India gain ground in Galle with clinical bowling display

Indian bowlers nabbed crucial wickets early in the fourth innings to reduce Sri Lanka to 84/4, requiring 288 runs on Day 5.

A full team display on Day 4 from India puts them at an advantage going into the final day, recovering from a slow start at the crease to steadily amass a competitive total, protect their lead and put the pressure on the home side.

In India's second innings, Sri Lanka were out of the gates quickly, securing their first scalp of the day after only three balls as opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was sent walking for no runs.  

The pace bowler Asitha Fernando, who delivered the early wicket, went on to secure bowling figures of 4/31. There was also considerable help from Prabath Jayasuriya, who went 3/43, helping Sri Lanka keep the lid on early in India’s second innings.  

India welcomed the challenge, scoring steady runs across the first six wickets, but then the tide turned towards the hosts, with the end of the innings following the fall of the final four wickets for only 19 runs, to mark the shortest innings of the First Test so far.

Although India were still able to add to their overall run total, reaching 193, setting up a riveting chase for Sri Lanka. A half-century from wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant (66) led the way in the batting attack, supported by efforts from KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal.  

Then the spotlight turned to Sri Lanka, knowing what they needed to do to secure a crucial victory in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

India’s diverse bowling strategy caused early damage to Sri Lanka's batting lineup to wrap up Day 4. It was the young spinner, Manav Suthar, who made an impact with 30/2 and helped pacer Mohammed Siraj finish a fierce strike to grab two wickets from three balls in the seventh over, notching four dismissals overall.  

India lead by 288 runs going into the last day of the first Test as they sit fifth in the WTC Standings with a point percentage of 48.15, one spot above their opponents in sixth with a point percentage of 41.67.

Devdutt Padikkal, who scored a crucial century in the first innings, added the second-most runs in India’s second innings, and he shared how he approaches red-ball cricket to best facilitate his contributions.  

“But I think in red ball, I think it's important that I, you know, tighten that side of my game. So that's pretty much the only technical change I've made. Uh, just my hands being a little closer in red ball. Uh, but at the same time, mentally, it's important that I make that shift,” Padikkal said. 

“Over the last couple of years, I've become better at it, I think. It's not an easy thing to do when you keep shifting from white ball to red ball, but I think I've gotten better at it and hopefully I can keep improving on it.”

Rishabh Pant showed true class as the keeper-batter scored 66 off 69 balls. The game-changing knock was India's highest score in the second innings.

On the other side, Asitha Fernando set the tone for Sri Lanka, recording the best figures for a pacer since 2019, when Suranga Lakmal reined in 4 for 29. He could not provide the same lift from the bat and will have to rely on his teammates to get the job done on 19th August and Day 5.