Pant's rapid 66, Suthar's double strike tighten India's grip

India were bowled out inside 200 in Sri Lanka for the first time since the 2015 Galle Test but secured a big-enough lead to keep the hosts firmly pinned down on Day 4.

Sri Lanka’s top order was swept away in the final session, finishing on 84/4, after India were knocked over for 193, with only three batters getting into double-digits.

Unsurprisingly, rain appeared between innings; by then, India had piled up a 371-run lead.

The hosts began the day with a whiff of hope, with Yashasvi Jaiswal slashing an edge behind off just the third ball. It was also the first signal of intent by India: with rain in the air, quickly maximizing the lead was the main objective.

KL Rahul unfurled a couple of delectable lofted hits, but was sucked into attempting a third six. Shubman Gill fell trying to sweep Prabath Jayasuriya, having succumbed to the same bowler in the first innings.

But Devdutt Padikkal was characteristically measured, drawing from the success of his first innings. With the ball turning and keeping low at times, Sri Lanka opted to use the short ball generously, also keeping a pacer at one end to potentially slow down the game.

But they ran into Rishabh Pant, and his blithe counterattack.He launched into attack mode by stepping out to carve Lahiru Kumara for a six over covers.On 28, Sri Lanka had a chance to nab him, but Dhananjaya de Silva dropped a difficult chance at slip.

Even as he lost Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel, Pant kept going from one end, reaching his fifty with a disbalanced pull over fine leg, his 100th six of the format. But Kumara stuck to his plan, and a similar ball brought his end. The top-edge only went as far as keeper Niroshan Dickwella.

Pant's entertaining 66 was the only real bit of defiance, as Fernando and Kumara used the short ball effectively to clean up the rest of the batting.

The same short-ball ploy gave India their first breakthrough too. Nishan Madushka was gobbled up at long leg, trying to hook Siraj. With Dinesh Chandimal, injured while fielding, deemed unfit to continue, Pasindu Sooriyabandara was handed a rushed debut as a concussion substitute. He fell for a golden duck, leaving them on 14/2.

Thereafter, Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar pressed on their middle order. When Prasidh accounted for Kamindu Mendis, getting extra lift off the surface, Sri Lanka were left tottering at 21/3. It could have been 34/4, but Jadeja was found guilty of overstepping after inducing an edge off de Silva’s bat.

Jadeja remained wicketless, but Suthar claimed two, the second of which came via a catch from Dhruv Jurel on his knees at gully. It needed replays to confirm whether his finger(s) were underneath, but the sharp grab back Lahiru Udara. Jurel later limped off the field after taking a hit, with Sarfaraz Khan making an appearance.

Amid fading lights, de Silva and Sonal Dinusha, the centurion from the first innings, managed to keep India at bay. But there’s still a mountain to climb: only twice have Sri Lanka chased down 350 in Tests. And against an Indian attack with its tail up on a day five Galle wicket, the challenge can’t get steeper.

Brief scores: India 462 & 193 (Rishabh Pant 66, Devdutt Padikkal 44; Asitha Fernando 4-31, Prabath Jayasuriya 3-43) lead Sri Lanka 284 & 84/4 (Dhananjaya de Silva 31*, Sonal Dinusha 25*; Manav Suthar 2-30, Mohammed Siraj 1-11) by 287 runs.