India 6 wickets from win against Sri Lanka in 1st test

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GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — India was heading towards a win over Sri Lanka with six more wickets needed after four days of the first test at Galle International Stadium on Tuesday.

India was all out for 193 in its second innings about midway through the day, setting Sri Lanka an improbable winning target of 372 in four-plus sessions.

By stumps, Sri Lanka was 84-4, trailing by 287 runs. Sonal Dinusha and captain Dhananjaya de Silva thwarted India's charge by safely reaching stumps.

First innings centurion Dinusha was 25 not out off 36 balls and de Silva was on 31 from 73 balls.

In the morning session, India lost four wickets to reach 116-4 at lunch. It kept an eye on quick scoring and possible bad weather in order to force a win.

Rishabh Pant led the way for India on either side of lunch. He hit 50 off 53 balls including eight fours and two sixes. Pant was out for 66 off 69.

Devdutt Padikkal added 44 off 75 and Lokesh Rahul 35 off 47 before India was all out for 193 in 48.5 overs.

Early in the day, Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal injured his right shoulder while fielding on the boundary. He dived and landed hard to save two runs then collapsed on the other side of the boundary. Chandimal was taken to hospital and Sri Lanka Cricket said the scans were clear.

But he was replaced by Pasindu Sooriyabandara as a concussion substitute. Sooriyabandara made his test debut.

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya picked two wickets before lunch, including trapping Shubman Gill on 8, while pacer Asitha Fernando took 4-31.

Pant and Ravindra Jadeja (9) combined for 54 off 60 balls until Pant was sent back in the 41st over by Lahiru Kumara. India lost its last four wickets for just 19 runs.

Sri Lanka’s second innings was delayed due to a passing shower, but it didn’t get a good start after play resumed.

Mohammed Siraj bounced out opener Nishan Madushka for 6 and Manav Suthar struck twice. Lahiru Udara was caught on 16 and Suthar trapped debutant Sooriyabandara for a golden duck.

Sri Lanka was 21-3 in the 11th over then 47-4 in the 22nd when Kamindu Mendis was caught on 2 at slip off Prasidh Krishna.

De Silva and Dinusha dug deep to bat out the last hour when bad light was called. They face six more hours on the final day on Wednesday, when there's a threat of rain.

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