Brilliant Ravichandran Ashwin takes six wickets against Sri Lanka

New Delhi: Indian off-break bowler Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday took six wickets to reduce the Sri Lankan innings to 183 all out at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted the bat first in the first Test match of the three-match series. But, soon the visitors wrested the initiative by sending both the openers back inside the first ten over, with Ishant Shamra accounting for Dimuth Karunaratne's wicket, while Varun Araron getting the wicket of Kaushal Silva.

Then Indian skipper Virat Kolhi introduced his main spinner, Aswhin. The 28-year-old bowler only took three deliveries to claim the prized wicket of Kumar Sangakkara. Ashwin followed up his splendid opening over to take five more wickets. His bowling figure reads 13.4-2-46-6.

His figures of 6/46 are the best ever by any Indian spinner in the 1st innings of an away Test match. His bowling partner, Harbhajan Singh - who today failed to take a single wicket - had previously taken six wickets at the same venue, back in 2008.

Today's total of 183 all out is also the second lowest score in the 1st innings of a Test match between Sri Lanka and India.