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The Indian National Cricket Team’s long winning streak in Sri Lanka has finally come to an end, and Sonal Dinusha was the biggest reason behind it. Sonal Dinusha was in sensational form throughout the two-match Test series for the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and scored three centuries against India.
India had won six straight Tests in Sri Lanka since 2015, which was the joint-longest winning streak by a visiting team in the island nation. Australia also won six between 1999 and 2011, while England achieved the same feat from 2012 to 2021 in Test cricket. Earlier, Sonal Dinusha creates history with Colombo ton vs India, full list of records.
Sonal Dinusha crushes India’s 2-0 dream with stunning 133
Well, Sonal Dinusha delivered a superb performance in the second and final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. After Sri Lanka faced a heavy 165-run defeat in the first Test in Galle, the young batter refused to let India dominate again in Colombo.
The left-handed batter had already scored a century in Galle and then continued his excellent form in Colombo. Dinusha made 103 runs in the first innings before producing an even bigger effort in the second innings against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
With Sri Lanka fighting to save the Test, Dinusha remained unbeaten on a brilliant 133 from 264 balls. His patient knock helped Sri Lanka hold on for a draw and ended India’s hopes of completing a 2-0 series sweep in the crucial ICC World Test Championship series.
Dinusha reached his century early in the final session by flicking Mohammed Siraj towards mid-wicket for two runs. He stayed calm under pressure and carried his bat until the end. His match-saving effort earned him the Player of the Match award in Colombo. Amid this, India’s WTC 2027 Final qualification scenario after Sri Lanka series.
Sonal Dinusha opens up on incredible Colombo masterclass
Following his incredible resistance, which became the biggest highlight of the Test series against India, Dinusha credited his coaches, family, and lower-order batters for his sensational show. The 25-year-old batter was very happy to score runs against a strong Indian team.
Sonal Dinusha said at the post-match presentation after winning the Player of the Match award, "First of all, I think I should mention who helped me to get runs here. So especially I need to mention our coaching staff. So they encouraged me, and my school coaches, my provincial coaches, my family and my friends as well."
"So they helped me a lot. So speaking about the preparation, so first at the ground here, so I had an idea, turning wicket as well. So I did some quality sessions as well. So that's the thing I get runs."
Sonal Dinusha hails Sri Lanka tailenders
Dinusha also thanked the tailenders who gave valuable support to him and also helped him score two hundreds in the 2nd Test match. He is very happy to have scored the hundreds.
"Yeah, especially I would like to mention tail-enders. So they batted really well. So that helped me to really get runs as well. So I think I tried to do my best, reading the situation as well. So yeah, that's it."
"[On scoring three hundreds in a two-Test series, becoming only the third Sri Lankan to achieve the feat] Yeah, personally I'm very happy about that."
Historic comeback for Sri Lanka
Meanwhile, this was the eighth time Sri Lanka took the lead after being asked to follow on in a Test match. Their lead of 216 runs against India in the Colombo Test was their biggest ever, beating their previous best of 178 runs against England at Lord’s in 2006.
Interestingly, Sri Lanka had lost 24 of their previous 27 Tests before the Colombo game when they were forced to follow on. They had lost all eight times they had followed on against India.
Sri Lanka’s lower-order batters also showed great fight against India. Their players at No. 8 to No. 11 faced 292 balls in Colombo, which is the sixth-highest number faced by a lower order in a Test innings after following on.
