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India secured a comprehensive 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle International Stadium on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
The hosts had reached 175/6 at lunch on the fifth day after India’s bowlers repeatedly broke through their resistance.
Manav Suthar emerged as the standout performer, claiming six wickets in Sri Lanka’s second innings and finishing the match with an impressive ten-wicket haul.
Sri Lanka initially frustrated India through a determined 95-run partnership between captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha.
The pair combined patience with attacking strokes during the opening 90 minutes as the pitch produced inconsistent bounce.
De Silva completed his half-century by steering Ravindra Jadeja through point for four, while Dinusha reached his fifty by launching Kuldeep Yadav over deep midwicket for six.
India eventually ended the partnership when Jadeja extracted sharp turn and bounce from a fuller delivery.
De Silva attempted a sweep but only managed a top edge, allowing Suthar to take a comfortable catch at short fine leg and dismiss him for 59.
Prasidh Krishna then provided another breakthrough by removing wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella for 10.
Rishabh Pant completed the dismissal behind the stumps after Krishna induced an edge from a back-of-a-length delivery.
Keshara Nuwantha joined Dinusha and helped Sri Lanka survive until lunch, with Dinusha remaining unbeaten on 65.
India, however, maintained control and eventually completed the victory by 165 runs.
Suthar’s six-wicket second-innings haul proved decisive, while his ten wickets across the match underlined his major contribution to India’s memorable win.
The result gives India a 1-0 advantage in the Test series and further strengthens their position after a dominant performance in Galle.
Also Read: Jadeja, Prasidh Put India Within Reach Of Galle Test Triumph
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