India massacre Sri Lanka in Galle

India defeated Sri Lanka convincingly by 304 runs in the first Test match at Galle International Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing an improbable target of 550 runs, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 245 on the fourth day as the Indian spin duo, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin took 3 wickets apiece to annihilate the hosts despite Dimuth Karunaratne’s defiant 97.

The visitors resumed the penultimate day on 189 for 3, skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane added 51 runs in 39 balls in 30 minutes as the former reached his 17^th Test century before declaring their innings on 240 for 3.

Watch – Not looking too good for Sri Lanka in Galle – Cricketry: Day 3

Upul Tharanga was dropped on 10 by Kohli at second slip in the 3^rd over of the 4^th innings but chopped one onto the stumps two balls later as Mohammed Shami struck first blood. Debutant Danushka Gunathilaka played a loose flick off Yadav which Pujara pouched comfortably.

Karunaratna and Mendis added a valuable 79-run stand for the 3^rd wicket before Indian sought the help of DRS to overturn an on-field decision. Mendis drove and cut fluently throughout his 71-ball 36 but a rank turner by Jadeja took the outside edge, proved on ultra-edge replays.

Experienced Angelo Mathews had a brain fade when he ran down the track early in his innings and attempted a loose slog shot off Jadeja which only took a leading edge to point.

At 116 for 4, Karunarathna was joined by Niroshan Dickwella and they added a stunning 101-run stand to defy the Indians. Karunarathna patiently negated the spinners by rotating the strike while Dickwella played his natural game, sweeping the spinners ferociously, driving the seamers sweetly to register his 4^th Test fifty.

Dickwella’s strength ultimately brought his own downfall when another attempted sweep took the bottom edge off Ashwin as wicket-keeper Wriddhimann Saha held onto a smart catch.

Karunarathna played a gritty, fighting knock of 97 in 208 balls with 9 fours to delay the inevitable. He went into a shell after entering the 80s in the 151^st delivery as his final 17 runs consumed 57 balls before dragging a rash cross-batted sweep off Ashwin onto the middle stump.

Rangana Herath did not risk his bruised spinning finger by coming down to bat while Asela Gunaratne was ruled out on the opening day itself hence only 8 wickets fell in the Sri Lanka with last two players, Nuwan Pradeep and Lahiru Kumara being dismissed before they trouble the scores.

The second Test match will be played at SSC grounds in Colombo starting on 3^rd August.

Man of the Match – Shikhar Dhawan

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