Galle: Rangana Herath picked up seven wickets in a sublime display of left-arm spin bowling to power Sri Lanka to a spectacular comeback win by 63 runs against India on the first Test in Galle on Saturday.
India, set a victory target of 176 runs, folded up for 112 in their second innings after lunch on the fourth day, with left-arm spinner Rangana Herath finishing with seven wickets.
It was only the second time Sri Lanka had defended a target of less than 200 runs. Pakistan, set 168 to win at Galle in 2009, were shot out for 117 when Herath claimed four wickets.
Sri Lanka's remarkable win against India came after they were reduced to 95-5 in their second innings before lunch on Friday, still 98 runs away from avoiding an innings defeat.
Dinesh Chandimal engineered the fightback with a brilliant 162 off 169 balls, sharing valuable partnerships with Lahiru Thirimanne (44) and Jehan Mubarak (49) to lift the hosts to 367.
The second Test starts at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on August 20.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 183 (Mathews 64, Chandimal 59, Ashwin 6-46) and 367 (Chandimal 162*, Ashwin 4-114)
India - 375 (Dhawan 134, Kohli 103, Waha 60, Kaushal 5-134) & 112 (Herath 7-48, Kaushal 3-47)
Result - Sri Lanka won by 63 runs
MOM - Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka)