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Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant's 66 helped India set a target of 372 for Sri Lanka on Day 4 of the first Test of the series at Galle International Stadium. Pant hit two sixes to complete 100 Test sixes, the fastest to achieve the feat in the format's 149 years of history. But, only three Indian batters managed to score in double digits. India were bowled out for 193 in 48.5 overs as Sri Lanka have four sessions to break the record for highest chase at the venue.
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Balanced first session
Asitha Fernando struck with the third ball of the day, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal caught behind for a duck. KL Rahul got a reprieve via DRS but he fell for a 47-ball 35 including two sixes. He shared a 65-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal before falling to Prabath Jayasuriya. Then, skipper Shubman Gill got out lbw trying to play a sweep shot against Jayasuriya. Before the lunch break, Padikkal got out lbw Keshara Nuwantha. He scored 44 runs from 75 balls, featuring six fours. The visitors were 116/4 from 29 overs after first session.
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Collapse after Pant’s knock
Early into the second session, Fernando was able to get a faint edge off Dhruv Jurel's bat. He departed for a single-digit score. Pant looked to score quickly and hit Lahiru Kumara for a six to reach his half-century from 55 deliveries. He became the first Indian and fourth overall to complete 100 sixes. Kumara was able to end Pant's entertaining knock. He scored 66 runs from 69 balls.
ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant becomes 1st Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in Tests, fastest in history
Kumara continued to use the short ball and got the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja as well. Fernando returned to send Manav Suthar back to the pavilion. Jayasuriya returned to the attack and got the wicket of Kuldeep Yadav. Fernando wrapped up India's second innings with Prasidh Krishna's wicket. Once again, Krishna departed after scoring two runs from seven balls. Fernando claimed a four-fer.
No Chandimal, record-breaking challenge for Sri Lanka
Dhananjaya de Silva’s will have to break the record for highest successful run chase in Galle. They have already suffered a setback as veteran batter Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test due to a concussion he suffered while trying to save a boundary early into Day 4’s play. Pasindu Sooriyabandara will make his Test debut. Meanwhile, rain can play spoilsport. Soon after the second innings came to an end, it strated raining in Galle, leading to delay in Sri Lanka's start to the run chase.
Pakistan hold the record for highest successful run chase in Galle. They chased down 342 with four wickets in hand against Sri Lanka four years ago.
On Sri Lankan soil, the highest successful run chase belongs to Sri Lanka when they chased down 388 in Colombo against Zimbabwe in 2017. They have also chased down 352 against South Africa in Colombo in 2006 as well.
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