Sonal Dinusha's exceptional batting and resolute resistance from Sri Lanka's tailenders helped the hosts survive the second session on the final day of the second Test against India in Colombo, placing Sri Lanka on the cusp of a hard-fought draw.
By the close of the second session, Sri Lanka were 383 for 8, with Dinusha unbeaten on 98 and Lahiru remaining not out on 2, leading by 170 runs.
The second session began with Sri Lanka at 329 for 6, Dinusha on 55 and Nuwantha on 46. Manav Suthar broke the partnership by dismissing Nuwantha, caught behind for 46 off 150 balls by Dhruv Jurel, reducing Sri Lanka to 330 for 7 and a 117-run lead.
Dinusha continued to anchor the innings as Prabath Jayasuriya played a defensive role. A pull shot by Dinusha took Sri Lanka past the 350-run mark during the 114th over. Ravindra Jadeja then ended Jayasuriya's resistance, dismissing him for two runs off 28 balls, leaving Sri Lanka at 355 for 8.
With the lead surpassing 150 runs, Dinusha persisted at the crease while Lahiru Kumara offered stubborn resistance, having faced over 50 balls for his two runs. Dinusha reached the 90s as the lead extended into the 160s. Together, Dinusha and Lahiru carried Sri Lanka through the second session without further loss.
Earlier, Dinusha's unbeaten half-century and a century partnership with Keshara Nuwantha kept Sri Lanka's hopes alive at the end of the first session on the final day. By then, Sri Lanka were 329 for 6, leading by 116 runs.
The final day began with Sri Lanka at 229 for 6, Dinusha and Nuwantha unbeaten on 7 and 3 respectively, holding a 16-run lead. Spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar were unable to claim wickets, and India took the new ball in the 82nd over.
Dinusha and Nuwantha steadily pushed Sri Lanka beyond the 250-run mark in the 80th over. By the drinks break, Sri Lanka had moved to a 71-run lead while India appeared to struggle against the resilient batting as time ran out.
Nuwantha increased the scoring rate with two boundaries off Mohammed Siraj in the 90th over, and Dinusha added runs against Jadeja in the following over, taking Sri Lanka to 300 in 91 overs. The pair extended the lead past 100 runs, with Dinusha reaching another half-century off 99 balls with two boundaries, marking his fourth score above fifty in the series.
The partnership between Dinusha and Nuwantha reached 100 runs in 203 balls. Nuwantha, initially given out LBW to Jadeja, survived a DRS review. The session concluded with Sri Lanka holding their wickets intact.
Brief scores: India 503 for 9 (Devdutt Padikkal 117, Dhruv Jurel 115*; Asitha Fernando 4 for 106) against Sri Lanka 290 and 383 for 8 (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu Mendis 55; Manav Suthar 2 for 98).