India Gain Ground in Galle with Strong Bowling
Listen to the story
India have moved closer to victory in the first Test against Sri Lanka, which is being played in Galle. The match reached its fifth and final day with India in a strong position.
Rishabh Pant played an important role with a rapid innings of 66 runs. His fast batting helped India build a good total, giving them more time to bowl Sri Lanka out.
On the bowling side, spinner Suthar produced a clinical display, taking two wickets in quick succession. This double strike broke Sri Lanka's resistance and gave India control of the game.
Suthar's double strike refers to taking two wickets close together, which can quickly change the direction of a match. It put pressure on the remaining Sri Lankan batsmen.
With both bat and ball performing well, India have tightened their grip on the match. Commentators believe India are now in a strong position to win the Test on the final day.
The result of this Test is important, as it is the first match in the series between the two teams. A win here would give India an early advantage in the overall series.
Vocabulary10 words
- victory
- winning a game or match
- rapid
- happening very fast
- innings
- the time a batsman spends batting
- total
- the full number of runs scored
- clinical
- done very well and without mistakes
- display
- a performance that shows skill
- double strike
- two wickets taken close together
- grip
- strong control over a situation
- resistance
- an effort to stop something happening
- series
- a set of matches between two teams
Quiz
Answer key
1. It is on its final day 2. He scored a rapid 66 3. It broke Sri Lanka's resistance
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
India have moved closer to _____ in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
The match reached its fifth and final _____ with India in a strong position.
Rishabh Pant played an important role with a rapid _____ of 66 runs.
His fast batting helped India build a good _____.
Spinner Suthar produced a clinical _____, taking two wickets in quick succession.
This _____ broke Sri Lanka's resistance and gave India control of the game.
It put pressure on the remaining Sri Lankan _____.
India have tightened their _____ on the match.
Commentators believe India are now in a strong position to win the _____ on the final day.
A win here would give India an early advantage in the overall _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think fast scoring, like Pant's 66, can help a cricket team win?
- How can taking two wickets close together change the direction of a match?
- Why is the first match of a series often seen as important?
- What skills do you think a good bowler needs to perform a 'clinical display'?