Sonal Dinusha joins elite list with three centuries in a two-match Test series against India

Sri Lanka left-handed batter Sonal Dinusha on Thursday entered a rare group of batters by registering three centuries across a two-match Test series, completing the feat during the second Test against India in Colombo. He brought up his landmark hundred on Day 5 off 197 deliveries while batting in Sri Lanka’s second innings, capping a remarkable series with the bat.

Dinusha had posted 103 in the first innings of the second Test before adding another century in the second innings. That double made him the 12th batter overall to record hundreds in both innings of a Test match against India. He is also just the second batter since January 2015 to accomplish that particular feat against India, following England’s Jonny Bairstow, who struck 106 and 114 not out at Edgbaston in 2022.

Across the two-match series, Dinusha’s three centuries placed him alongside a select group that includes South Africa’s Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla, Pakistan’s Younis Khan, Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. He became the ninth batter overall to reach this mark and the third Sri Lankan to do so, after Aravinda de Silva and Kumar Sangakkara.

How did the match unfold ahead of Dinusha’s record?

India batted first and posted 503 for 9 declared, with Devdutt Padikkal contributing 117 and Dhruv Jurel remaining unbeaten on 115. Rishabh Pant added a brisk 63 to push India’s total past 500. Sri Lanka were then dismissed for 290 in their first innings, leaving India with a first-innings advantage of 213 runs.

Dinusha was the standout performer in that first Sri Lanka innings, providing the primary resistance with his century. Forced to follow on, Sri Lanka batted with greater purpose in their second attempt. Pasindu Sooriyabandara contributed 92, and Dinusha built steadily alongside the lower order. Sri Lanka were placed at 229 for 6 when rain halted proceedings at the close of Day 4. On Day 5, Dinusha reached his second hundred of the match to write his name into the record books.

Which batters have scored three centuries in a two-match Test series?

Among Sri Lankan batters, Aravinda de Silva achieved the feat on two separate occasions, while Sangakkara did so once. Dinusha now joins them as the third Sri Lankan on the list. Sri Lanka batters who have previously scored centuries in both innings of a Test against India include Duleep Mendis, who made 105 and 105 in Chennai in 1982, and Aravinda de Silva, who scored 146 and 120 in Colombo in 1997, along with Asanka Gurusinha, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis.