India Set Sri Lanka 372 After Pant’s 66 in First Test

India moved to the brink of a major first-Test win over Sri Lanka after setting a target of 372 and reducing the hosts to 84 for four by stumps on the fourth day. Rishabh Pant made 66 in India’s second innings of 193 before the visitors’ bowlers struck regularly in Sri Lanka’s chase at Galle.

Sri Lanka require a further 288 runs, with captain Dhananjaya de Silva unbeaten on 31 and Sonal Dinusha, who made a century in the first innings, on 25 not out. The target represents a significant challenge at the venue: the highest successful Test chase at Galle is Pakistan’s 344 in 2022, while 200-plus targets have been successfully pursued there only twice since 1998.

Pant powers India’s second innings

Pant’s 66 was central to India extending their lead after Sri Lanka’s bowlers had made early inroads. Devdutt Padikkal added 44 and KL Rahul contributed 35 as India reached 193, giving themselves a substantial fourth-innings cushion.

The second innings began poorly for India when Yashasvi Jaiswal edged Asitha Fernando to wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella in the opening over. Rahul and Padikkal then added 65 for the second wicket to stabilise the innings. Rahul struck Prabath Jayasuriya for two sixes, but Jayasuriya removed him after Rahul had earlier overturned an lbw decision through DRS on 25.

Padikkal, following his 167 in the first innings, continued to supply valuable runs. He swept and cut the spinners and produced a straight punch off Keshara Nuwantha before the off-spinner dismissed him lbw. Padikkal reviewed the decision, but the verdict remained unchanged.

Shubman Gill was also out lbw to Jayasuriya, leaving Pant to drive India’s push for a larger lead. The left-hander reached his half-century from 53 balls with a six off Lahiru Kumara. That shot was his 100th six in Test cricket, making him the first Indian to reach the mark and the quickest batter to do so.

Pant shared a 54-run sixth-wicket stand with Ravindra Jadeja. His innings ended when he edged Kumara to Dickwella, but his acceleration had helped India establish a target that placed the match firmly in the visitors’ control. Sri Lanka collected wickets late in the innings, yet India’s total was enough to set the home side a difficult final assignment.

India bowlers cut through Sri Lanka’s reply

After a brief rain delay, Sri Lanka began their chase cautiously and quickly lost wickets. Mohammed Siraj made the first breakthrough when Nishan Fernando’s pull was caught in the deep by Prasidh Krishna.

Manav Suthar then dismissed Pasindu Sooriyabandara lbw. Sooriyabandara was playing as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal, who hurt his shoulder and head while fielding in the first session. Chandimal was cleared of injury following a scan but did not pass the concussion test.

Prasidh soon removed Kamindu Mendis after bowling three deliveries that came in before producing one that moved away. Mendis edged to Rahul in the cordon. Suthar added a second wicket when he dismissed Lahiru Udara, leaving Sri Lanka four down for 84.

De Silva and Dinusha will resume with Sri Lanka still needing 288 runs to complete a record chase at Galle. India, meanwhile, need six wickets on the final day to secure the opening Test.