Sonal Dinusha Becomes 1st Ever Sri Lankan Batter To Do This vs India

Sonal Dinusha scripts multiple records vs India [Source: AFP]

Sri Lanka batter Sonal Dinusha achieved a phenomenal milestone during the second Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. He scored a hundred in the second innings to extend his dream run and enter an elite list of Lankan batters.

The second India vs Sri Lanka Test began with the visitors dominating the first innings with the bat. Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel’s centuries guided the tourists to a mammoth total of 503 before Shubman Gill declared the innings.

Sonal Dinusha fights back for Sri Lanka with a record hundred

However, Sri Lanka were not ready to give up. In the second innings, they lost their top 3 batters to single-digit scores, but Pasindu Sooriyabandara showed resistance with 80 off 133 balls.

Later, Sonal Dinusha took charge and stabilised the innings. He scored 103 off 162 balls, emerging as one of the rare positives for the hosts in an otherwise forgettable outing in Colombo. 

With the century in Colombo, Sonal Dinusha became the Sri Lankan batter with the most hundreds against India while batting at no. 6 or lower.  

Most 100s for Sri Lanka vs India at Number 6 or Lower in Tests

• 2 – Sonal Dinusha
• 1 – Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Arjuna Ranatunga, Thilan Samaraweera, Hashan Tillakaratne

Interestingly, this is Dinusha’s second consecutive hundred against India in Test cricket. This feat has placed him in an elite list of Sri Lankan players who previously scored centuries in consecutive Tests against India. 

Sri Lanka batters with hundreds in consecutive Tests against India:

• 3 - Aravinda de Silva (1997) 
• 3 - Kumar Sangakkara (2009-2010)
• 2 - Sanath Jayasuriya (1997)
• 2 - Mahela Jayawardene (2001)
• 2 - Tharanga Paranavitana (2010)
• 2 - Angelo Mathews (2015)
• 2 - Sonal Dinusha (2026)

The list is led by Aravinda de Silva, followed by legends like Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene.

Needless to say, it is a big achievement for Sonal to rank among legends as someone whose Test career is just 5 games old. And to stand tall against India in red-ball cricket is another example of his outstanding calibre as a batter.

Also Read - Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella Create Massive Test Record For Sri Lanka Against India

Saransh Jain ends Dinusha’s heroics

Meanwhile, Dinusha’s happiness lasted only a few minutes as immediately after scoring his second Test hundred, he fell prey to debutant Saransh Jain.

Jain flighted the ball fuller, inviting Dinusha to come forward and play a defensive or attacking push. The delivery then turned away from the left-hander, taking the outside edge. Rahul, stationed at slip, made no mistake with the catch. 

It was Jain’s second wicket of the innings and also Sri Lanka’s final wicket as they got bowled out for 290 runs. Meanwhile, the Shubman Gill-led India decided to enforce a follow-on on Sri Lanka with a 210-run lead in hand.

Sonal Dinusha offers a ray of hope to Sri Lanka

Sonal Dinusha's performance in the last 2 Tests is a massive positive sign for Sri Lanka who have been yearning for a consistent batter in Test cricket for a long time. 

Following the retirements of Sangakkara and Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews largely carried the responsibility of anchoring the middle order.

But with Matthews also gone, Dinusha has shown a glimpse of a potential long-term solution. The left-hander has made a promising start to his Test career, scoring 473 runs, including two hundreds in just 5 Test appearances.

However, the challenge is consistency. While the start is promising, Sonal Dinusha must prioritise consistency. If he manages to capitalise on this momentum, Dinusha can be one of the biggest assets for Sri Lanka cricket in the next decade.

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