Sri Lanka’s middle-order batter Sonal Dinusha scripted history with his second consecutive Test century against India in the ongoing two-Test series. Dinusha became the third batter to register two or more Test centuries in first three innings against India. He became the eighth batter to score a century each in first two Tests against India. The previous batter to achieve the feat was New Zealand's Jesse Ryder in 2009.
Dinusha followed up the 100 and 84 in the Galle Test with a 103-run knock in the ongoing Colombo Test. He could not help India avoid the follow-on but took them closer to the 300-run mark while batting with the tail.
Dinusha, the rarest of the rarest
Dinusha is the first batter since 1978 to score two centuries in first three Test innings against India. In October 1978, Pakistan's Zaheer Abbas (176, 96 and 235 not out) did it. Nearly three decades earlier, West Indies’ Everton Weekes (128, 194 and 162) did it on India tour.
Dinusha in elite list
The list of batters with multiple Test hundreds in first two Tests against India features WI's Weekes (1948) and Garfield Sobers (1958), Pakistan's Abbas (1978), Sri Lanka's Duleep Mendis (1982), England's Robin Smith (19980), South Africa's Gary Kirsten (1996). Kirsten is also the current head coach of Sri Lankan team. Then, Ryder became the first to achieve the feat in 21st century followed by Dinusha.
How impactful is Dinusha’s ton
Dinusha had helped Sri Lanka avoid follow-on in the Galle Test. He couldn't do so in Colombo but helped Sri Lanka post 290. India had a 213-run lead in the bag and enforced follow-on. But, Sri Lanka have done well while following on. With rain threat looming large, Sri Lanka have a chance to post a challenging target for India in the fourth innings.
India's highest successful run chase in Sri Lanka
India's highest score in the fourth innings on Sri Lanka soil is 281/5 came in 1997 in Colombo. The Test ended in a draw. India's highest successful run chase on Sri Lanka soil came in Colombo as well. VVS Laxman's unbeaten ton helped India chase down 257.