Suthar Spins Sri Lanka into Trouble as India Storm to Victory in Galle

India completed a dominant 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Galle Test after left-arm spinner Manav Suthar produced a match-winning spell to destroy the hosts’ final resistance.

Suthar was the star of the match, finishing with 10 wickets across the two innings. He claimed 6 wickets for 55 runs in Sri Lanka’s second innings, leading India to victory after the hosts were bowled out for 206.

Suthar Turns the Match Around

Sri Lanka went into the lunch interval on 175/6 and still had hopes of extending the contest. Sonal Dinusha had anchored the innings with a determined 84 and was keeping the Indian bowlers at bay.

But the match changed dramatically after lunch. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja initially began the second session, before the ball was handed to Suthar after just one over.

The left-arm spinner immediately made an impact. Dinusha attempted to softly push a turning delivery towards the leg side but found the fielder at leg gully, ending his innings at 84 and missing out on another Test century.

Niroshan Dickwella then tried to attack the Indian bowlers with reverse sweeps and conventional sweeps. However, his aggressive approach eventually cost him his wicket when he edged an uncomfortable shot off Prasidh Krishna to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.

Suthar Completes His 10-Wicket Haul

Suthar then bowled Prabath Jayasuriya, briefly creating a chance for a hat-trick. Lahiru Kumara denied him the opportunity, but the resistance did not last long.

Just four balls later, Kumara attempted to play against the spin and was caught behind. The dismissal gave Suthar his second five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

In the following over, he bowled Nuantha to complete his 10-wicket match haul, bringing Sri Lanka’s second innings to an end at 206.

Suthar finished with 6/55, while Prasidh Krishna took 2 wickets for India.

Match Score

India: 462 & 193
Sri Lanka: 284 & 206

Result: India won by 165 runs.

India’s victory also earned them 12 valuable points in the World Test Championship.

Interestingly, heavy rain arrived in Galle just minutes after India secured the win. Had the rain arrived earlier, the match could have been extended, but Suthar’s brilliant spell had already brought Sri Lanka’s resistance to an end.

A 10-wicket match haul from Suthar and a dominant bowling performance powered India to a memorable victory in Galle.