Colombo Cricket Club would be proud. So too would be the school that first guided him to the sport in which he’s clearly excelling and ditto for stalwarts of Sri Lankan cricket such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda di Silva, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. In fact, an entire Sri Lankan nation can be proud of their ardent son- Sonal Dinusha. In a country where utter cleanliness, friendly nature of its denizens, and the calm and peace of its Buddhist Monks often makes for picture perfect moments, Sonal Dinusha’s batting perfectly complements such grand gestures. 

When was the last time you noted a beginner in international Test match cricket hitting back to back centuries against an opponent as grand and competitive as India? 

The young right handed batter has perhaps kept up the fight for his wailing Sri Lankan team that often look the part of a side up for meek surrender despite playing at home.   

Galle or Colombo, turning wicket that assists spinners or a bouncier turf where seamers come into play, none of it seemed to have mattered for the only man in the Sri Lankan side to have noted up a ton this series. 

Two on the bounce for Sonal Dinusha given his unbeaten 102 against an India that cracked open the spleen of Lankan bowling having complied a gargantuan looking 503 in their first innings. A team score so monumental that none, including Dhananjaya or Mendis were able to reply heavily with the bat. 

Combining a technically correct game with his patience and temerity, it could be argued that Sonal Dinusha is currently the best looking Sri Lankan batter in a side where there’s hardly any dearth of experience. 

Following on from his 100 and 84 at Galle in the first and opening test, none of the Indian bowlers whether Siraj, Krishna or Suthar seemed to have troubled the calm batter who is looking the part of someone who’s been hanging around at the pitch for close to a decade. 

But while it’s incredible to see such a you man holding fort for Sri Lanka, it’s also equally disappointing to see how so many others have faltered leaving Dinusha to play the lone vigil with the bat. Can another big score be expected of the batter in thefinal innings?