India completed a dominant 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle International Stadium on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. The visitors dismissed Sri Lanka for 206 on Day 5 while defending a target of 372 runs. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

The result was also a major boost for India in the World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign. India moved up to fifth place in the WTC standings after the win.

Sri Lanka Started Day 5 at 84/4

Sri Lanka began the fifth and final day at 84 for 4, needing another 288 runs to complete a record chase of 372. India needed only six wickets to win the Test.

The home team had some hope at the start of the day as captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha continued their fifth-wicket partnership. The pair played with patience and managed to put pressure on the Indian bowlers.

However, India remained in control because the Galle pitch was becoming increasingly difficult for batting.

Dhananjaya and Dinusha Fight Back

Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha produced Sri Lanka’s strongest resistance of the innings. Their partnership crossed 90 runs and temporarily gave the hosts hope of extending the match.

Dhananjaya completed a fighting half-century and eventually scored 59 runs from 151 balls. Dinusha also reached his fifty and continued to attack when opportunities appeared.

The partnership was eventually broken when Dhananjaya was dismissed. His wicket changed the momentum of the match and brought India closer to victory.

Manav Suthar Becomes India’s Match-Winner

The biggest star of India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test was left-arm spinner Manav Suthar. After taking four wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings, Suthar returned with a brilliant six-wicket haul in the second innings.

His spell proved decisive on the final day. Suthar took four wickets in just 10 balls during a crucial period and quickly ended Sri Lanka’s resistance.

Suthar finished the match with 10 wickets, recording his maiden ten-wicket haul in Test cricket. His performance played a central role in India’s comprehensive victory.

Sonal Dinusha Scores 84

Despite the pressure, Sonal Dinusha produced an impressive innings for Sri Lanka. He scored 84 runs from 128 balls, including eight fours and a six.

Dinusha’s innings was the highest individual score for Sri Lanka in their second innings. However, his effort was not enough to take the hosts close to the target.

Once the lower order came to the crease, India’s bowlers quickly finished the job.

Sri Lanka Bowled Out for 206

Sri Lanka reached 200 during their chase but lost their remaining wickets soon after. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 206 in 77.4 overs.

India therefore won the first Test by 165 runs and secured a valuable 1-0 advantage in the two-match series.

The victory also came shortly before rain arrived in Galle, making India’s timely finish even more important.

India’s victory was set up by a huge first-innings total. The visitors scored 462 runs, with Devdutt Padikkal playing a major role with a superb 167.

Padikkal’s innings was his maiden Test century and helped India establish a strong position. KL Rahul also contributed with an important 82, while India’s middle and lower order added valuable runs.

Sri Lanka responded with 284 in their first innings, giving India a significant advantage.

India’s second innings was shorter, with the visitors scoring 193. Rishabh Pant provided another attacking contribution and helped India set Sri Lanka a challenging target of 372.

Pant’s aggressive batting was one of the highlights of the match. He also reached a major milestone by becoming the first Indian batter and the fastest player overall to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.

Bangladesh created history in Darwin on Sunday by defeating Australia by nine wickets in the first Test of the two-match series. The victory is Bangladesh’s first-ever Test win on Australian soil and one of the biggest achievements in the country’s Test cricket history.

The Bangladesh vs Australia Test ended inside four days after the visitors chased down a small target of 57 runs. Mominul Haque hit the winning boundary as Bangladesh completed a memorable victory with nine wickets in hand. The result also gives Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Australia Struggle in First Innings

Australia won the toss and faced early trouble with the bat. The hosts were bowled out for only 198 runs in their first innings.

Bangladesh’s bowling attack was led by Hasan Mahmud, who produced an outstanding spell. The fast bowler took six wickets in the innings and put Australia under constant pressure.

Bangladesh then produced an excellent response with the bat. Opener Tanzid Hasan scored a brilliant century and helped his team build a strong first-innings total of 426 runs. Bangladesh finished with a massive 228-run lead.

Cameron Green Fights Back for Australia

Australia needed a much stronger second innings to stay alive in the match. Cameron Green provided the resistance the home team needed.

Green scored a fighting 104 runs, his third Test century, and helped Australia recover from a difficult position. His innings gave Australia hope of setting Bangladesh a challenging target.

However, Bangladesh continued to attack with the ball. Australia eventually lost all 10 wickets for 284 runs, leaving Bangladesh with only 57 runs to win the Test.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz Makes a Big Impact

All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was another major contributor to Bangladesh’s historic victory. He scored 65 runs in Bangladesh’s first innings before producing an important performance with the ball.

Miraz took five wickets in Australia’s second innings, becoming the first Bangladesh spinner to take a five-wicket haul in a Test in Australia. His all-round performance played an important role in putting Bangladesh in a winning position.

Hasan Mahmud was also outstanding throughout the match. He finished with nine wickets overall and was named Player of the Match for his match-winning bowling performance.

Bangladesh Chase 57 Runs

With only 57 runs required for victory, Bangladesh began their final innings with confidence. Tanzid Hasan was dismissed without scoring, but the early setback did not change the result.

Bangladesh quickly moved towards the target and completed the chase in just 14.2 overs, losing only one wicket. Mominul Haque hit the winning boundary to seal the nine-wicket victory.

Historic Victory for Bangladesh Cricket

The Bangladesh vs Australia Test result is significant because Bangladesh had never previously won a Test match in Australia. The teams had not played a Test series in Australia for more than two decades before this tour. Cricket Australia had scheduled the 2026 series with Tests in Darwin and Mackay.

The victory also comes after Bangladesh’s strong performances against Australia in limited-overs cricket earlier this year. Their confidence and improved bowling attack were visible throughout the Darwin Test.

Australia Face Questions After Defeat

The defeat will raise questions about Australia’s batting performance and preparation. Captain Pat Cummins admitted that the match was effectively lost because of Australia’s poor batting and inability to put Bangladesh under enough pressure early in the game.

Australia will now look to bounce back in the second Test at Mackay. The second match is scheduled for August 22-26, giving the home side an opportunity to level the series.

With this victory, Argentina moved one step closer to winning another World Cup title. The team showed great teamwork, confidence, and determination against a strong England side.

Argentina Make Another World Cup Final

Argentina entered the semifinal with high confidence after a series of impressive performances throughout the tournament. England also came into the match in excellent form, making this one of the most exciting games of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The match lived up to expectations as both teams attacked from the first whistle. Argentina controlled possession well and created several scoring opportunities. England also looked dangerous on counter-attacks but struggled to break Argentina’s strong defense.

Argentina finally secured a 2-1 victory, earning a well-deserved place in the World Cup final.

Key Moments of the Match

The first half was played at a fast pace, with both teams creating chances. Argentina took the lead after a well-worked attacking move that finished with a clinical goal.

England responded with more attacking pressure and managed to score an equalizer, bringing the match back to level terms.

However, Argentina remained calm and continued attacking. Their persistence paid off when they scored the winning goal in the second half. After taking the lead again, Argentina defended brilliantly and prevented England from finding another equalizer.

The final whistle confirmed Argentina’s place in the FIFA World Cup final.

Messi Leads by Example

Lionel Messi once again played an important role for Argentina. Although football is a team game, Messi’s experience, vision, and leadership inspired his teammates throughout the match.

His calm presence helped Argentina stay composed during difficult moments. He created chances, controlled the tempo of the game, and showed why he remains one of the greatest footballers in history.

Fans around the world praised Messi for another memorable World Cup performance.

England’s Brave Fight Ends

England gave everything in the semifinal and never stopped fighting. Their players showed great energy and created several good chances throughout the game.

Despite the defeat, England can be proud of reaching the last four of the tournament. The team displayed quality football during the FIFA World Cup 2026 and proved they are among the strongest teams in international football.

England will now prepare for the third-place playoff and aim to finish the tournament on a positive note.

Argentina’s Road to the Final

Argentina’s journey to the final has been full of exciting victories. The team has impressed fans with strong defending, quick passing, and clinical finishing.

Throughout the tournament, Argentina have shown excellent teamwork and mental strength. Every player has contributed, making them one of the most balanced teams in the competition.

Their consistent performances have earned them another chance to fight for football’s biggest trophy.

Final Showdown Awaits

Argentina will now face Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final. Both teams have played outstanding football during the tournament and deserve their place in the championship match.

Football fans around the world are eagerly waiting for this exciting final. Argentina will hope to lift the famous World Cup trophy once again, while Spain will be aiming to become world champions.

The final promises high-quality football, intense competition, and unforgettable moments.

Fans Celebrate Historic Victory

Argentina’s victory sparked celebrations among supporters across the world. Fans filled the streets wearing the famous sky-blue and white colors, waving flags and singing in celebration.

Social media was flooded with congratulatory messages as football lovers praised Argentina’s performance and Messi’s leadership.

The excitement has now shifted to the World Cup final, where millions of fans will watch Argentina compete for another historic title.

In the first inning, Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma opened for UPW, and both played the inning very well. Meg Lanning scored 41 runs in 30 balls, and Deepti scored 55 runs in 43 balls, but after them, the whole batting lineup faced a major collapse and scored just 143 runs at the cost of 8 wickets.

For RCB, Lauren Bell, Shreyanka Patil, Nadine De Klerk, and Grace Herris took all the wickets.

In the second inning, Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana opened for RCB and gave a winning start to RCB, where Grace Harris scored 75 runs in 37 balls, and Smriti Mandhana scored 54 runs in 27 balls. Georgia Voll contributed 16 runs, and RCB chased the total in 13.1 overs.
For the UP Warriors, Shikha Pandey and Asha Shobana took wickets.

Grace Harris won Player of the Match because of her match-winning performance with bat and bowl, where she scored 75 runs in 37 balls and took 2 wickets by giving 22 runs in 3 overs.

Mitchell Santner made 27 runs in 17 balls, but the rest of the batting lineup collapsed, and in total, New Zealand scored 153 runs in 20 overs at a loss of 9 wickets.
For India, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Ravi Bishnoi took wickets.

In the second inning, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opened for India, but Sanju lost his wicket on the very 1st ball. After him, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma smashed some fiery runs, scoring 28 runs in 13 balls and 68 in just 20 balls, respectively. Surya scored 57 runs in 26 balls. India’s powerful batting finished the match in 10 overs only.

For New Zealand, Matt Henry and Ish Sodhi took wickets.

Jasprit Bumrah became the player of the match because of his amazing performance with the ball. He took 3 wickets in 4 overs, giving 17 runs.

In the first inning, Beth Mooney and Danni Wyatt Hodge opened for Gujarat, but Danni lost a wicket very early. Beth Mooney scored 38 runs in 34 balls, but the batting lineup of GG failed to contribute anything to the total. However, except for Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine stood and played an important inning of 50 runs in 42 balls, smashing 2 fours and 3 sixes with a strike rate of 119.50. GG scored 153 runs for 8 wickets. For UP Warriors, Kranti Gaud, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, and Chloe Tryon took wickets.

In the second inning, Meg Lanning and Kiran Navgire opened for UP, but its whole batting lineup faced a big collapse, except Phoebe Litchfield and Chloe Tryan. Phoebe Litchfield scored 32 runs in 27 balls, and Chloe Tryan scored 30 runs in 22 balls. For Gujarat, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kashvee Gautam, Sophie Devine, Ashleigh Gardner, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad took wickets and stopped UP at the score of 108 runs in 17.3 overs.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad won the player of the match award because of her spell with the ball; she took 3 wickets in 4 overs and gave 16 runs.

Abhishek Sharma played a fiery inning of 84 runs in 35 balls, smashing 5 fours and 8 sixes, and Surya Kumar Yadav scored 32 runs in 22 balls. After them, Hardik Pandya smashed some classy shots and scored 25 runs in 16 balls. Rinku Singh justified his comeback by scoring 44 runs in 20 balls for India, smashing 4 fours and 3 sixes. India made a tough total of 238 runs for 7 wickets.
For New Zealand, Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jaminson, Kris Clarke, Ish Sodhi, and Mitchell Santner took wickets against India.

In the second innings, Devon Conway and Tim Robinson opened for New Zealand, but Devon Conway lost at 0, and Tim Robinson contributed 21 runs in 15 balls, while Rachin Ravindra also lost his wicket at 1.

After this, Glenn Phillips played an important inning for New Zealand and scored 78 runs in 40 balls, smashing 4 fours and 6 sixes. Mark Chapman and Daryll Mitchell scored 39 runs in 24 balls and 28 runs in 18 balls, respectively. Mitchel Santner scored 20 runs in 13 balls, but because of the collapse in the top order, Indian bowlers stopped New Zealand at 190 runs.

For India, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh took wickets against New Zealand and helped India to win by 48 runs.

Abhishek Sharma won the player of the match award for his amazing performance, scoring 84 runs in 35 balls.

 For Delhi, Marizane Kapp, Nandini Sharma, and Nallapureddy Charani took all the important wickets. And at the end of the inning, Mumbai made 154 runs on the loss of 5 wickets.
In the second inning, Shefali Verma and Lizelle Lee opened for the Delhi Capitals and gave a good start to Delhi. Shefali scored 29 runs in 24 balls, and Lizelle Lee scored 46 runs in 28 balls.  Laura Walvaardt lost her wicket early, but captain Jemimah Rodrigues played an impressive inning by scoring 51 runs in 37 balls with a strike rate of 137.84. Marizanne Kapp scored the winning runs for Delhi by hitting 10 runs in 6 balls. 

Delhi completed the match in 19 overs and won the match by 7 wickets. For Mumbai, Amanjot Kaur and Vaishnavi Sharma took one wicket.

Jemimah Rodrigues won the player of the match because of her amazing performance with the bat, scoring 51 runs in 37 balls.

Maddinson and Warner both scored runs. Warner scored 110 runs. Sam Curran delivered the final over. He took 3 wickets. Jack Edwards was the most expensive bowler. Sydney Thunder scored 189 runs. 

Babar Azam hit a four on the first ball. Babar Azam and Steven Smith looked in good touch. Both the batters scored 64 runs in the powerplay. In the 11th over, Babaz Azam played 3 dots, and on the last ball, Steven Smith denied the single. Steve Smith wants to maximise the next over, but Babar Azam was not happy with that decision. Steven Smith scored 32 runs in the next over. Babaz Azam got bowled in the 13th over, first ball. He throw bat at the boundary pad in anger. Josh Philippe also got out in the same over. Smith got stumped in the Tanveer Sangha’s over. Smith scored a century. 

Wicket in the back-to-back overs. Jack Edwards finished the match with a six. Ryan Hadley, Wes Agar, and McAndrew gave most of the runs. Chris Green bowled the economical overs.

In the 1st inning, Samriti Mandhana and Grace Heris opened the inning, but both of the openers lost their wickets very early. After them, Dayalen Hemlatha and Gautami Naik also lost their wickets without much contribution, but after them, Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh played the most important innings for the RCB, in which Radha Yadav scored 66 runs in 47 balls, and Richa Ghosh scored 44 runs in 22 balls. Nadine de Klerk also scored a flashy 26 runs in 12 balls, which helped RCB to close the total on 182 runs for 7 wickets. For Gujarat Giants, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kashvee Gautam, Georgia Wareham, and Sophie Divine shared all the wickets against RCB.

In the 2nd inning, Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine opened the inning for Gujarat Giants, but Sophie lost her wicket on 8 runs, and Beth Mooney scored 27 runs. After their wickets, all the players lost their wickets without much contribution, except for Bharti Fulmali. She only scored 30+ runs in the team’s batting lineup. Bharti Fulmali scored 39 runs in 20 balls. For RCB, Lauren Bell, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhita Reddy, and Nadine de Klerk took all the wickets. Shreyanka Patil took 5 wickets for RCB, Lauren Bell took 3 wickets, and the team stopped Gujarat at 150 runs. By which RCB won the match by 32 runs against the Gujarat Giants.

Radha Yadav won the player of the match award because of her outstanding performance with bat and ball. With the bat, she played a crucial inning, scoring 66 runs off 47 balls, and with the ball, she bowled 2 overs, conceding only 9 runs.