Suthar, Jadeja Put India in Command After Sri Lanka Bowled Out for 284
GALLE — Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja combined for seven wickets as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 on Monday, taking a commanding 178-run first-innings lead on the third day of the opening Test at Galle International Stadium.
Suthar led the attack with 4-76, while Jadeja finished with 3-57. Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna took one wicket each as India tightened its grip on the match before rain brought an early end to play.
Sri Lanka had been in serious trouble at 90/5 before Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella mounted a strong recovery. The pair added 146 runs for the sixth wicket, helping the hosts avoid the follow-on.
Dinusha completed his maiden Test century, scoring 100, while Dickwella made 80 off 115 balls.
Sri Lanka entered the final session without having lost a wicket in the second session, but its resistance faded quickly after Krishna broke the Dinusha-Dickwella partnership. Dickwella edged Krishna behind to Rishabh Pant, ending the 146-run stand.
Jadeja then claimed his 350th Test wicket when Keshara Nuwantha’s shot deflected off Yashasvi Jaiswal and was caught by Shubman Gill.
The milestone made Jadeja only the fourth player in men’s Test history, and the second Indian after Kapil Dev, to combine more than 4,000 Test runs with 350 wickets. He also became the first Indian left-arm bowler to reach 350 Test wickets.
Dinusha remained at the crease as wickets fell around him and reached his century before Jadeja trapped him lbw. Suthar completed the innings by having Lahiru Kumara stumped.
India had earlier posted 462, powered by Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 and KL Rahul’s 82. Prabath Jayasuriya took 4-109 for Sri Lanka.
Brief scores: India 462 in 116.4 overs (Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82; Prabath Jayasuriya 4-109, Keshara Nuwantha 3-175) lead Sri Lanka 284 in 79.4 overs (Sonal Dinusha 100, Niroshan Dickwella 80; Manav Suthar 4-76, Ravindra Jadeja 3-57) by 178 runs. (Source: IANS)
