Sri Lanka unleashed its booming cannon in the shape of Rangana Herath, and the left-arm spinner shattered Indian hopes at the Galle International Cricket Stadium as the home side came from behind to win the first Test by 63 runs on Saturday (August 15).

The fourth day’s play in the first Test was always going to be a test of nerves as much as it would be an examination of batsmen’s techniques against the turning ball. Sri Lanka emerged triumphant on both counts, bowling India out for 112 to cap a remarkable turnaround with a spectacular win that put the side 1-0 up in the three-Test series. Kumar Sangakkara, in his penultimate Test, led the celebratory charge, enveloping Dinesh Chandimal in an uninhibited show of appreciation for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s unbeaten 162 that had turned the game on its head.

Given its position 24 hours earlier, this must count as one of Sri Lanka’s more famous wins, especially coming as it did a little over a month after a 1-2 loss to Pakistan on home soil. Expertly set up by Chandimal’s blazing fourth Test hundred, the win was secured by Herath’s returns of 7 for 48, including 6 for 35 in 18 unchanged overs on the fourth day. It also ended a two-match losing streak in Galle, traditionally one of Sri Lanka’s more favoured hunting grounds at home.