SL vs Ind, 1st Test: Kohli picks up another stump as India beats Sri Lanka

Galle: Nothing went in the favour of hosts Sri Lanka from the very start of the first Test match of the three-match series against India. Galle International stadium witnessed the complete dominance of Virat Kohli led Indian Cricket team as it registered mammoth 304-run win against Lankans, bundling them at 245 in the second innings.

It is India's biggest away Test victory (by runs) while it is biggest Test defeat (by runs) for Sri Lanka.

Chasing a mammoth 550, Sri Lanka, reduced to nine men after skipper Rangana Herath and Asela Gunaratne were ruled out, failed to put up a fight before being bundled out for 245 in their second innings.

Sri Lankans were helpless to the spin magic of Indian spinners R Ashwin and R Jadeja.

India's spin duo of Ashwin (3/65) and Jadeja (3/71) dominated with the ball on the penultimate day of the match as opener Dimuth Karunaratne and stumper Niroshan Dickwella provided some resistance before falling on respective scores of 97 and 67.

Dickwella made crucial 67 with 10 fours but continuation of falling wickets on the other end, made things difficult for him. After playing 94-ball knock, he became prey of Ashwin.

Resuming the day at 189/3, India skipper Virat Kohli (103 not out) went on to complete his 17th Test century, as the visitors stretched their second innings lead to 549 runs. Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane (23 not out) added a quickfire 51-run fourth wicket stand in 6.3 overs.

The India captain, who went unbeaten on 76 at stumps on the third evening, started tapping for singles and doubles, before latching on a Dilruwan Perera delivery to clobber over midwicket for six to move to 89.

He completed his hundred with a single to midwicket, reaching the landmark in 133 balls and thereby surpassed former India skipper Sourav Ganguly's tally of 16 Test tons.

The 28-year-old has now equalled Indian stalwarts V.V.S. Laxman and Dilip Vengsarkar's tally of 17 and is only behind Mohammad Azharuddin (22), Virender Sehwag (23), Sunil Gavaskar (34), Rahul Dravid (36) and Sachin Tendulkar (51).

This was also Kohli's first century after a gap of seven innings, since his 204 against Bangladesh earlier this year.

In their first innings, India posted a massive total of 600, thanks to centuries from Shikhar Dhawan (190) and Cheteshwar Pujara (153) before skitling the Lankans out for 291.

With the win, India have now taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and will now head to Colombo for the second Test, starting August 3.

Also read: Virat Kohli again gives complex to competitors Smith, Root, Williamson!

Shikhar Dhawan was named Man of the Match for his breezy 190-run knock in the first innings.

R Aswhin, who was playing his 50th Test game, was given special award for the same.