IND vs SL: 1st Test Review – India blow Sri Lanka away within 3 days

India beat Sri Lanka in the first Test match at the PCA Stadium in Mohali by an innings and 222 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. When play resumed on Day 3, the Lankans were bundled out for just 174 and Indian skipper Rohit Sharma decided to enforce the follow-on with a mammoth first innings lead of 400 runs.

It was just a matter of a few hours before the hosts completed the proceedings as the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella delayed the inevitable with a valiant half-century.

After declaring their first innings having posted 574/8 on the board, India ensured that they did not have to bat again courtesy of left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s 10^th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Unfortunately, the visitors could not do anything special even after being asked to follow on.

Jadeja yet again made his presence felt in the second innings as he broke the opposition’s backbone with a phenomenal four-wicket haul. His spin bowling partner Ravichandran Ashwin also chipped in with four wickets whereas, pacer Mohammed Shami bagged two scalps. Barring Dickwella,` who remained unbeaten on 51 off 81 deliveries, none of the batters could offer much resistance as the visitors were cleaned up for 178.

Top performers

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged the Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performances throughout the Test match. He first propelled India to a massive total by remaining unbeaten on 175 runs from 228 balls before the declaration. The southpaw then made significant contributions with the ball in hand with figures of 5/41 and 4/46 to finish with nine wickets in both innings.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Just like Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin made an impact with his all-round performances. After scoring 61, the senior off-spinner chipped in with figures of 2/49 and 4/47 to finish with six wickets in the game.

Stats and Milestones

• Ravindra Jadeja became the fourth Indian player after Vinoo Mankad (1952), Polly Umrigar (1962) and Ravichandran Ashwin to score a century and register a fifer in the same Test match. Ashwin has achieved this milestone thrice.
• Ravichandran Ashwin became the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket, surpassing the legendary captain and all-rounder Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 wickets.
• Ravindra Jadeja also became the third Indian after Mankad and Umrigar to score over 150 runs and take five wickets in the same Test match.
•  Ashwin (435) also went past the Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (433) and is now the spinner with fourth-most scalps in the longest format.

What next for both teams?

The second Test of the series, a day-night game, gets underway in Bengaluru on March 12.