Sri Lanka v India 1st Test review: Herath demolishes Indian hopes to give Sri Lanka 1-0 lead

Sri Lanka v India 1^st Test review: Herath demolishes Indian hopes to give Sri Lanka 1-0 lead: Unless rain intervened we were certain of a result in the 1st Test between Sri Lanka and India on Saturday, the Independence day for India. But all India displayed was dependence. They were hardly allowed to play freely by the hosts as Sri Lanka completed a remarkable comeback by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. India collapsed spectacularly to lose by 63 runs.

It was never going to be a cake walk for India on a 4^th day Galle pitch. Virat Kohli’s expressions on day 3 when Chandimal was playing the epic knock, were a testimony to the fact that the visitors were concerned about Sri Lanka’s lead. In the desperation to get him out quickly, India faltered and gave away even more runs. For the home team it was déjà vu as they had managed to a win a similar match against Pakistan in 2009 after conceding the first innings lead. Sri Lanka have Dinesh Chandimal to thank for making a match out of Sangakkara’s penultimate Test with a counterattacking 162.

When the day began India needed 153 runs on a ground where the highest successful chase is 99. India started on a cautious note as both Shikhar Dhawan and Ishant Sharma ensured they did not give the Lankan’s any early success. Mathews decided to go to spin and Rangana Herath had Sharma out LBW with his first ball of the day. Ishant got dismissed for 10. Rohit Sharma failed yet again at the crucial no. 3 position as Herath had him out bowled with an absolute beauty to leave the visitors reeling at 34/3. This was a crucial Teat for Rohit but the Mumbai batsman failed to justify his spot ahead of Pujara.

Tharindu Kaushal made the situation a much better one for the hosts as he had captain Virat Kohli smartly caught at short-leg to give the Lankans a massive breakthrough. Shikhar Dhawan, India’s centurion from the 1st innings, was out brilliantly caught and bowled by the off spinner. Wriddhiman Saha was deceived in flight by Herath and was out stumped for 2. India was in complete doldrums now. They went into Lunch at 78/7, needing a super-human effort from Ajinkya Rahane to bail the side out. But it was not to be and despite Rahane’s resistance the hosts secured a comfortable win by 63 runs.

Sri Lanka have done very well at Galle and this was their 14th win at this ground. India had to make 176. The margin of defeat tells you how poorly India batted, and how well Sri Lanka bowled. What a comeback victory this is for the hosts. When India were dominating for the first two days of the game, many believed that Sri Lanka would even lose by an innings, but the way Angelo Mathews & Co. have fought back is simply outstanding. Barring the toss, hardly anything went Sri Lanka’s way as R Ashwin’s 6-wicket haul helped India bundle them out for 183. In reply, India rode on hundreds from Dhawan and Kohli to gain a massive first innings lead.

There have been so many question marks over the next generation of Sri Lankan batsmen. How fitting is it that the greatest Sri Lankan batsman, Kumar Sangakkara, has been given a winning sendoff at Galle set up by one of the most thrilling counterattacks in recent Test history, from young Dinesh Chandimal.

Kohli and company have a lot of soul-searching to do ahead of the next game. To lose in this manner after being the dominant team for most of the game is not the way forward.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka – 183-10 & 367-10

India – 375-10 & 112-10 lost by 63 runs.

Man of the Match – Dinesh Chandimal – 59 and 162*