# India need 2 wickets to enforce follow-on in 2nd Test

2026-08-25T13:09:47+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets (3 source reports)

Sri Lanka ended Day 3 of the second Test in Colombo at 265/8, still 38 runs short of avoiding the follow-on. Sonal Dinusha remained unbeaten on 85, batting for 201 minutes, while Pasindu Sooriyabandara scored 80. The lower order added key partnerships, with Dinusha adding 57 with Keshara Nuwantha and 35 with Lahiru Kumara, frustrating India's bowlers. India had reduced Sri Lanka to 216/7 by tea. Manav Suthar dismissed captain Dhananjaya de Silva, Ravindra Jadeja removed Sooriyabandara, and Mohammed Siraj bowled Niroshan Dickwella. Earlier, Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis put on 87 runs before Prasidh Krishna broke the stand. India need two wickets on Day 4 to enforce the follow-on.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All three sources report the same facts neutrally. India's inability to finish Sri Lanka's lower order is noted without assigning blame. Dinusha's third fifty in the series highlights a pattern of resistance from Sri Lanka's batting. The key number is 38: Sri Lanka must reach 303 to avoid the follow-on. Day 4 will show if India can strike quickly or if the tail continues to hold out.

## Coverage

Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
- sports.ndtv.com (neutral report) <https://sports.ndtv.com/sri-lanka-vs-india-2026/india-vs-sri-lanka-live-score-2nd-test-day-3-ind-vs-sl-live-updates-scorecard-colombo-test-match-result-manav-suthar-ravindra-jadeja-shubman-gill-11953742>
  Straight match report focused on wicket count
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-vs-sri-lanka/2nd-test-india-struggle-to-finish-off-tail-as-sonal-dinusha-pasindu-sooriyabandara-lead-sri-lanka-resistance/articleshow/133510507.cms>
  Straight match report detailing Sri Lanka's resistance
- sports.ndtv.com (2) (neutral report) <https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sonal-dinusha-pasindu-sooriyabandara-lead-sri-lanka-resistance-against-india-on-day-3-of-2nd-test-11956802#publisher=newsstand>
  Straight match report summarizing day's play

This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources. Last updated 2026-08-25T14:16:25+00:00.

Tags: Colombo, India, Manav Suthar, Sonal Dinusha, Sri Lanka
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