Table of Contents

Team India completed a comprehensive victory in the 1^st Test against Sri Lanka at Galle by 305 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the 3 match Test series. It was a thoroughly professional display by the No.1 team in the world who dominated the game for all the 4 days and eventually won t7he game with more than a day’s play left.

Earlier in the day Virat Kohli reached his 17^th Test century and became the only player to average more than 50 in all 3 formats of the game. The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin bagged 3 wickets each as India bowled the hosts out for 245 in the 77^th over to secure a convincing victory by 305 runs.

So with the opening Test done and dusted let us have a look at the 5 Talking Points from the 4^th day’s play:

Virat Kohli scores yet another century

Kohli roared back to form and smashed his 17^th Test century which helped him become the only batsman to average over 50 in all 3 formats of the game. He was batting on 76 overnight and struck some delightful blows in the 1^st session to get to yet another Test century. His unbeaten innings of 103 came in 136 deliveries and were laced with 5 fours and a solitary six.

Dimuth Karunaratne misses century by a whisker

The southpaw played one of his best Test innings till date and looked set for a well deserved century when he attempted a wild slog of Ravichandran Ashwin and ended up inside edging it straight on to his stumps. He applied himself brilliantly and played the bowlers according to the merit. He played really and found the gaps occasionally.

He scored his runs all around the park and besides a few edges here and there, the southpaw looked solid and defied the Indian bowlers for a long period of time. His innings of 97 contained 9 fours and came in 208 deliveries.

Niroshan Dickwella scores a fluent 67

Wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella stitched together a brilliant partnership with Karunaratne for the 5^th wicket and managed to score a fluent 67 to delay the victory for India. The southpaw attacked Jadeja with authority and swept him from outside the off stump. His counter attacking approach forced Kohli to move Jadeja out of the attack.

He also took the attack to Ashwin and played some delightful shots en route to his 67. He also attacked the pacers and struck 10 fours during his 94 balls innings.

Ravichandran Ashwin gets on the act

Spin ace Ashwin didn’t get a single wicket until his 20^th over but after he got DDickwella out he soon bagged two more to finish with a 3 wicket haul. Dickwella was batting well when Ashwin induced a false shot from his blade. He attempted to sweep and got an under edge which was safely taken by Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps. The umpire after giving a thought ruled it in favour of the visiting team.

His 2^nd wicket was the prized scalp of Karunaratne who batted brilliantly for his 97. He also went for a sweep but inside edged it straight on to his stumps. He also dismissed Nuwan Pradeep in the next over with a well tossed up delivery.

Ravindra Jadeja bags 3

The No.1 bowler in the world was successful yet again and finished with 3 wickets. The orthodox spinner’s first wicket was that of Kusal Mendis. The right hander was in doubt whether to come forward or back which eventually brought about his downfall. It took the edge of his bat and was caught by Wriddhiman behind the stumps. Though the umpire ruled it in favour of the home team, replays showed there was a clear spike on Mendis’ bat and hence the decision was overturned.

Angelo Mathews fell in an unusual manner. The former captain stepped down the track to play a big shot. He was nowhere to the pitch of the ball and ended up slicing it straight to the point fielder. Jadeja ended the match with the wicket of Lahiru Kumara to finish with impressive figures of 3/71