‘Clinical’ India please Kohli as they prove too strong for Sri Lanka to take first Test
India captain Virat Kohli completed his 17th Test hundred yesterday and then let his bowlers demolish injury-hit Sri Lanka to claim a 304-run victory inside four days in the first Test at Galle.
It was India’s biggest winning margin in Sri Lanka as after being set 550 to win Dimuth Karunaratne made 97 for the hosts, but after his departure their hopes sank.
With all-rounder Asela Gunaratne and stand-in captain Rangana Herath unable to bat through injury, Sri Lanka called it a day with eight wickets down and the total on 245.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin each took three wickets for India.
Kohli modestly called it a “clinical performance” after his side scored 600 in the first innings and then restricted Sri Lanka to 291.
India lost the opening match in Galle two years ago but went on to take the series 2-1 and returned to No 1 in the Test rankings soon afterwards.
“We are a more experienced side now. We are playing more consistent cricket and that shows,” Kohli said of the result.
“The surface did not offer much, and that’s why the win is special. It’s an example of the skill they [the team] possess. Persistent pressure always pays.”
He made an unbeaten 103 at the start of the day before declaring India’s second innings on 240-3, leaving it down to his bowlers.
Karunaratne’s stubborn 208ball innings took him past 2,500 career Test runs but there was not enough support at the other end.
“We need to improve ourselves fast – the batting, bowling and fielding,” Herath said of the result.
Gunaratne has been ruled out of the rest of the series with a fractured finger but veteran Herath said his injured finger would be better again in a few days.
The second Test starts in Colombo on Thursday.