India thrash Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs to take 1-0 lead in Test series

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Ravindra Jadeja took 9 wickets and scored 175 runs n the first Test

Ravindra Jadeja‘s all-round performance powered India to a huge win by an innings and 222 runs in the first Test match against Sri Lanka, giving the home team an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series on Sunday. India were expected to dominate Sri Lanka in all departments in the Test series but it was the manner in which they accomplished a huge victory was truly special, given that there was not a minor blip from the home side.

Having put on a huge total of 574/8 declared in the first innings, which was bolstered by a brilliant 175 not out by Jadeja and a superb 97-ball 96 by wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant, India continued to press hard against Sri Lanka, whose batsmen were just not up to the task.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 174 and 178 in the two innings as India captain Rohit Sharma imposed a follow-on after the visitors had collapsed on the third day morning to give India a huge advantage of 400 runs as first-innings lead.

The visitors had resumed their first innings at 104/8 on the third day, Sunday, hoping to make the most of favourable batting conditions in Mohali. However, Jadeja continued to prove his class as he recorded a superb five-wicket haul, returning with figures of 13-4-41-5 whereas the others in Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah took 2 wickets each and Mohammed Shami got 1. 

For Sri Lanka, their young and talented batsmen Pathum Nissanka fought hard with an unbeaten 61 which came from 133 balls and was studded with 13 boundaries. There were plenty of Sri Lanka batsmen who  got off to starts but they were guilty of not converting them, with Dimuth Karunaratne falling for 28, Lahiru Thirimanne scoring 17, Angelo Mathews making 22 and Charith Asalanka making 29. 

After they were asked to bat win with Indian spinners looking to cause more damage, Sri Lanka were presented with another opportunity to showcase their talent, but they disappointed once again. Lahiru Thirimanne continued to struggle against Ashwin as he was dismissed by the ace India offspinner for a 9-ball duck. Sri Lanka captain Karunaratne fought well but once again perished after making 27 from 46 balls and there was further disappointment in store for the visiting side as Nissanka could not produce another strong performance, falling to Ashwin for 19-ball 6.

The Sri Lanka lower order did try to delay the inevitable as Mathews made a 75-ball 28, Dhananjaya de Silva scored 30 from 58 balls, Asalanka made a quickfire 20 from 9 balls studded with two sixes and wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella remained unbeaten on 51 from 80 balls, for which he hit 9 boundaries.

However, the task was too tough for the Sri Lankan side which continued to struggle against the Indian spinners. Ashwin went past former India captain Kapil Dev’s tally of most wickets in Test cricket to reach 435 dismissals, taking 4/47 from his 21 overs. Jadeja continued to be magical as he returned with another splendid spell of 16-5-46-4. Shami took 2 wickets in the second innings.

The two teams will now travel to Bangalore where they will face off in the second and final Test of the series starting March 12.

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