Player of the Match
Player of the Match

1:57pm That will be a wrap from us for this game. Plenty of positives for India, not least the emergence of two players who are very early into their Test careers. Some positives for Sri Lanka too, most notably the resilience shown by Dinusha. And all of that could yet play a part because this series is not done yet. The second Test begins in a few days, and that will offer SL a chance to hit back, even as India try to secure a clean sweep.

We would love your company for that too, and we would like to thank you for all the comments throughout this game. Until next time, from Alagappan, Chetan, Chandan, Deiva, Harshith, Vairavan and myself (Shashwat), it is goodbye!

Devdutt Padikkal, Player of the Match: Started in Dharamsala, then Perth, could not have asked for anything more (from this game in Galle). The wicket had its natural wear and tear, was a good Test wicket. Turned a lot more from the third day onwards. In the end, it was all about who came out on top with their skillset. It was a bit of a slowish wicket, was not providing a lot of bite, so left-handed batters were able to negate the left-arm spinners.

Shubman Gill: Very satisfying win for us. We were in a comfortable position, but were not sure if the match would go on (because of the weather), but the team responded well. (On if the second innings batting performance concerns him) Not really. We wanted to get around 400 in the third innings. Wicket was not easy to score runs at will, so were looking to play more aggressively. Were unsure of how many overs we would be able to bowl on day four and five. In that process, lost a few wickets but we were still in a comfortable position. (On Suthar) He has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time. (On Padikkal) He has magnificent to watch. Important to get hundreds but even after getting a hundred…he got a big one. Being in a competitive match and in a comfortable position…the way he batted and dominated in the second innings, was great to watch. (On having sights set on the WTC final) That is the ultimate goal. Test wins do not come easy and this one is delightful.

Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka captain: I thought from the second day onwards, we were in the game. Boys fought hard, even in the fourth innings. It is not easy (batting fourth in Galle). It was a good game. (On the pitch) Good to bat on first three days. Obviously fourth innings would not be easy in Galle. The starts Rahul and Padikkal got, they made them big and put pressure. (On if the toss played a role) Maybe, yeah. They won the toss, get the runs on the board, and with our batting, we lost wickets and it went downhill from there.

Time for the presentation now.

Prasanna S: "Safe to say one of the spin baton has been passed from Ashwin to Suthar. " -- Still early days, and HUGE shoes to fill. But Suthar has done his reputation no harm so far.

KM Sudarshan : "A big big shout out to the Galle curator and the groundstaff. We had an amazing pitch which had everyone who were willing to apply themselves ,execute their skills. Minimum stoppages in play despite the rains."

Hello again, everyone. Still waiting on the post-match presentation, delayed presumably due to that sharp shower in the immediate aftermath of this contest. Stick around - we should have it soon.

And even as that sideline interview is going on, the rain starts to fall and the presentation ceremony is being waved off, back indoors, It is absolutely poouuuuring now. Shashwat back with you for the presentations.

Anand: "Dear Rain... you are just three overs late...."

Gowri: "Did Suthar get weather alert from MET department?"

James: "Just woke up in Amsterdam, it is my birthday today. Thank you Suthar and India for this nice birthday present"

1.25pm KL Rahul: Just relieved honestly. We knew one big shower was going to come and we didn't want to delay the game. They had one big partnership but we knew if we could break that, we could get into their tail. It was a great Test match. The wicket played really well all five days. There was something in it for the spinners, obviously. But batters who applied themselves did well. We saw that from Sonal, who really committed to a method with his sweep shot. Fast bowlers took wickets too. We knew the new ball was going to come and if we couldn't get wickets, we knew the new ball was out chance. But through the day, we wanted to put the ball in the right areas. We know the opposition had good batters and they're also allowed to score runs. But we knew once we broke a partnership, we knew we'd get two or three quickly. Someone who walked in there, thinking I'll see what to do based on how the pitch behaves, those were the batters who struggled. If you went out there with a plan, you could do well

1.22pm India win their 600th Test match. A win that's been set up by a No. 3 batter in his third Test match and a left-arm spin bowler in his second Test match. Benefitting from batting first in Galle, Devdutt Padikkal made 167 and provided his team with a 178-run lead. Suthar used it beautifully to pick up 10 wickets showing the ability to turn the ball and the ability to push it through straight. High ceiling, classical spinner.

Sri Lanka have a lot of hard questions to answer, particularly about their top order which just keeps crumbling over and over. When they have players like Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha, who look so accomplished even against extremely disciplined bowling, they should be inspiring more support.

Dhonz : "Well done Suthar. Simply outstanding . Some positives for SL today, but the top order woes will have to be fixed. Meanwhile, India have some batting problems of their own, and Kuldeep's form is a concern. The second test is an exciting prospect "

77.4
W
Suthar to Nuwantha, OUT, knocks him over. India win. The inside edge now avoids the pad and clatters into the stumps. Handshakes in the Indian dugout. Celebrations for Suthar. He's picked up 10 wickets in the game. This is as good as any because he is more known for his flight and dip and turn. The straighter ball is something that he has been working on and it provides the final flourish here. Pushed through on off stump. Forcing the batter onto the back foot. Into uncertainty. Nuwantha's defence isn't solid enough.

K Nuwantha b Suthar 20 (64m 69b 3x4 0x6) SR: 28.98

77.3
2
Suthar to Nuwantha, 2 runs, tossed up on off stump, drives through extra cover, right past slip, gully and silly point
77.2
4
Suthar to Nuwantha, FOUR, lap sweep to the shortish delivery angling a little too far down leg
77.1
0
Suthar to Nuwantha, no run, stays back to the good length ball and blocks outside off

END OF OVER:
77 | 1 Run | SL: 200/9

  • Asitha Fernando0 (1b)
  • Keshara Nuwantha14 (65b)
  • Ravindra Jadeja23-3-71-1
  • Manav Suthar23-2-49-5

Ravindra Dhar : "Any possibility of immediate rain !"

76.6
0
Jadeja to AM Fernando, no run, biiig appeal for caught behind. Umpire Raza just watches it all with a small smile on his face. Substantial turn from Jadeja. It pitches full, somewhere in the region of off stump. The batter plays that original line and is soundly beaten.

Umair: "I just went away for one over and we've lost 3 wickets "

76.5
1
Jadeja to Nuwantha, 1 run, turns it to the right of mid-on
76.4
0
Jadeja to Nuwantha, no run, big lbw appeal again with Jadeja working his straight balls so well. Umpire doesn't think its out. Gill is asking whether there is bat. Pant isn't sure. They take the review because it is the last wicket. And yep, replays indicate there is a big inside edge onto pad. India will lose their last remaining review, but they won't mind.
76.3
0
Jadeja to Nuwantha, no run, appeal for lbw but this is an inside edge that slithers between the batter's legs. Jadeja lulled the tail-ender with two big-spinning deliveries and then goes for the straight one
76.2
0
Jadeja to Nuwantha, no run, leaves the good length ball that pitches just outside off
76.1
0
Jadeja to Nuwantha, no run, tossed up outside off, spins past the outside edge

FLAME: "This has been a superb bowling performance by Manav Suthar !! A 4-fer in the first innings and 5-fer in the second innings in just his second test"

END OF OVER:
76 | (wicket maiden) | SL: 199/9

  • Keshara Nuwantha13 (60b)
  • Manav Suthar23-2-49-5
  • Ravindra Jadeja22-3-70-1
75.6
W
Suthar to Kumara, OUT, appeal for caught behind and it's been given out on field. Kumara walks off. Three wickets in the over. India just one away from a win in their 600th Test\. Tossed up delivery from around the wicket. Kumara pushes forward - simply because of the flight - to block. But he has no hope of getting to the pitch of the ball. He has to feel for it outside off. And in doing so, he gets a feather through to Pant. Five for Suthar.

CBRLS Kumara c †Pant b Suthar 0 (2m 4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

75.5
0
Suthar to Kumara, no run, around the wicket now for a flighted delivery that goes on with the angle to beat the outside edge
75.4
0
Suthar to Kumara, no run, goes back to block outside off stump
75.3
0
Suthar to Kumara, no run, tossed up outside off from over the wicket, Kumara defends with four men around the bat

Suthar on a hat-trick in his second Test. Kumara to face

75.2
W
Suthar to Jayasuriya, OUT, bowled im. This is the square seam delivery. So Suthar seeing a tail-end batter doesn't want turn. He just wants to keep the stumps in play and his thinking pays off. Pushes it through quick and flat on off stump. Jayasuriya goes back to block. Plays a little too far inside the line of the ball and is beaten on the outside edge and his off stump takes an almighty knock

NGRP Jayasuriya b Suthar 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0

75.1
W
Suthar to Dinusha, OUT, taken at leg slip! Dinusha after such an accomplished performance has to walk after finding the only close catcher that India were willing to put next to him. Suthar bowls to that man. The ball tossed up outside leg stump. That means the batter could have padded it away. Instead, he trusts his defence and goes for it. A bit of extra bounce secures the inside edge onto pad and goes to Jurel at a comfortable height. Misses out on a second hundred in the Test match but he's going to have a huge role to play in the next 10 years

GS Dinusha c Jurel b Suthar 84 (219m 128b 8x4 1x6) SR: 65.62

END OF OVER:
75 | 3 Runs | SL: 199/6

  • Keshara Nuwantha13 (60b)
  • Sonal Dinusha84 (127b)
  • Ravindra Jadeja22-3-70-1
  • Manav Suthar22-1-49-2
74.6
0
Jadeja to Nuwantha, no run, full on off stump, defends
74.5
0
Jadeja to Nuwantha, no run, keeps to his crease against the shortish delivery and blocks on off stump
74.4
0
Jadeja to Nuwantha, no run, full on off stump, defends

Sri Lanka 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st13LU IgalagamageKNM Fernando
2nd1LU IgalagamageP Sooriyabandara
3rd7LU IgalagamagePHKD Mendis
4th26DM de SilvaLU Igalagamage
5th95DM de SilvaGS Dinusha
6th14N DickwellaGS Dinusha
7th43GS DinushaK Nuwantha
8th0NGRP JayasuriyaK Nuwantha
9th0CBRLS KumaraK Nuwantha
10th7AM FernandoK Nuwantha