Indian left-arm spinner Manav Suthar bowled a dream spell on the final day as India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test in Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The 24-year-old left-arm spinner finished with 6/55 from 23.4 overs to complete a 10-wicket match haul in only his second Test. After taking four wickets in the first innings, Suthar returned on the final day to break Sri Lanka’s resistance when the hosts were beginning to show resistance.
In the 76th over, Suthar removed Dinusha for 84 with a delivery that got extra bounce. The batter tried to work it away but only managed a glove, with Dhruv Jurel taking the catch at leg gully. He went on to pick two more wickets in the same over to put Sri Lanka in deep trouble.
Prabath Jayasuriya walked in and was dismissed on the first ball. The ball drifted in and clipped the top of off stump, leaving Jayasuriya with no answer. Lahiru Kumara survived the hat-trick ball, but the left arm spinner went round the wicket and found the edge in the last ball off the over as Rishabh Pant completed the catch. Three wickets in the over took Suthar to five for the innings. India needed only one more wicket to finish the job. The spinner returned in the next over and bowled debutant Keshara Nuwantha with an arm-ball that skidded through the defence as India completed the win as Sri Lanka were all out for 206.
Sri Lanka crumble on Day 5 after Suthar's dream spell
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka resumed at 84/4 while chasing 372 on Day 5. Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha had settled in and were making India work for the remaining wickets. Dinusha, who had scored a century in the first innings, was looking comfortable and moved into the 80s. The first hour belonged to Sri Lanka as they did not lose a wicket. Jadeja dismissed De Silva while Prasidh picked up the wicket of Dickwella as the hosts lost two wickets at Lunch. Suthar came in and finished the job in the second session. This six-wicket haul gave Suthar a match haul of 10 wickets after his 4/76 in the first innings. It was also his second five-wicket haul in just his second Test. His control was particularly impressive on a Galle surface that offered turn and bounce and he consistently put the pressure on the Sri Lankan batters.
Suthar finished with 6/55 at an economy rate of 2.32, with two maidens. The left arm spinner had already made an impact in the first innings when his four wickets helped India reduce Sri Lanka to 90/5 before the hosts fought back through their lower order. This win was set up by Devdutt Padikkal who scored 167 in the first innings while KL Rahul scored 82. Rishabh Pant then provided the aggression in the second innings with a quick 66 as India set Sri Lanka a target of 372 and the hosts were bowled out on the final day as India clinched the win and take a 1-0 lead in the series. The next match will be played on August 23.
