India regained control on Day 4 of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo after Prasidh Krishna dismissed Kamindu Mendis for 55, ending a crucial 115-run partnership with Pasindu Sooriyabandara. Shubman Gill completed an excellent catch to send Mendis back, giving India a much-needed breakthrough after Sri Lanka had mounted a strong fightback in their second innings.

Sri Lanka were following on after being bowled out for 290 in their first innings, conceding a 213-run lead to India. India had earlier declared on 503/9, powered by centuries from Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel. Sri Lanka's first-innings resistance came largely through Sonal Dinusha, who scored 103, while Sooriyabandara contributed 80.

Sri Lanka fight back after early blows

India had made an encouraging start to Sri Lanka's second innings. Mohammed Siraj dismissed Lahiru Udara early, while Ravindra Jadeja removed debutant Kamil Mishara as Sri Lanka slipped to 83/2 at lunch.

The situation changed significantly after the break. Sooriyabandara and Mendis settled in and began taking the attack to the Indian bowlers. Their partnership crossed 50 and then 100 as Sri Lanka steadily reduced India's first-innings advantage.

Mendis brought up his half-century with a six off Prasidh Krishna, while Sooriyabandara also reached his fifty during the partnership.

Prasidh Krishna provides crucial breakthrough

With India's spinners struggling to create consistent pressure, Gill brought Krishna back into the attack. The move paid off when Mendis attempted to take on a short delivery but failed to clear the field.

Gill moved quickly to complete an outstanding catch, ending Mendis' innings at 55. Krishna's wicket also brought an end to the 115-run stand, which had temporarily shifted the momentum towards Sri Lanka.

India still hold sizeable advantage

Despite Sri Lanka's resistance, India remain firmly ahead in the Test. The hosts began their second innings 213 runs behind and were still trailing by less than 100 runs during the partnership.

India's first-innings bowling had already produced a strong collective performance. Manav Suthar and Prasidh Krishna claimed three wickets each, while debutant Saransh Jain picked up two wickets. Sri Lanka's first innings ended at 290, 14 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.

Sooriyabandara keeps Sri Lanka fighting

Sooriyabandara has been central to Sri Lanka's second-innings recovery. After scoring 80 in the first innings, he continued his resistance in the second innings alongside Mendis.

The pair absorbed India's initial pressure and attacked when opportunities appeared. At one stage, Sooriyabandara smashed Suthar for a six immediately after an edge had fallen short of a vacant first-slip position.

India will now look to break the remaining resistance quickly and wrap up the innings before Sri Lanka can build a challenging target.

At stumps, Sri Lanka were 92 for 2 in their second innings, with Dinesh Chandimal unbeaten on 40 and Kamindu Mendis batting on 30. The pair added an unbroken 60-run stand for the third wicket after the hosts lost two early wickets.

The match appeared evenly poised when West Indies resumed their first innings and mounted a strong recovery through Hope and Greaves. The duo stitched together a crucial 242-run partnership for the fifth wicket, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowling attack for much of the opening session.

Hope reached his fifth Test century and his first on home soil, bringing up the landmark in 198 deliveries. At the other end, Greaves continued his impressive run in red-ball cricket, registering his third Test hundred after facing 201 balls.

Their partnership not only rescued West Indies from a difficult position but also narrowed Sri Lanka's first-innings advantage significantly. For a period, the visitors looked capable of pushing for a lead.

However, the momentum shifted shortly before lunch when Sonal Dinusha dismissed Hope via stumping. The breakthrough opened the door for Sri Lanka, who quickly regained control of the contest.

Greaves carried on and produced one of the finest innings of his Test career. The right-hander remained at the crease for 325 deliveries and scored 180 runs before eventually falling to Prabath Jayasuriya. His knock formed the backbone of the West Indies total of 499.

Sri Lanka's bowlers wrapped up the innings soon after. Asitha Fernando was the standout performer, claiming a five-wicket haul and completing the third five-for of his Test career. He removed key batters including Roston Chase, Anderson Phillip and Shamar Joseph during a decisive spell.

Milan Rathnayake accounted for Alzarri Joseph to bring the innings to a close, ensuring Sri Lanka carried a 50-run first-innings lead into the final phase of the match.

The hosts, however, suffered an early setback in their second innings when first-innings centurion Lahiru Udara was trapped leg-before wicket by Shamar Joseph without opening his account. Nishan Madushka and Chandimal attempted to steady the innings, but Madushka departed for 15 after edging Alzarri Joseph to John Campbell at first slip.

With Sri Lanka reduced to 32 for 2, Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis took charge. The pair batted positively and scored at more than four runs an over, denying West Indies any further breakthroughs during the remainder of the day.

Their partnership has placed Sri Lanka in a strong position heading into the fifth and final day. While a lead of 142 runs is far from decisive on its own, the hosts still have eight wickets in hand and an opportunity to stretch the target beyond West Indies' reach.

For the visitors, early wickets on the final morning will be critical. West Indies have already shown through the Hope-Greaves stand that they can fight back from difficult situations, but they will need a disciplined bowling effort to keep the chase within manageable limits.

With both teams still eyeing victory, the final day promises an intriguing finish. Sri Lanka hold the advantage, but the match remains open enough for another twist before the last wicket falls.

Debutant Lahiru Udara produced a memorable performance on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies, smashing a brilliant 188 to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. Riding on the opener's marathon innings, Sri Lanka closed Day 1 at 338 for 5, while West Indies pacer Jayden Seales reached the milestone of 100 Test wickets late in the day's play.

Winning the toss, Sri Lanka elected to bat first on a surface that initially offered assistance to the fast bowlers. The decision appeared risky during the opening session as the visitors were reduced to 25/2, with Shamar Joseph striking twice to remove Nishan Madushka and experienced batter Dinesh Chandimal cheaply.

With Sri Lanka under pressure, Lahiru Udara, making his long-awaited Test debut at the age of 32, showcased remarkable composure and determination. Replacing regular opener Pathum Nissanka in the playing XI, Udara seized his opportunity with both hands, anchoring the innings through disciplined shot selection and calculated aggression.

The turning point of the innings came through a magnificent 215-run partnership between Udara and Kamindu Mendis. The duo steadied Sri Lanka after the early setbacks and gradually shifted momentum in the visitors' favour. Their stand became Sri Lanka's highest-ever third-wicket partnership in Test cricket on West Indian soil, underlining the significance of their effort.

Kamindu Mendis contributed a fluent 84 off 120 deliveries, mixing solid defence with elegant stroke play. His innings ended when Justin Greaves broke the partnership, with wicketkeeper Shai Hope completing a sharp stumping.

Udara, however, continued his outstanding innings. Displaying confidence against both pace and spin, he reached his maiden Test century in style by clearing the boundary with a six. He eventually scored 188 from 248 balls, an innings decorated with several boundaries and four towering sixes.

Although he narrowly missed a double century, falling just 12 runs short, his knock firmly established him as the standout performer of the day and one of Sri Lanka's most impressive Test debutants in recent years.

Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva added valuable support, contributing 33 runs during a crucial 93-run fourth-wicket partnership with Udara. Their stand further consolidated Sri Lanka's advantage before the West Indies staged a late fightback.

The hosts enjoyed success in the final session when Udara was finally dismissed, followed shortly by the wicket of De Silva, who edged Jayden Seales to the slip cordon. The dismissal carried added significance for Seales, who claimed his 100th wicket in Test cricket, becoming one of the fastest West Indies bowlers to reach the milestone in terms of balls bowled. Former fast bowler Ian Bishop remains the quickest West Indian to achieve the landmark.

Despite Sri Lanka's dominance, West Indies will reflect on missed opportunities that proved costly. Udara received a major reprieve when he was on 55, after a catch off Seales' bowling was spilled due to confusion between John Campbell and Justin Greaves in the slips.

Kamindu Mendis also survived on 41 when the fielding side failed to appeal for an edge behind the wicket. Television replays using UltraEdge later confirmed that the ball had indeed brushed the bat, making it another missed chance that could have altered the course of the innings.

At stumps, Sonal Dinusha remained unbeaten on 5, with Sri Lanka well placed to push for a substantial first-innings total on Day 2.

For the West Indies, an early breakthrough on the second morning will be essential if they hope to prevent Sri Lanka from building a match-defining lead. For Sri Lanka, however, the opening day belonged almost entirely to Lahiru Udara, whose unforgettable debut innings has given his side a significant advantage and marked the arrival of a promising new Test opener on the international stage.