"(I'm) Really happy with the way things went in this particular game," India captain Virat Kohli said at the presentation. "All bases were covered nicely and the guys stood up when it was needed most. "The surface didn't offer much. That's why the win is more special because the bowlers had to work hard." India, the world's top-ranked test side, declared their second innings closed on 240 for three after Kohli completed his 17th test hundred.Another day, another Virat Kohli century ?
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 29, 2017
India have beaten Sri Lanka in the first Test https://t.co/hgxmLCz5BB pic.twitter.com/YIRw0RCBPg
The right-handed batsman, who resumed the day on 76, remained unbeaten on 103 after reaching the milestone with a single off spinner Dilruwan Perera. The century ended a poor run in tests for Kohli, who hit five boundaries and one six in his 136-ball knock, with the 28-year-old totalling a meagre 49 runs in his last six innings.India go 1-0 up in the #SLvInd Test series as they beat Sri Lanka by 304 runs in Gallehttps://t.co/lllokzZiRH pic.twitter.com/OLtrNNLTWP
— ICC (@ICC) July 29, 2017
All smiles after a man of the match performance @SDhawan25 #TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/aEFZLw2Vnm— BCCI (@BCCI) July 29, 2017Burdened with an improbable target, Sri Lanka needed a solid opening stand but their hopes were dashed when Mohammed Shami bowled Upul Tharanga for 10, a relief for Kohli who had dropped the batsman at second slip in the same over. Debutant Danushka Gunathilaka did not last long either and was out for two, hitting Umesh Yadav straight into the hands of Cheteshwar Pujara at square leg.
Sri Lanka were 29-2 at that stage and needed a solid 79-run stand between Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis to settle things down. India came back strongly after lunch with two quick wickets from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, ranked number one in the world in the longest format. Mendis, who made 36, was given not out on a caught behind appeal but India successfully overturned the umpire's decision on review. Former captain Angelo Mathews fell soon afterwards, mis-hitting Jadeja to get caught by Hardik Pandya.Day 4, Tea: SL 291 & 192/4 (57.0 Ovs) Dimuth Karunaratne 85*, Sri Lanka need 358 runs 85*, Dickwella 48*. https://t.co/9uxRrihjAU #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/KmNn8hDVpY
— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) July 29, 2017
That's it. A comprehensive victory and #TeamIndia take a 1-0 lead in the series #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/gTJKnWneMH— BCCI (@BCCI) July 29, 2017Mathews' dismissal brought Karunaratne and Niroshan Dickwella together and the pair added 101 for the fifth wicket, before Dickwella was caught by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha to become Ashwin's first victim of the innings.
Karunaratne dragged the off-spinner back onto his stumps while playing a sweep shot and fell perilously close to his sixth test hundred. Ashwin, who took 3-65, also dismissed Nuwan Pradeep without scoring before Jadeja (3-71) wrapped things up when Lahiru Kumara skied an attempted slog to become the last man to fall for the hosts. "All credit goes to the India team," Herath said. "We need to improve ourselves in all three departments." The second test will be played from Thursday in Colombo.BRIEF SCORE:India 600 (Dhawan 190, Pujara 153, Pradeep 6-132) and 240 for 3 dec (Kohli 103*, Abhinav 81) beat Sri Lanka 291 (Perera 92*, Mathews 83, Jadeja 3-67) and 245 (Karunaratne 97, Dickwella 67, Ashwin 3-65, Jadeja 3-71) by 304 runsIt's all over! Virat Kohli picks a souvenir stump as India dominate in Galle to take a 1-0 #SLvIND series lead https://t.co/LxQEWKJUjg pic.twitter.com/rKD1MKiXhN
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 29, 2017
