Sri Lanka team during Galle Test vs India | Source- AFP
Sri Lanka are looking to pose a tough challenge against India in the final innings of the Galle Test, while chasing a mammoth target of 372 runs on the fifth day of the IND vs SL 1st Test.
The Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva, along with Sonal Dinusha, were looking to do everything in their power to deny India a victory, as the visitors had failed to make a breakthrough in the first hour of the final day, but then they had one.
As the home team had lost four of their wickets last evening, India are in a commanding position to continue their 11-year-long winning streak in the Island nation.
Dhananjaya de Silva etches his name in WTC history
The Sri Lankan Test captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, tried leading by example as the home team are trying their luck at the unthinkable.
As he smacked a fighting half-century at Galle, the stylish batter scored his 23rd Test fifty-plus in WTC history, which is the most by a Sri Lankan during the given period. However, the captain soon was sent back by Ravindra Jadeja, who provided India their first break of the day.
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Previously, DDS shared the record with Dinesh Chandimal and Dimuth Karunaratne, who have scored 22 fifty-plus scores in WTC.
Most 50+ Scores for Sri Lanka in WTC:-
23 – Dhananjaya de Silva*
22 – Dinesh Chandimal, Dimuth Karunaratne
15 – Angelo Mathews
14 – Kusal Mendis
11 – Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella
Dhananjaya de Silva aka Sri Lankan crisis man
Regarded as Sri Lanka’s crisis man, Dhananjaya de Silva is the third-highest-scorer in Test cricket among Sri Lanka’s active batters, with 4400 runs at an average of 39.28.
He sits just next to Dinesh Chandimal, who has been ruled out of the IND vs SL 1st Test due to concussion.
Notably, de Silva registered his fourth fifty (in 8 innings) while batting in the fourth innings of a Test match in the WTC, which is also the most for Sri Lanka. During his knock of 59 vs India at Galle, he levelled Dimuth Karunaratne’s tally, who has four half-centuries in nine outings.
Can Sri Lanka go for target in Galle on Day 5?
After losing their captain, Sri Lanka lost another key wicket at a quick juncture. However, the centurion from the previous innings, Sonal Dinusha, is still going strong as he slammed a half-century in the fourth innings.
With over 200 runs still to get and just four wickets in hand, the Islands are definitely not in the box seat, although there are showers predicted in Galle later in the day.
Having said that, Sri Lanka know a thing or two about climbing the Everest, with their highest target achieved being 388 runs against Zimbabwe in 2017. At the same time, chasing 372 runs on a spinning track against India would never be a cakewalk.
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