IND vs SL 1st Test: Suthar spins web as Sri Lanka slump to 99/5 at lunch

IND vs SL 1st Test: Suthar leads India's spin show as hosts restricted to 99/5 (Day 3, Lunch)

Galle, August 17

At the end of session one, SL was 99/5, with Sonal Dinusha (14*) and Niroshan Dickwella (8*) unbeaten. The trail India by 363 runs.

Team India started the final day at 460/9, with Prasidh Krishna (1*) and Mohammed Siraj (12*) unbeaten.

Asitha Fernando struck early for Sri Lanka in the session, removing Prasidh Krishna for just two, with India skittling out for 462 runs.

While bowling, India was off to a fine start as Nishan Fernando poked at a delivery going away from him, handing it straight to Devdutt Padikkal in the first slip, going for a two-ball duck.

Lahiru Udara played with positive intent against pace, getting two boundaries in Siraj's sixth over, and he kept the scoreboard ticking with a rock-solid Dinesh Chandimal occupying the other end.

In the eighth over, spinner Manav Suthar struck on his first ball, removing Chandimal for a 16-ball four, with a ball which first drifted in, then turned away, brushing a part of batter's glove and landing into wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant's hands. SL was 27/2.

However, an unfazed Lahiru continued to heap punishment on pace and spin alike, with Kamindu Mendis also attacking Prasidh Krishna. SL reached the 50-run mark in 12 overs.

Suthar delivered India yet another wicket as a top-edge from Lahiru landed straight into Yashasvi Jaiswal's hands, removing him for a 44-ball 27, with six fours. SL was 53/3.

Spin really started to dominate as Kamindu fell to a poor shot against Kuldeep Yadav, with Shubman Gill taking a one-handed stunner while diving to his left at extra cover. SL's prolific run-getter was back for 25-ball 14 and they were 59/4.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha continued the rebuild, but it could not last long as Ravindra Jadeja also joined the wicket-taking party by getting Dhananjaya for a 41-ball 21 with an assist from KL Rahul. SL was 90/5.

SL ended their first session with half the team gone, with Sonal Dinusha and a returning Niroshan Dickwella unbeaten.

Brief Scores: India: 464: (Devdutt Padikkal 167, KL Rahul 82, Prabath Jayasuriya 4/109) vs Sri Lanka: 99/5 (Lahiru Udara 27, Dhananjaya de Silva 21, Manav Suthar 2/17).

— ANI