GALLE: India gained a strong advantage in the first Test against Sri Lanka after bowling out the hosts for 284 in reply to their first-innings total of 462. India secured a crucial first-innings lead of 178 runs.
Sri Lanka, who began their innings on the third day, lost five wickets early. However, Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella came to the rescue with a crucial partnership.
Dinusha scored his maiden Test century, while wicketkeeper Dickwella made 80 runs. India had to work hard to break the partnership, which lasted for nearly three hours. Sri Lanka recovered from 90 for five to reach 236 before losing their sixth wicket.
Manav Suthar was India’s most successful bowler with four wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja took three. Jadeja also achieved a historic milestone during the Sri Lankan innings, completing 350 Test wickets. He became only the fourth player in Test history to score 4,000 runs and take 350 wickets.
Earlier, Devdutt Padikkal starred for India with 167 runs in the first innings, while KL Rahul scored 82 and Dhruv Jurel made 51. India had ended the second day at 460 for nine before adding two more runs on the third morning and being bowled out for 462.