India vs Sri Lanka: Spinners Rattle Hosts As Sri Lanka Slumps To 99/5 In Galle

India’s spinners tore through Sri Lanka’s top order as the visitors reduced the hosts to 99/5 in 28 overs at lunch on day three of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Monday.

Six wickets fell in the session, with five belonging to Sri Lanka.

Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar underlined his promise with 2-17, exploiting sharp turn and bounce with disciplined lengths.

Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja claimed a wicket each, while Mohammed Siraj struck in the opening over.

Sri Lanka reached lunch with Niroshan Dickwella unbeaten on eight and Sonal Dinusha on 13, but still face a daunting task to avoid the follow-on.

India’s first innings ended at 462 inside four balls on Monday morning after Asitha Fernando dismissed Prasidh Krishna.

India’s bowlers responded immediately, breaking Sri Lanka’s opening stand after just two deliveries.

Siraj produced a classic outswinger to induce an edge from Nishan Madushka, who was caught at first slip for a duck.

Suthar then struck with his first delivery, drawing Dinesh Chandimal forward with drift and spin before Rishabh Pant took the glove edge behind the stumps. He later dismissed Lahiru Udara for 27 after a mistimed cut resulted in a simple catch at backward point.

At 53/3, Shubman Gill produced a stunning one-handed catch at short extra cover to dismiss Kamindu Mendis for 14 off Kuldeep’s bowling.

Jadeja completed the session’s dominance shortly before lunch, inducing an outside edge from Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva for 21.

KL Rahul completed the low catch at first slip.

Brief Scores

India 462 (Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82); Sri Lanka 99/5 (Lahiru Udara 27, Dhananjaya de Silva 21); Manav Suthar 2-17, Ravindra Jadeja 1-6. India lead by 363 runs.

Also Read: India vs Sri Lanka: Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 Takes India To 460/9 In Galle