Galle: Indian batter Devdutt Padikkal fell just five runs short of breaking a long-standing record held by Rahul Dravid against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Following a brilliant 167 off 230 deliveries in the first innings, Padikkal appeared in fine touch in the second innings as well. However, a leg-before-wicket decision off the bowling of Keshara Nuwantha ended his stay at 44 runs off 75 balls, an innings that included six boundaries.

Padikkal's combined match total reached 211 runs, representing the highest match aggregate by an Indian number three in a Test match against Sri Lanka since Rahul Dravid amassed 215 runs against the same opposition in the 2009 Ahmedabad Test, where he scored 177 and 38.

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Dravid also retains the record for the highest match aggregate by an Indian number three overall, having scored 305 runs against Australia in Adelaide in 2003, featuring a memorable 233 followed by an unbeaten 72 in an Indian victory.

In the ongoing match, India lost all ten wickets for 193 runs in their second innings, though their overall lead expanded to 371 runs.

Despite the heavy run cushion accumulated by India, Sri Lanka continued to strike back with regular wickets during Tuesday's opening session on day four of the Galle Test.

At the end of the first session, India stood at 116 for four, with Rishabh Pant (21 not out) and Dhruv Jurel (5 not out) at the crease, extending India's lead to 294 runs.

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Earlier, despite Sonal Dinusha's maiden Test century on day three of the series opener, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 284 in their first innings in response to India's 462, granting the side led by Shubman Gill a substantial 178-run first-innings advantage in Galle.

Dinusha and wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella had put together a 146-run partnership for the sixth wicket to keep the Indian attack at bay before pace bowler Prasidh Krishna removed Dickwella for 80 in the 62nd over. Dinusha held firm to reach his milestone century, but Manav Suthar (4-76) and Ravindra Jadeja (3-57) restricted Sri Lanka from making further progress.

ANI