Galle Test Poised for Grandstand Finish: India Sniffs Victory as Sri Lanka Battles on Day 5

Test cricket in Galle never disappoints. Day 4 delivered classic subcontinent drama from the opening ball to the final over before stumps. India finds itself six wickets away from taking a 1-0 series lead, while Sri Lanka faces a steep mountain on a rapidly crumbling surface.

DailyCricInfo brings you the complete, blow-by-blow report from India's historic 600th Test match at Galle.

Padikkal and Rahul Lay the Foundation

Winning the toss and batting first was always going to dictate the terms of this match. Shubman Gill’s side didn't hesitate, piling up a mammoth 462 runs in their first innings.

The standout hero was Devdutt Padikkal. He batted with pure composure, crafting a magnificent maiden Test century of 167 off 230 deliveries. He drove with authority through extra cover and used his feet neatly against spin. KL Rahul provided solid support with a gritty 82, while young Dhruv Jurel added a brisk 51 to push the total past 450. Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya bowled a marathon spell to claim 4 for 109, but the damage was already done.

Dinusha Fights Back, Suthar Spins a Web

Sri Lanka stumbled early in their first essay, but they refused to roll over easily.

Sonal Dinusha produced a counter-attacking masterclass, hitting his maiden Test hundred with a gutsy 100 off 168 balls. Niroshan Dickwella walked out with aggressive intent, smashing 80 to spark a spirited revival.

The truth is, India’s spin duo took complete control when it mattered most. Young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar broke the game open with a clinical spell of 4 for 76. Ravindra Jadeja backed him up with 3 for 57, picking up his 350th Test wicket in the process. Sri Lanka folded for 284, conceding a massive 178-run lead.

Pant Unleashes Fireworks Before Galle Turns Wicked

India's second innings saw fast-paced action. Asitha Fernando ripped through the top order with a sharp burst of 4 for 31, while Jayasuriya grabbed another three wickets.

Then Rishabh Pant took over.

Pant blasted 66 off just 69 deliveries, clearing the boundary ropes with authority. Along the way, he smashed his 100th career Test six, becoming the fastest player in cricket history to reach the milestone in just 89 innings. India was eventually bundled out for 193, setting Sri Lanka a daunting target of 372 runs.

The Final Day Equation

Chasing 372 on a deteriorating Day 4 pitch was always going to trigger chaos. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna struck early blows, before Suthar trapped Nishan Madushka and Kamindu Mendis cheaply.

Sri Lanka limped to 84 for 4 at Stumps. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva (31 not out) and first-innings centurion Sonal Dinusha (25 not out) showed immense grit to survive the closing overs.

Sri Lanka still needs 288 runs, while India needs just 6 wickets. Will the Indian spinners wrap up a clinical win in the opening session of Day 5, or can Sri Lanka pull off an impossible rescue act?

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