Manav Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja Take Seven Wickets As India Lead Sri Lanka By 178 Runs

Left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja combined for seven wickets as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 at stumps on day three of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Monday.

Rain forced an early end to play, but Suthar and Jadeja ensured India secured a commanding 178-run first-innings lead despite a maiden Test century from Sri Lanka all-rounder Sonal Dinusha.

Suthar was India’s standout bowler with 4-76, while Jadeja returned figures of 3-57.

Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna claimed one wicket each.

Sri Lanka, reduced to 90/5 earlier in the innings, mounted a strong fightback through Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella. The pair added 146 runs for the sixth wicket, with Dinusha scoring his maiden Test century and Dickwella making 80 off 115 balls.

The partnership helped Sri Lanka avoid the follow-on and frustrated India for much of the second and third sessions.

The resistance finally ended after tea when Krishna dismissed Dickwella for 80, edging behind to Rishabh Pant and ending the sixth-wicket stand.

Jadeja then claimed his 350th Test wicket when Keshara Nuwantha’s drive deflected off Yashasvi Jaiswal at silly point and was caught by Shubman Gill.

Jadeja became only the fourth player and second Indian, after Kapil Dev, to score over 4,000 Test runs and take 350 wickets. He became the ninth spinner, fifth Indian and 28th player overall to reach 350 Test wickets.

Dinusha completed his century in 167 balls before Suthar dismissed Prabath Jayasuriya. Jadeja then trapped Dinusha lbw, while Suthar ended the innings by stumping Lahiru Kumara.

Brief Scores

India 462 (Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82); Sri Lanka 284 (Sonal Dinusha 100, Niroshan Dickwella 80; Manav Suthar 4-76, Ravindra Jadeja 3-57). India lead by 178 runs.

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