Galle, Monday: Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja shared seven wickets as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 on Day 3 of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium, securing a commanding 178-run first-innings lead.
India, who made 462 in their first innings, appeared poised to enforce the follow-on after reducing Sri Lanka to 99/5. However, Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella mounted a determined fightback, producing a 146-run sixth-wicket partnership that briefly shifted the momentum towards the hosts.
Dinusha completed his maiden Test century, while Dickwella scored a patient 80. Their resistance was eventually broken as India claimed Sri Lanka’s final five wickets for just 50 runs.
Suthar was India’s leading bowler, finishing with 4/76 on Test debut, while Jadeja took 3/57. Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna claimed one wicket each.
Suthar Makes Immediate Impact
India’s first innings ended after just four deliveries on Monday morning when Prasidh Krishna was dismissed by Asitha Fernando, leaving the visitors on 462.
Sri Lanka’s reply began disastrously. Mohammed Siraj struck with only the second delivery, with Nishan Madushka edging to first slip for a duck.
Suthar then made an immediate impact on his Test debut, taking a wicket with his very first ball. He drew Dinesh Chandimal forward with drift and turn, with a glove edge safely taken by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
The young spinner struck again to remove Lahiru Udara for 27, who mistimed a cut to backward point.
With Sri Lanka 53/3, Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Kamindu Mendis for 14 after Shubman Gill produced a superb one-handed catch at short extra cover.
Jadeja added to Sri Lanka’s problems shortly before lunch, dismissing captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 21 after inducing an outside edge that KL Rahul held at first slip.
Sri Lanka reached lunch at 99/5, facing the prospect of a huge deficit.
Dinusha and Dickwella Lead Sri Lanka’s Fightback
Instead of collapsing, Sri Lanka produced a remarkable response.
Dinusha and Dickwella countered India’s spin attack with aggressive sweeps and reverse-sweeps, disrupting the bowlers’ rhythm and building a crucial 146-run sixth-wicket stand.
Dickwella was particularly effective against the spinners and survived several close moments, including two unsuccessful Indian reviews and a dropped chance at slip.
He eventually reached his 23rd Test half-century — his first in four years — but was unable to convert it into a hundred.
Dinusha remained composed at the other end, bringing up his second Test fifty from 93 balls before accelerating. He also struck Suthar for six as Sri Lanka moved beyond 200.
The partnership ensured Sri Lanka went into tea in a far stronger position than appeared possible when they were reduced to 99/5.
Krishna Ends Crucial Partnership
India finally broke through soon after tea when Prasidh Krishna dismissed Dickwella for 80.
Krishna found subtle movement away from the right-hander, who edged behind to Pant, ending the crucial sixth-wicket partnership.
Dickwella’s dismissal also extended his unwanted Test record. He now has 23 scores of fifty or more without a century, the most such scores by a player without reaching three figures.
India quickly regained control as the Sri Lankan lower order collapsed.
Jadeja claimed his 350th Test wicket when Keshara Nuwantha attempted to attack an away-turning delivery but mistimed his shot. The ball deflected off Yashasvi Jaiswal at silly point before looping towards Gill, who completed the catch.
The landmark made Jadeja only the fourth player in Test history to combine more than 4,000 runs with at least 350 wickets, joining Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Daniel Vettori. He also became the fifth Indian bowler to reach 350 Test wickets.
Dinusha Completes Maiden Test Century
Despite wickets falling around him, Dinusha remained resolute and reached his maiden Test century with a single, completing the milestone from 167 balls.
His celebration was short-lived, however, as Sri Lanka’s innings ended soon afterwards.
Suthar dismissed Prabath Jayasuriya before Jadeja trapped Dinusha lbw with a sharply turning delivery to end an outstanding individual effort on 100.
Suthar then completed his four-wicket haul by having Lahiru Kumara stumped as he charged down the pitch.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 284 in 79.4 overs, giving India a 178-run first-innings lead.
India had briefly looked capable of enforcing the follow-on after reducing Sri Lanka to 99/5, but the partnership between Dinusha and Dickwella ensured the hosts avoided an innings defeat and substantially reduced the deficit.
Rain subsequently forced an early end to the day’s play.
India will resume on Day 4 with a significant first-innings advantage and an opportunity to build a commanding second-innings total.
