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Devdutt Padikkal plays a shot on the fourth day of the first test match between India and Sri Lanka at Galle
| Photo Credit: ANI
Like the colourful kites being flown just above the Galle International Stadium, there was a serenity in the way India tightened its grasp around the first Test. At close on the fourth day, Sri Lanka floundered at 84 for four in the second innings while pursuing a target of 372.
On a sunny Tuesday with just one brief spell of rain, India’s second innings wound up at 193, an endeavour that swelled the overall lead to 371. The host had the daunting task of surviving the final session. Sri Lanka had another headache as an injured Dinesh Chandimal was ruled out and Pasindu Sooriyabandara was fielded as the concussion substitute.
The litany of woes continued as opener Nishan Fernando perished while needlessly taking on a bouncer from Mohammed Siraj. The shot headed towards Prasidh Krishna in the deep. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar trapped Sooriyabandara for a first-ball zero and Kamindu Mendis nibbled at Prasidh’s angled delivery and found K.L. Rahul in the slips.
Opener Lahiru Udara got a start but had to retreat after tentatively prodding against Suthar. There was ambiguity over the catch that Dhruv Jurel pouched in the close-in cordon but the third umpire felt that there was no cause for doubt.