Sri Lanka Pull Off Historic Draw Against India After Following On in Colombo
COLOMBO: In a remarkable display of grit and determination, Sri Lanka achieved an elusive milestone on Thursday, forcing a draw against India in the second Test match at the SSC Ground in Colombo. The result, while preserving India’s 1-0 series victory, will be remembered for Sri Lanka’s rare success after being asked to follow on.
Facing a daunting 213-run deficit after the first innings, the odds were heavily stacked against the hosts. Entering the final day at 229/6, Sri Lanka needed a monumental effort to stave off defeat—a task they had historically struggled to complete. Prior to this match, the island nation had lost 24 of their previous 27 Tests after being forced to follow on, including all eight such encounters against India.
A Masterclass from Sonal Dinusha
At the heart of the resistance was the prolific Sonal Dinusha. Coming off a maiden Test century in the series opener in Galle, Dinusha showcased supreme temperament to score an unbeaten 133 in the second innings. Having already scored 103 in the first innings, he etched his name into the history books by becoming only the third batter in the history of Test cricket to score centuries in both innings of a match while following on.
He joins an elite list of cricketing legends who have achieved the feat:
- Vijay Hazare: 116 & 145 vs Australia (Adelaide, 1948)
- Andy Flower: 142 & 199* vs South Africa (Harare, 2001)
- Sonal Dinusha: 103 & 133* vs India (Colombo SSC, 2026)
Dinusha’s composed knock, supported by Keshara Nuwantha’s resilient 46, formed a crucial 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket. By the time the captains agreed to call off the match, Sri Lanka had reached a formidable 429/9, safely steering the game into a draw.
Statistical Significance
This result marks only the fourth time in Sri Lankan history that the team has successfully saved a Test match after being asked to follow on. Previous instances included draws against Zimbabwe (1994), England (2006), and the West Indies (2010).
For India, the bowling attack labored hard to force a series sweep. Despite the best efforts of Manav Suthar (3/121) and Ravindra Jadeja (3/94), the pitch offered little assistance as the game reached its conclusion. While the hosts managed to break their long-standing follow-on jinx against the visitors, India departs with their heads held high, having secured the two-match series 1-0.
