Fall in Galle: Kohli and Co. surrender meekly to Herath and Kaushal’s spin web in first Test
Rangana Herath exults after dismissing Ajinkya Rahane on the fourth day of the first Test in Galle
In an extraordinary twist to the game on Saturday, India capitulated to an embarrassing 63-run defeat in the first Test against Sri Lanka, who scripted one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent Test history.
Set a tricky target of 176, the Indians surrendered tamely and were skittled out for 112 in just 49.5 overs in Galle to give the islanders a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Left arm spinner Rangana Herath scalped 7/48 and Tharindu Kaushal took 3/47 as the Lankans bamboozled the Indians and wrap up the Test in three and a half days on a track, which gave good assistance to the slow bowlers.
It was a dramatic performance from the hosts who came back from the dead after conceding a massive 192-run first innings lead to turn the tables on the Indians who had themselves to blame for the debacle.
The Indians allowed the hosts to wriggle out of a precarious 95 for 5 in their second innings with Dinesh Chandimal changing the complexion of the game with a brilliant counter-attacking 162 not out. From then on, the Lankans clawed back into the game.
The Indian batsmen, for some strange reason, went into the fourth day’s play with a defensive frame of mind and Shikhar Dhawan took as many as 36 balls to score his first run in the morning.
The knuckle injury he suffered in the first innings did not help his cause. Ajinkya Rahane (36) and Shikhar Dhawan (28) were the only two batsmen who could hang around for some time as wickets kept tumbling with exasperating regularity as the visitors lost six wickets for 55 runs in the pre-lunch session.
The humiliating defeat also served as a huge mood dampener for the Indian fans who were keen to celebrate the Independence day with a win.
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The two teams will now travel to Colombo for the second Test to be held at the P Sara Oval from August 20. It was a slow start from overnight batsmen, with Dhawan looking to get his eye in while Ishant looking to spend as much time at the wicket as possible.
Ishant was the first to go in the 15th over, trapped LBW by Herath off the very first ball he bowled. Rohit Sharma (4) walked in at number four and didn’t last long, out bowled by Herath in the 19th over.
Wriddhiman Saha is stumped by Dinesh Chandimal
Tharindu Kaushal takes a low catch to dismiss Shikhar Dhawan on the fourth day of the first Test in Galle
Virat Kohli walks back after being dismissed
Three overs later skipper Virat Kohli (3) was out as Kaushal Silva took a diving catch at forward short leg off Kaushal. Ajinkya Rahane (36) joined Dhawan in the middle, with the latter deciding to play some shots.
They added 15 runs for the 5th wicket and helped India cross the 50-run mark. Dhawan ultimately threw his wicket away in the 28th over as Kaushal took a brilliant catch off his own bowling.
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