Sri Lanka thrash West Indies by an innings and six runs in the opening test at Galle on Saturday with Rangana Herath leading the victory charge by claiming his fifth 10-wicket haul.
West Indies were bundled out for 227 in their second innings in the afternoon session, after being asked to follow on by the hosts.
Herath added three wickets to his previous day’s removal of opener Kraigg Brathwaite (34) after claiming six victims in the first innings to finish with match figures of 10-147.
Three of the 37-year-old’s landmark hauls have come at Galle, the venue for his test debut against Australia more than 16 years ago.
‘When I play here, there is always something for me as a spinner,’ Herath said after picking up the man of the match award.
Debutant all-rounder Milinda Siriwardana and paceman Dhammika Prasad picked up two wickets apiece in the second innings for Sri Lanka.
Jermaine Blackwood played some delightful shots and showed nimble footwork against the spinners during his knock of 92, his second highest score in tests, but was the last man out.
After resuming on 67-2, West Indies lost nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo (10) in wily left-arm spinner Herath’s third over and then experienced batsman Marlon Samuels was out lbw off the first ball he faced.
Samuels did not offer a shot to a straight delivery and more surprisingly, decided to waste a review by challenging the umpire’s decision. The bowler’s hat-trick ball was fended away by Blackwood.
