Rishabh Pant Fires Quickfire 66 as India Set Sri Lanka 372-Run Target in Galle Test
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
India were bowled out for 193 in their second innings on Day 4 of the first Test in Galle, setting Sri Lanka a formidable 372-run target after taking tea early on Tuesday.
Rishabh Pant anchored the aggressive push with a blistering 69-ball 66 runs, becoming the first Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.
Aggressive Push Extends Indian Lead
Resuming the day with a 178-run first-innings advantage, India maintained a high scoring rate to force a result. Early losses saw Yashasvi Jaiswal depart in the opening over to Asitha Fernando, but KL Rahul (35) and Devdutt Padikkal (44) steadied the innings with a 65-run second-wicket stand.
Jayasuriya trapped Indian skipper Shubman Gill lbw for eight shortly after, leaving India at 116/4 at the lunch interval with the lead approaching 300.
Pant Reaches Historic Landmark Before Tail Collapses
Post-lunch, Pant unleashed a calculated assault on the Sri Lankan bowling attack. Employing sweeps and reverse sweeps against off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, the wicketkeeper-batter accelerated the scoring rate seamlessly. He struck two massive sixes off Lahiru Kumara, the second of which brought up his 20th Test half-century and his century of Test sixes.
Sri Lanka’s pacers exploited the short ball to dismantle the remaining lineup. Kumara removed Ravindra Jadeja, while Fernando claimed Manav Suthar and Prasidh Krishna to finish with figures of 4-31. Jayasuriya wrapped up the tail by dismissing Kuldeep Yadav, leaving Sri Lanka needing 372 runs for victory with over four sessions remaining.
