of the innings. Only three batsmen could cross the double figures. KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal added 65 runs for the second wicket. After this, Rishabh Pant's brilliant inning of 66 runs took India to a strong score.
Also read: 211 runs… Padikkal's amazing goal, second Indian to do so after Dravid
Sri Lanka bowled well most of the time and restricted India to 191 runs by taking consecutive wickets. However, including the first innings lead, India's total lead became 371 runs. Let us tell you that till date no team in Galle has been able to win the Test by chasing such a big target in the fourth innings.
Sri Lanka lost 4 wickets in the second innings
Nishan Fernando was once again out cheaply in Sri Lanka's second innings. Pasindu Suriyabandara, who came as a concussion substitute, was out without opening the account on the very first ball on his debut. Kamindu hit the outgoing ball with his bat and was caught at slip on the ball of Prasidh Krishna. Lahiru Udara, on the other hand, may have been a bit unlucky as Suthar's ball took the edge of his bat and the ball went into the gully.
Also read: KL Rahul was returning to the pavilion after being given out LBW, Devdutt Padikkal saved him like this
Dhananjay de Silva got a lease of life on the score of 7 runs. He was caught out on a no-ball, hence survived and is still at the crease. Sonal Dinusha has also batted well and positively. However, the road is still very difficult for Sri Lanka. By the end of the day's play, Sri Lanka had scored 84 runs after losing 4 wickets in 34 overs.