Manav Suthar picks 10, Devdutt Padikkal scores 167 as India beat Sri Lanka in first Test

New Delhi: Manav Suthar picked his second 6-wicket haul in Test cricket for match figures of 10/131 as India romped to a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle International Stadium here in Galle on Wednesday afternoon.

The 24-year-old Suthar picked 6/55 in the second innings after 4/76 in the first innings to help India take 1-0 lead in the 2-Test series.

India scored 462 runs in the first innings with Dev Padikkal, who came in to replace Sai Sudharsan, hitting 167 runs. Opener KL Rahul made 82 as the two shared 189-run partnership for the second wicket. The Sri Lankan bowlers were guilty of bowling far too many loose balls on the first day and allowed India to end Day 1 at 288/2. The Sri Lankans, however, came back on the second day and dismissed India for 462, scalping seven wickets for 172 runs on Day 2 and the remaining one wicket for two runs early on the third morning. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya was the pick of the bowlers with 4/109 while debutant off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha ended with 3/175.

The Sri Lankan response wasn't good and by lunch on Day 3, they were reduced to 99/5. It was only a 146-run partnership between Sonal Dinusha (100) and Niroshan Dickwella (80) that rescued the Sri Lankans. However, once Dickwella was dismissed, the innings fell apart and the home side folded for 284. Manav Suthar was the most successful Indian bowler with 4/76 while Ravindra Jadeja picked 3/57. Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav picked a wicket each.

India's second innings was poor as they folded for 193. It was Rishabh Pant's 66 and Devdutt Padikkal's 44 that took India past 150. However, the 178-run lead that India got in the first innings acted as a cushion and they were able to set Sri Lanka a target of 372.

The home side was reduced to 47/4 on the fourth evening thanks to double strike by Manav Suthar and a wicket each to Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Skipper Dhananjaya De Silva (59) and Sonal Dinusha (84) stitched a 95-run partnership. Jadeja broke that partnership as he scalped De Silva on the sweep shot. Niroshan Dickwella followed soon after. It was then left to Dinusha to parry India with the tail.

However, Suthar returned and in his 23rd over got three wickets, including Dinusha's on the first ball, to reduce Sri Lanka to 199/9 from 199/6. Sri Lanka eventually folded for 206, giving India valuable points for World Test Championship. Sri Lanka were missing top-order batsmen Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, who were ruled out of this Test. Also, Dinesh Chandimal couldn't bat in the second innings and had to be replaced by concussion substitute Pasindu Sooriyabandara.

The Indian cricket team will now move to Colombo for the second Test, which begins on August 23. 

Tags : Manav Suthar, Devdutt Padikkal, Galle, Sri Lanka, Indian cricket team