18-08-2026 : All-rounder Manav Suthar produced a match-winning spell as India secured a comprehensive 165-run victory over Sri Lanka on the fifth day of the first Test at the Galle International Stadium, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Chasing 372 for victory on a deteriorating final-day surface, Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 206. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva fought hard with a 151-ball 59, while Sonal Dinusha followed up his first-innings century with an 84.
Sri Lanka sarted the second session of Day 5 at the score of 175/6, with Nuwantha and previous innings’ centurion Sonal Dinusha on the crease. At that juncture, the hosts needed 197 runs to win the opening Test.
Keshara Nuwantha and Sonal Dinusha added 24 runs in the second session of Day 5 before Suthar wreaked havoc as he grabbed three wickets in the 76th over to reduce Sri Lanka to 199/9. He scalped Sonal Dinusha (84) breaking the 43-run stand between Dinusha and Nuwantha. He then got rid of Prabath Jayasuriya (0) on the very next ball and then finished the over by dismissing Lahiru Kumara (0).
Suthar didn’t stop there as he came back in the very next over to remove Sri Lanka’s last wicket Keshara Nuwantha (20), to hand India a 165-run win. With Nuwantha’s wicket, Suthar registered six wickets in India’s second bowling innings and completed his maiden 10-wicket haul, in only his second Test.
