India Beat Sri Lanka by 165 Runs: India Beat Sri Lanka by 165 Runs in First Test

India Beat Sri Lanka by 165 Runs: India completed a strong win over Sri Lanka in the opening Test at Galle on Wednesday. Chasing 372 for victory, the hosts were dismissed for 206, handing India a 165 run victory and a 1 0 lead in the series.

The biggest difference between the two sides was India’s bowling attack, with young left arm spinner Manav Suthar turning the match in his team’s favour. He finished the second innings with 6 for 55 and completed a ten wicket match haul after taking four wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings.

Sri Lanka began the final day at 84 for 4 and briefly raised hopes of making India work hard for the result. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha put together a valuable partnership and took the score beyond 140.

Dhananjaya eventually fell for 59, giving Ravindra Jadeja an important breakthrough. Niroshan Dickwella was then dismissed by Prasidh Krishna, leaving Sri Lanka under increasing pressure.

Dinusha continued to fight and reached 84, but Suthar soon changed the game completely. In the 76th over, he removed Dinusha and Prabath Jayasuriya with successive deliveries before dismissing Lahiru Kumara on the final ball of the over. He returned in the next over to take the last wicket and finish the match.

Earlier in the match, India had posted 462 in their first innings. Sri Lanka responded with 284, giving India a useful lead. India then scored 193 in the second innings and set the hosts a challenging target of 372.

Suthar’s performance stood out throughout the match. His ten wicket haul came in only his second Test and gave India the control they needed on a surface that became increasingly difficult for the batting side.

Sonal Dinusha’s 84 and Dhananjaya’s 59 were the main contributions for Sri Lanka during the chase, but the lower order could not withstand India’s attack. Prasidh Krishna also played a key role with two wickets in the final innings.

The result gives India an early advantage in the two match series. The second Test is scheduled to begin in Colombo on August 23.