Fringed by a Dutch fort steeped in permanence and an Indian Ocean frothing on the edges, the Galle Worldwide Stadium is at all times a factor of magnificence and a pleasure eternally. On this chic theatre of aesthetics, Shubman Gill’s males discovered their comfortable house as India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs within the first Check that concluded right here on Wednesday (August 19, 2026) afternoon.
Trailing by 371 runs, and with hopes of an not possible chase eroding, the host was bowled out for 206 within the second innings, leaving India with a 1-0 lead within the two-Check sequence. The cricket bandwagon will now transfer to Colombo for the second Check commencing there on August 23.
The climate remained clear via the concluding day’s play by which left-arm spinner Manav Suthar (six for 55) prospered. His three-wicket strike in a single over, snuffed out the Sri Lankan resistance. Sonal Dinusha (84), who till then had performed with poise, nibbled one down the leg-side and located Dhruv Jurel at leg-slip.
Also read: Galle Test: India gains big lead despite Dinusha-Dickwella fightback
Instantly, Prabath Jayasuriya was bowled because the ball curled previous his bat and disturbed the stumps. Lahiru Kumara resisted the hat-trick ball however edged the final supply of the identical over and Rishabh Pant grabbed the catch. Ultimately, Keshara Nuwantha, who stored the guests at bay for some time, grew to become Mr. Suthar’s final sufferer as his citadel obtained rattled and Mr. Gill’s males grew to become an exultant lot.
Manav Suthar on day 4 of the primary Check match between India and Sri Lanka, in Galle
| Photograph Credit score:
PTI
Simply because the presentation perform was about to start, a sudden burst of rain pressured gamers and organisers to hunt the dry confines of the pavilion. A couple of minutes later, the solar emerged once more to reiterate Galle’s whimsical interactions with nature.
Earlier within the morning, resuming on the in a single day 84 for 4, Sri Lanka discovered sustenance and hope via skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha. The duo supplied a mixture of traditional stonewalling and the odd shot as a dogged partnership took form. Initially, Mr. Gill used Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj in a mixture of spin and tempo.
The Indian skipper stored a clutch of fielders immediately underneath Mr. Dhananjaya’s gaze, attempting to cramp the batter. Mr. Dhananjaya square-drove Mr. Jadeja for 4, survived two lbw appeals, after which reduce one previous the ropes to get to his 50. To not be left behind, southpaw Mr. Dinusha struck a six off Kuldeep Yadav and reached his 50.
Also read: We got the results in the end: Manav Suthar
Simply as a barren first session appeared India’s destiny, Mr. Dhananjaya (59) top-edged a sweep off Mr. Jadeja and the ball descended in the direction of Mr. Suthar at brief fine-leg. The fifth-wicket 95-run alliance ended and as soon as this breach was effected, the Indians gained their voice.
Subsequent man Niroshan Dickwella tried a number of reverse-sweeps however when seamer Prasidh Krishna pitched it brief and angled throughout, the batter awkwardly slashed and fatally edged. Sri Lanka moved to 175 for six at lunch, down for the depend with India fancying its possibilities. The expectation grew to become a actuality quickly within the afternoon, simply 36 minutes after the break.
The scores
India – 1st innings: (all out in 116.4 overs): 462.
Sri Lanka – 1st innings: (all out in 79.4 overs): 284.
India – 2nd innings: (all out in 48.5 overs): 193.
Sri Lanka – 2nd innings: Nishan Fernando c Prasidh b Siraj 6 (27b), Lahiru Udara c Jurel b Suthar 16 (58b, 1×4), Pasindu Sooriyabandara lbw b Suthar 0 (1b), Kamindu Mendis c Rahul b Prasidh 2 (12b), Dhananjaya de Silva c Suthar b Jadeja 59 (151b, 7×4), Sonal Dinusha c Jurel b Suthar 84 (128b, 8×4, 1×6), Niroshan Dickwella c Pant b Prasidh 10 (17b, 1×4), Keshara Nuwantha b Suthar 20 (69b, 3×4), Prabath Jayasuriya b Suthar 0 (1b), Lahiru Kumara c Pant b Suthar 0 (4b), Asitha Fernando (not out) 0 (1b); Extras (b-5, lb-1, nb-3): 9; Complete (all out in 77.4 overs): 206.
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Nishan, 6.6 overs), 2-14 (Sooriyabandara, 7.2), 3-21 (Mendis, 10.4), 4-47 (Udara, 21.4), 5-142 (Dhananjaya, 55.2), 6-156 (Dickwella, 59.6), 7-199 (Dinusha, 75.1), 8-199 (Prabath, 75.2), 9-199 (Kumara, 75.6).
India bowling: Siraj 9-2-15-1, Suthar 23.4-2-55-6, Prasidh 10-3-16-2, Jadeja 23-3-71-1, Kuldeep 11-0-38-0 , Padikkal 1-0-5-0.
Revealed – August 19, 2026 12:57 pm IST
