Ind in SL: India beat hosts by 304 runs to win first Test

India beat Sri Lanka by 304 runs with a day to spare to win the first Test match of the three-game series at the Galle International Stadium a short while ago today (29).

Provided a mammoth  task to chase 550 runs with well over a day and two sessions, Sri Lanak was skittled out for 245 runs with two of their batsmen -- Asela Gunaratne and Rangana Herath -- not turning up to bat due to injuries. 

India easily takes the early lead of the Test series 1-0 with two games remaining to be played over the next two weekends at the SSC in Colombo and at Pallekele in Kandy. 

Resuming the day at 189-3, India declared their second innings at 240-3 soon after skipper Virat Kohli reached his hundred. 

Kohli remained unbeaten on 103 off 136 deliveries inclusive of five fours and a six while forming a partnership of 133 runs for the third wicket with overnight batsman Abhinav Mukund. 

Mukund made 81 off 116 balls inclusive of eight boundaries as India went on to set a huge target of 550 runs for Sri Lanka to chase on a turning wicket. 

Sri Lanka had a shaky start as usual and lost two early wickets before opener Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis added 79 runs for the third wicket. 

Mendis got out at 108 after making 36 off 71 deliveries with three boundaries as Sri Lanka slid down to 116-4 in no time. 

Then Karunaratne got together with Niroshan Dickwella to add 101 runs for the fifth wicket but the hosts were losing hope of a win gradually. 

Their fate was sealed soon after Karunaratne was clean bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin forshort of a deserving hundred as Sri Lanka's sixth wicket. 

Karunaratne hit a marathon 97 off 208 balls inclusive of nine boundaries but failed to make an impact on the Indians who were dominant. 

Dickwella struck 67 off 94 deliveries inclusive of 10 boundaries as Dilruwan Perera remained unbeaten on 21 off 50 deliveries with three fours, following his first innings heroics of 92 not out to become Sri Lanka's top scorer in the first innings. 

Spinners Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shared six wickets while Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami picked a wicket each. 

Electing to bat, India posted 600 runs after marathon tons from opener Shikhar Dhawan (190) and Chateshwar Pujara (153) set the tone for a big score. 

Ajinkya Rahane (57), debutant Hardik Pandya (50), Ashwin (47) and tailender Shami (30) contributed with useful knocks.  

The pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka was speedster Nuwan Pradeep, who claimed six wickets while Lahiru Kumara claimed three wickets. 

In reply Sri Lanka were shot out for 291 runs with Perera top scoring with an unbeaten 92 after opener Upul Tharanga (64) and former skipper Angelo Mathews (83) hit half centuries. 

Jadeja picked two three wickets while Shami claimed two. 

Shikhar Dhawan was named the Player of the Match. 

India 

First innings 600 all out (133.1) (Shikhar Dhawan 190, Chateshwar Pujara 153, Ajinkya Rahane 57, Ravichandran Ashwin 47, Hardik Pandya 50, Mohammed Shami 30, Nuwan Pradeep 6/132, Lahiru Kumara 3/131)

Second innings 240 for 3 wickets declared (53) (Abhinav Mukund 81, Virat Kohli 103n.o, Ajinkya Rahane 23n.o.)

Sri Lanka 

First innings 291 all out (78.3) (Upul Tharanga 64, Angelo Mathews 83, Dilruwan Perera 92n.o, Ravindra Jadeja 3/67, Mohammed Shami 2/45)

Second innings (Target 550) 245 all out (76.5) (Dimuth Karunaratne 97, Kusal Mendis 36, Niroshan Dickwella 67, Dilruwan Perera 21n.o, Ravichandran Ashwin 3/65, Ravindra Jadeja 3/71)