Riding on a scintillating spell of 6-55 from young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, India wrapped up a dominant 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.
Resuming after lunch on day five, Sri Lanka looked to build on the stubborn resistance shown by Sonal Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha. But a crafty and effective Suthar turned the match decisively in India’s favour with a devastating triple-wicket maiden in the 76th over. Suthar broke the partnership when he got an extra bit of bounce off a flighted ball outside leg-stump and forced Dinusha to glove to Dhruv Jurel at leg gully.
Playing in just his second Test, Suthar claimed six scalps in the second innings on day five to finish with a match haul of 10-101, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206 in 77.4 overs in Galle’s 50th Test match. The resounding result has also helped India take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and secure 12 crucial World Test Championship points in what was also their milestone 600th Test match. Dinusha, who batted flawlessly after scoring a century in the first innings, advanced to 84 and appeared on course for getting his second hundred of the game. But Suthar finished off the game in the 78th over when his quicker arm ball skidded off the pitch and breached Nuwantha’s defence to castle him for 20 and spark jubilant scenes in the Indian dressing room.
