India defeat SL in first test; register biggest win overseas
India defeated Sri Lanka in the first test at Galle by 304 runs to take 1-0 lead in the three match series. It was India's biggest win outside the country and fourth highest overall. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja picked up three wickets each to wrap up SL on fourth day. Rangana Herath and Asela Gunaratne were unavailable to bat due to wrist injuries.
Records broken during India-Sri Lanka first test match
India are playing their first test against Sri Lanka at Galle. It is also the first match for the newly appointed coach Ravi Shastri. Terrific knocks by Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara helped India put on 600 runs on board. Moreover, in the first 3 days of this match, several cricket records got broken. Let us have a look at these records.
Dhawan equals Bradman's records
As Shikhar Dhawan scored his career best test score of 190 from 168 balls, he also equalled Donald Bradman and Virender Sehwag's record of scoring more than 100 runs in a single session twice. Dhawan scored 126 runs in the second session of the first day of the match. He had earlier scored 106 runs in one session against Australia in his debut match.
Most sixes by an Indian debutant
Playing his first test match, Hardik Pandya became the first Indian to hit three sixes in his maiden innings. He scored 50 runs from 49 balls, hitting three sixes and five fours. It was also the fastest fifty hit by an Indian debutant.
Fifth 600-plus score for India in 12 months
Indian cricket team posted a score of 600+ for the fifth time since December 2016. India had scored 687 and 759, both against England at Mumbai and Chennai respectively, 687 versus Bangladesh at Hyderabad and 603 against Australia at Ranchi. Apart from India, only Australia have scored 600-plus runs and too only once in the past 12 months.
First five-for for Nuwan Pradeep
Nuwan Pradeep registered the third best performance by a Sri Lankan bowler against India at Galle as he picked up six wickets for 132 runs. It was also his first five-for in tests.
Ashwin breaks Richard Hadlee's records
After becoming the 30th Indian to reach the 50 tests mark, Ravichandran Ashwin broke Richard Hadlee's 36-year old record to become the highest wicket taker after 50 tests. He picked up his 276th victim, as Niroshan Dickwella was caught at silly point by Abhinav Mukund. Ashwin also scored 47-runs in the first innings, hitting seven fours.
Kohli scores 17th test ton; SL need 550 runs
India set Sri Lanka a target of 550 runs after declaring for 240 runs in the first test at Galle. Virat Kohli scored his 17th test century and became the only player in the world to have an average above 50 in all the three formats of the game. He averages 50.03, 54.68 and 52.96 in tests, ODIs and T20 internationals respectively.
