Sri Lanka Vs India 1st Test: Twitter Reacts As India Hammer Hosts To Take 1-0 Lead 1

India thrashed Sri Lanka by a whopping 304 runs  in the first Test at Galle to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. 

Chasing an improbable 550, Sri Lanka were off to a poor start again with Danushka Gunathilaka and senior batsman Upul Tharanga departing cheaply, leaving the team reeling at 29 for 2. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis then kept the bowlers at bay for more than 25 overs, adding 79 runs in the process before two wickets in quick succession once again put India on top. Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership by having Mendis caught behind for 36 before dealing a body blow to the hosts’ bleak hopes of saving the game by dismissing former captain Angelo Mathews for 2.

But Sri Lanka were not ready to throw in the towel yet with Karunaratne and Niroshan Dickwella frustrating Indian bowlers for close to 30 overs, adding a century-plus stand.

The partnership which was worth 101 runs and looking dangerous was finally broken by Ravichandran Ashwin when the off-spinner dismissed the Dickwella for 67. Ashwin then all but sealed the game for the visitors by dismissing Karunaratne (97) and Nuwan Pradeep (0) inside three balls.

Sri Lanka eventually ended on 245 for 8 as Rangana Herath and Asela Gunaratne could not come out to bat due to injuries.

Earlier, India declared their innings shortly after Virat Kohli slammed his 17th Test century. The visitors had begun the day on 189 for 3 and added 51 runs more with Kohli reaching his century before inviting Sri Lanka to start the chase.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the day’s action: