Rangana Herath Sends India From Hero to Zero as Sri Lanka Script Sensational Win
India lost nine wickets in 110 overs to collapse to one of their worst Test defeats. Highest fourth innings chase in Galle was 99/3 by Sri Lanka vs Pakistan.
- Shubhodeep Chakravarty
- Updated: August 15, 2015 08:11 am IST
India dominated for for most part of the 1st Test at Galle and at one point, even threatened to humiliate Sri Lanka inside three days. Yet, Virat Kohli and Co. suffered a disastrous batting collapse on the fourth day - on Saturday - to surrender the match by 63 runs. Humiliation was predicted for sure, but not for the touring party - a sign which once again shows that cricket is indeed a remarkably unpredictable sport.
India needed 153 with nine wickets to spare at the start of Day 4's play. The pitch was challenging but it never appeared like a batsman's worst nightmare.As it turned out, it may well haunt the Indian batters for some time to come as Rangana Herath spun Sri Lankans to an unbelievable win.
Following is how the Indian batsmen folded to hand Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Overnight India score: 23/1
* 2nd wicket: Ishant Sharma LBW Herath. The ball fails to turn and crashes onto the batsman's pads. (Score - 30/2)
* 3rd wicket: Rohit Sharma b Herath. Tries to push but fails to meet the ball with anything at all. (Score - 34/3)
* 4th wicket: Kohli c Silva b Kaushal. Edges to forward short leg. (Score - 45/4)
* 5th wicket: Dhawan c and b Kaushal. Chips the ball back to the bowler. (Score - 60/5)
* 6th wicket: Saha st Chandimal b Herath. Drawn out by a flighted delivery but fails to connect. (Score - 65/6)
* 7th wicket: Harbhajan c Silva b Herath. Ball hits the pad and ricochets to take the inside edge and fly up to forward short leg. (Score 67/7)
* 8th wicket: Ashwin c Prasad b Herath. Chips it against the turn and find the mid on fielder making his way to the right. (Score - 81/8)
* 9th wicket: Rahane c Mathews b Herath. The ball tuns and bounces to take the edge and go straight to the slips. (Score - 102/9)
* Final wicket: Mishra c Karunaratne b Kaushal. Edges the ball to the pads and silly point fielder takes an athletic catch to win it for Sri Lanka (Score - 112)