India v/s Sri Lanka: Herath takes 7, India slump to embarrassing 63 runs defeat

LIVE BLOG

• 15 Aug 2015, 01:55 PM

  Chandimal is the Man of the Match, who turned the test in Islander's favour. He speaks about counter attacking Indian bowlers and how the ploy worked in their favour. 

  Hopefully learn from the mistakes and pick a better XI in the next test. This was not the best team available, no matter what is said.

  — Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) August 15, 2015

  Virat Kohli goes all philosphical in the post match award ceremony. He says that test matches often change colour in one session but he is candid enough to admit that Indians have only themselves to blame for this defeat.

  Angelo Mathews says that he is completely speechless with this turnaround. 

  There's a lot to be critical about India's performance but save that for later. For the moment let's hail a stupendous victory by Sri Lanka

  — Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 15, 2015

  People talking about heartbreaks which happened owing to stunning collapse of India's batting in the fourth innings.

  (Spoke of Barbados 1997 in terms of collapses, btw. Lost chasing 120. Overall: hard to beat the heartbreak of Chennai 1999)

  — Sidvee (@sidvee) August 15, 2015

  This is hardly a heartbreak. The most painful Cricketing losses in my memory: - Barbados, 1997, 5th test - Pakistan test with Sachin batting

  — Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) August 15, 2015

  The reason behind this is not such a heartbreak for Indian fans

  There was a time when I used to even watch Veterans' cricket. Sandeep Patil, Ashok Malhotra, Joel Garner et al.

  — Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) August 15, 2015

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 01:40 PM

  This was Sangakkara's last match at Galle. He has one more to go before curtains fall on his illustrious career. He takes a lap of honour and Sri Lankan players carry him on their shoulders. Sanga in a recent interview lamented about condition of Sri Lankan cricket. Pretty sure, he will be mightlily pleased with this massive turnaround. 

  As of now it seems Sri Lankan cricket is in safe hands and they managed to humble the mighty Indians who were on the verge of winning the test match yesterday.

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 01:29 PM

  OUT! It's all over. Kaushal takes the last wicket. Firecrackers have started to burst in Galle. Amit Mishra is the last man to depart. Kaushal gets his wicket, good reflex catch by Karunaratne . Sri Lanka has won by 63 runs, a pretty comfortable win in the end. They were down in the dumps on Day 3 before Chandimal changed the course of the match. In the fourth innings, it was a Herath show ably assisted by Kaushal. No one except Rahane offered any resistance. India dismissed for mere 112 runs. 

   

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 01:20 PM

  OUT! Rahane gone. A classic delivery, ball spins and takes the edge off Rahane's bat. A sharp low catch in the slips by captain Mathews. Rahane out for 36 and India now slump to 102-9. 

  Herath has a figure of 7/42. 

  Ever optimistic fans or maybe not 

  Varun Aaron's highest fc score is 72. Okay, now I'm pushing it.

  — Sidvee (@sidvee) August 15, 2015

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 01:03 PM

  Rahane playing very confidently. Sadly he is about to run out off partners. Rahane is willing to step out to smother the spin. Many Indian players  were caught at the crease poking sheepishly at balls ending up giving catch to close-in fielders. They can probably take a cue from Rahane's book.  India limps to 98/8 after 45 overs. Rahane not out on 36. 

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 01:00 PM

  We are back after lunch and immediately Sri Lanka strike.

  OUT!  Herath again. This time he gets rid off Ashwin, and the partnersip of 13 runs comes to an end. There was a certain inevitability to Ashwin's stroke. Trying to force the tempo, knowing that it is almost impossible to survive the spin web. Prasad takes a good catch at mid-wicket. India- 88/8 after 40 overs.

  Rahane is the lone warrior in the middle and Amit Mishra has joined him. It's all but over for Team India here. 

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 12:05 PM

  Rahane and Ashwin playing now. Both are decent player of spinning but one suspect the match is now well out of India&#39;s grasp. Ashwin is looking to use his feet to smudge the spin. Surprisingly very few Indian top order managed to do it. India go to lunch at 78/7. 6 wickets in this session for only 55 runs.&nbsp;</p>

  Pretty mindless batting from hallowed Indian batters. A clear lack of plan was evident and there was no plan B to counter Herath. Rahane remains the last flicker of hope for India.&nbsp;</p>

  A Test series in SL convinced India against the DRS; a Test series in SL might convince India in favour of the DRS

  — S Rajesh (@rajeshstats) August 15, 2015

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 11:52 AM

  OUT! This is unravelling very fast. Herath gets his 22nd fifer. He is literally spinning Sri Lanka to victory in the first test match. Bhajji is dismissed now. A sharp catch in the forward short leg. 

  Bhajji looks with disbelief when the umpire raises his fingure, but replays show he indeed edged the ball before it hit his pad. It has been extremely poor application from Indian batters. 

  So true

  In situations such as these you miss one man. Yeah, that Very Very Special guy who only seemed to function when India needed him most.

  — Rohit Pradhan (@Retributions) August 15, 2015

  Dark humour!

  69 all out will be a good tribute to the freedom fighters of the nation.

  — Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) August 15, 2015

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 11:38 AM

  OUT! 6 down now. A classic left handers' dismissal. Saha tries to hit Herath but completely misreads the flight and ends up getting stumped. He is gone for only 2. India is tottering at 65/6. Herath has 4 wickets now giving away only 29 runs. 

  Outrage has started expectedly

  There need to be consequences if India lose a game after that sort of first innings lead. Rahul, Rohit, DRS, anyone? #IndvSL

  — Sitaraman Shankar (@shankarht) August 15, 2015

  Anyone can tell you that in a 4th innings chase you have to imagine you are batting in the 1st innings. But only some can.

  — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 15, 2015

  15th August: End of British rule. Beginning of Srilankan rule.

  — Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) August 15, 2015

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 11:25 AM

  Rahane and Dhawan looking to rebuild the innings. A lot depends on this partnership. India needs at least a stand of 50 runs to get back in the contest. As of now, Sri Lanka looks firmly in control. 

  And they have another! Dhawan who was never really set gets out. A leading edge and Kaushal takes an awesome diving catch off his own bowling. India reeling at 60/5. 

  Fan reaction says it all 

  Shikhar Dhawan gone. Lost the test. #INDvSL

  — Dushyant K. Mahant (@DKMahant) August 15, 2015

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 11:09 AM

  Rahane is in and fans are keeping all their hopes on him. 

  Keep calm and believe in this gen's Dravid , Rahane .

  — Vks (@VikHasya) August 15, 2015

  Exaggeration or legitimate comparison? 

  As India stumble, Sri Lankan fans could well start imagining Chandimal's innings as their own VVS moment......

  — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 15, 2015

  After 24 overs, IND- 51/4 

  
   

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 11:05 AM

  Kaushal has come to the attack. Dhawan must be heaving a sigh of relief to survive the probing bowling of Pradeep. 

  And the move works!  Captain Virat Kohli is dismissed. Silva takes a very sharp catch in forward short leg.  Kohli out for only 3. Islanders are absolutely elated. For the first time in the match, they are in a dormant position. 

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 10:54 AM

  Pradeep nearly manages to break Dhawan's defence. An inside edge narrowly missing the leg stump and slowly goes to the fine leg boundary. On the other end, Virat Kohli nearly runs himseld out but a poor throw helps him to survive. India- 40/3 after 20 overs. 

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 10:47 AM

  OUT! We have a match in our hands now. Herath strikes again, gets the big wicket of Rohit Sharma. He gets clean bowled failing to negotiate the vicious turn. IND-34/3 after 19

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 10:45 AM

  First boundary of the day. Rohit Sharma plays a classy drive off Herath and the ball races to the boundary. India needs some more boundaries to break the shackles.

  After 17 overs, India 34/2. 

  Pradeep finally gets one to curve back and it nearly results in a wicket. But it was bat before pad. Pradeep is keeping one end tight and frustrating Dhawan immensely. 

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 10:32 AM

  OUT! Herath does the trick!  He traps Ishant Sharma in the front and umpire has no hesitation to raise his finger. India- 30/2. Ishant Sharma gone for 10. He couldn't capitalise on the life he got in the morning. 

  Rohit Sharma has come out in the middle. He will be under pressure to score some runs as India is playing with only 5 batsman. 

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 10:30 AM

  First bowling change made by Sri Lankan captain. He has come to bowl in place of Dhammika who was looking innocuous. Ishant though seems  unperturbed. Even bouncers are not having much of an impact. 

  Dhawan and Pradeep almost playing a cat and mouse game. Play and miss repeatedly from Dhawan, but luckily for him, it eludes the edge of the bat. Wait of Islanders to get  a breakthrough increases. IND-30/1 after 14

   

   

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 10:17 AM

  Dhammika Prasad is trying to bowl a steady line outside the off-stump. Not much venom in his bowling and Sharma is negating the deliveries pretty comfortably. 

  Dhawan seems to have learnt his lesson after surviving dangerously against Pradeep in his first over. He is more circumspect and trying to play the ball very late. Sri Lanka has not let India get cut loose in the first few overs. This will keep the host excited and in hunt. IND- 27/1 after 12 overs. 

  
• 15 Aug 2015, 10:05 AM

  After a rather insipid first over from Dhammika Prasad, some action in the second over of the day itself! 

  Night watchman Ishant Sharma edges, but the second slip fails to latch onto the catch. It was not a sitter, but should have been taken.  Bowler Pradeep should consider himself unlucky. He also manages to beat Dhawan's bat couple of times, but it eludes the edge. It is a rather nervous start for Team India. IND- 24/1 after 10 overs.