India secured a commanding 165-run victory against Sri Lanka in their 600th Test match on Wednesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar was the standout performer in Galle, claiming 10 wickets across the game to dismantle the hosts.
Suthar, 24, followed up his four-wicket haul in the first innings with a brilliant 6-55 performance on the final day. His efforts helped bowl out Sri Lanka for 206 shortly after lunch. The match saw a dramatic collapse as the final four wickets fell for just seven runs, all claimed by Suthar, including the final wicket of Keshara Nuwantha.
Chasing a target of 372, Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum, with only Sonal Dinusha offering significant resistance. Dinusha, 25, top-scored in both innings and displayed maturity against the spin attack, hitting eight fours and a six during his 128-ball knock of 84. His dismissal, caught at leg slip by Dhruv Jurel, triggered the final collapse.
Match Performance and Key Statistics
- India’s 600th Test: A milestone victory for the visitors.
- Manav Suthar: 10 wickets in the match, including 6-55 in the second innings.
- Sonal Dinusha: Top-scored for Sri Lanka with 84 in the second innings.
- Dhananjaya de Silva: Captain scored 59, his 20th half-century, before falling to Ravindra Jadeja.
- Devdutt Padikkal: Contributed 167 and 44 as a late injury replacement.
- Niroshan Dickwella: Dismissed for 10 in the second innings after a first-innings half-century.
Captain Shubman Gill praised the team’s resilience, noting that the victory was particularly satisfying given the uncertainty surrounding the weather. Gill lauded Suthar as a promising talent who has been bowling magnificently. While the pitch showed natural wear and tear, batter Devdutt Padikkal noted it remained a good surface that turned significantly from the third day onward.
Sri Lanka’s head coach, Gary Kirsten, admitted the team believed a draw was possible until the lunch break. He noted that the lower order was instructed to bat as long as possible, but the momentum shifted permanently once Dinusha was removed. Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva acknowledged the difficulty of batting fourth, noting that the team lost their way after the initial loss of wickets.
The teams are scheduled to travel to Colombo for the second Test, which begins this Sunday.
Important Details
- The report also notes that set a target of 372, Sri Lanka’s batters failed to apply themselves other than Sonal Dinusha, who top-scored in both innings.
- The report also notes that but the team responded well,” he said, we were in a comfortable position but were not sure if the match would go on (because of weather).
- The report also notes that he has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time,” he said.
- The report also notes that india claimed two wickets in the morning session after Sri Lanka resumed on 84-4 and then quickly ran through the tail.
- The report also notes that batting for over two hours to add 95 runs for the fifth wicket, captain Dhananjaya de Silva (59) and first-innings centurion Dinusha tried to fight back.
- The report also notes that got the runs on the board, and with our batting, we lost wickets and it went downhill from there, they won the toss.
- The report also notes that dickwella fell for 10 when he attempted to hit Prasidh Krishna over the slips but ended up edging one to the wicketkeeper.
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