Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Suthar’s Six-Wicket Haul Powers India Past Sri Lanka
India played Sri Lanka in the first Test of a two-match cricket series.
India won by 165 runs and now leads the series 1-0.
Sri Lanka had to score a large number of runs on the last day to win or draw.
Manav Suthar bowled very well and took 10 wickets in the match.
He took six wickets in Sri Lanka’s final innings.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha tried to save Sri Lanka with a 95-run partnership.
India then took several quick wickets and bowled Sri Lanka out for 206.
The second Test will be played in Colombo on Sunday.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
Manav Suthar took 6-55 in the second innings and 10 wickets in his second Test.
Sri Lanka, chasing a reported target of 372 or 362, was bowled out for 206 on Day 5.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha shared a 95-run fifth-wicket partnership before India broke through.
Devdutt Padikkal scored 167, while India completed its 600th Test amid concerns about rain and bad light.
- Who
- India and Sri Lanka; Manav Suthar led India’s bowling, while Devdutt Padikkal was named player of the match.
- What
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the opening Test and took a 1-0 series lead.
- When
- The match ended on Wednesday, the fifth day of the Test; the second Test is scheduled for Sunday.
- Where
- The Test was played at the Galle International Stadium in Galle, Sri Lanka, with the next match scheduled in Colombo.
- Why
- India needed to complete the victory before weather interruptions consumed more playing time and to strengthen its hopes in the World Test Championship cycle.
India’s Assessment
Sri Lanka’s Assessment
Control of the match
India’s Assessment
India’s captain Shubman Gill called the victory very satisfying and praised Suthar and India’s batsmen for performing on a difficult scoring surface.
Sri Lanka’s Assessment
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva said batting fourth was not easy after India won the toss and put runs on the board.
Chance of saving the Test
India’s Assessment
India pressed to take the remaining wickets quickly because rain and bad light had already interrupted play.
Sri Lanka’s Assessment
Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten said his team believed it could draw even at lunch and needed only one major partnership to stabilize the innings.
Turning point
India’s Assessment
India’s breakthrough came when Ravindra Jadeja dismissed de Silva, after which Suthar took three wickets in a maiden over and removed the last wicket in his next over.
Sri Lanka’s Assessment
Sri Lanka’s Kirsten said Dinusha’s dismissal caused the innings to collapse, with the hosts losing their final four wickets for seven runs.
- Result
- India won by 165 runs.
- Series position
- India leads the two-match series 1-0.
- Manav Suthar
- The left-arm spinner took 6-55 in the second innings and 10 wickets in the match.
- Sri Lanka’s final innings
- Sri Lanka was bowled out for 206.
- Key partnership
- Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha added 95 runs for the fifth wicket.
- Top individual scores
- Sonal Dinusha scored 84, Dhananjaya de Silva made 59, and Devdutt Padikkal scored 167.
- Target discrepancy
- Two reports described India’s target as 372 runs, while another reported it as 362.
- Next match
- The second and final Test is scheduled to begin in Colombo on Sunday.
