GALLE, AUG 17 (IANS): India established a commanding position in the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium, securing a 178-run first-innings lead after bowling the hosts out for 284 on Day Three. Left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja spearheaded India’s bowling effort, sharing seven wickets, while Sonal Dinusha’s maiden century provided Sri Lanka with rare resistance. Rain forced early stumps, but India remained firmly in control.
India’s innings ended swiftly in the morning at 462, with Asitha Fernando dismissing Prasidh Krishna. The visitors struck immediately with the ball, as Mohammed Siraj removed opener Nishan Madushka for a duck. From there, India’s spin trio of Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jadeja took charge on a pitch offering sharp turn and bounce.
Suthar made a dream start, dismissing Dinesh Chandimal with his very first delivery, before removing Lahiru Udara with relentless accuracy. Kuldeep added the wicket of Kamindu Mendis, aided by a stunning diving catch from captain Shubman Gill. Jadeja joined in before lunch, removing Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva to leave the hosts struggling at 90/5.
Sri Lanka’s fortunes changed in the second session through a defiant sixth-wicket stand between Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella. The duo added 146 runs, showcasing composure and skill against India’s spinners. Dickwella, returning to Test cricket after three years, played aggressively with sweeps and reverse sweeps, reaching his 23rd half-century. Dinusha, meanwhile, mixed solid defence with calculated aggression, bringing up his fifty with a sweep off Kuldeep and later striking Suthar for six.
India’s bowlers struggled to break the partnership, burning two reviews against Dickwella and missing chances, including a dropped catch by KL Rahul. The duo carried Sri Lanka through a wicketless second session, frustrating India’s attack.
The breakthrough finally came after tea when Prasidh Krishna dismissed Dickwella for 80, ending his long wait for a century. Jadeja then reached his milestone 350th Test wicket in unusual fashion, as a deflection off Yashasvi Jaiswal’s knee looped to Gill at cover. This achievement placed Jadeja among elite company, becoming only the fourth player to score 4000 runs and take 350 wickets in Tests, alongside Kapil Dev, Daniel Vettori, and Ian Botham.
Dinusha remained resolute, completing his maiden century off 167 balls with a sweep off Suthar. However, India quickly wrapped up the innings thereafter. Jadeja trapped Dinusha lbw, while Suthar dismissed Lahiru Kumara stumped to seal Sri Lanka’s collapse at 284.
India’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Suthar (4/76) and Jadeja (3/57) leading the charge, supported by Kuldeep, Siraj, and Krishna. Despite Dinusha’s memorable hundred and Dickwella’s fighting knock, Sri Lanka conceded a significant deficit, leaving India firmly in control heading into the final stages of the Test.
The day highlighted India’s depth in spin bowling, with Suthar’s immediate impact complementing Jadeja’s milestone achievement. Gill’s sharp captaincy and fielding brilliance added to the visitors’ dominance. For Sri Lanka, Dinusha’s maiden ton was a bright spot, while Dickwella’s continued wait for a century underscored missed opportunities.
With a lead of 178 runs and momentum firmly in their favour, India will look to press home their advantage once play resumes, while Sri Lanka face an uphill battle to claw back into contention.
Brief scores:
India 462 all out in 116.4 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82; Prabath Jayasuriya 4-109, Keshara Nuwantha 3-175) lead Sri Lanka 284 all out in 79.4 overs (Sonal Dinusha 100, Niroshan Dickwella 80; Manav Suthar 4-76, Ravindra Jadeja 3-57) by 178 runs
