First Test:  India need six wickets to beat Sri Lanka as hosts struggle in 372-run chase

GALLE: India are six wickets away from victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka after putting the hosts under pressure in a challenging chase of 372. At the end of Day 4, Sri Lanka were 84 for 4 in their second innings and still need another 288 runs to win. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva (31 not out) and Sonal Dinusha (25 not out) are at the crease. Sri Lanka have already lost Nissanka Madushka (6), Lahiru Udara (16), Pasindu Sooriyabandara (0) and Kamindu Mendis (2). Manav Suthar picked up two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna claimed one wicket each.

India set Sri Lanka a target of 372 after being bowled out for 193 in their second innings, taking their overall lead to 371 runs. On a pitch offering assistance to spinners, pacer Asitha Fernando and spinner Prabath Jayasuriya led Sri Lanka's bowling attack as India's batting lineup struggled.

Rishabh Pant was India's top scorer with a quickfire 66 off 69 balls. Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 284 in their first innings, with Sonal Dinusha scoring a century (100) and Niroshan Dickwella making 80. Manav Suthar starred for India with four wickets.

India suffered an early setback in their second innings when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck in the very first over. KL Rahul (35) and Devdutt Padikkal (44) then added a useful partnership, but wickets began to fall against Sri Lanka's spin attack. Captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for just eight runs. Pant then took charge and attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers, smashing two sixes and eight fours to take India's lead beyond 350. However, India's resistance ended soon after his dismissal.

Earlier, India had posted 462 in their first innings. Sri Lanka were then bowled out for 284, with the Indian bowling attack led by Manav Suthar's four wickets and Ravindra Jadeja's three.