Manav Suthar takes four wickets as India dominate Sri Lanka in Galle

Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar picked up four wickets on day three of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, helping India bowl out the hosts for 284 in their first innings. Suthar dismissed Dinesh Chandimal with his first ball and finished with 4 for 76. Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets and reached 350 Test wickets during the innings.

According to The Hindu, Suthar said the focus was to get wickets in the first session and that the team got results in the third session despite Sri Lanka’s Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella batting well. Rediff.com reports that Suthar credited a 10-day pre-series training stint at the BCCI Centre of Excellence with Kookaburra balls in windy conditions that simulated the Galle pitch. The Times of India adds that 74% of Suthar’s deliveries turned more than 4.5 degrees, the highest among all spinners in the match.

Suthar said he learnt from watching Sri Lanka’s spinners and from bowling alongside Jadeja, who he described as world class in bowling consistently at the stumps. Suthar, who played county cricket for Warwickshire, also emphasised the importance of patience and bowling in good areas. The match continues on day four.