India’s first innings win in Sri Lanka captures eighth consecutive series
The 304-run win in Galle was India’s best ever in Sri Lanka but they bettered it in the second Test by beating Sri Lanka by an innings and 53 runs on Sunday and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Sri Lanka, following on, delayed the win till Tea on Day 4 but eventually lost the game after being bowled out for 386. This was India’s eighth series on the trot and only Australia have a better record with nine consecutive series win from 2005 to 2008. Virat Kohli also became the first captain to win two Test series in Sri Lanka.
Ravindra Jadeja ran through the batting in the second session, picking up his ninth five-wicket haul in Test cricket and finishing the game at the stroke of Tea. The man-of-the-match had also picked up his 150th wicket in the first innings. But he was not the only star.
On a pitch that saw the ball bounce more than normal, turn square and deteriorated as the game progressed, Dimuth Karunaratne scored a splendid 141 in the second innings. After Kusal Mendis was dismissed after his century on day three, onus was on Karunaratne to keep the fight and he did exactly that.
The opener notched up his sixth Test century — fourth in second innings — established his reputation as one of the better batsmen in the second innings. His knock was similar to the 152 runs against New Zealand in 2014.
He would not have reached the three-figure had KL Rahul held on to a catch at short-leg early in the day. He was five short of the hundred at that moment.
No other batsmen should spine on day four as Sri Lanka lost wickets in a heap in the second session of the day. Sri Lanka resumed at 209 for 2 and were behind by 230 runs. They scored 93 runs and lost two wickets in the second session but Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews defied the Indian spinners in the first session.
When play resumed, Jadeja made the first break. A delivery shot up from the rough at the centre of the pitch and Karunaratne, having defied India and the pitch, offered only a dab. The ball bounced more than expected, hit his gloves and ballooned up behind the keeper where Ajinkya Rahane took an easy catch.
Jadeja had to wait 23 overs before picking up his first wicket. After Malinda Pushpakumara fell playing one of the strangest shots, Dinesh Chandimal followed. Jadeja got one to pitch and force him to drive. Rahane took a sharp catch at slips.
He continued the same through the second session by dismissing Mathews who tried to cut but extra bounce forced only an edge. Wriddhiman Saha grabbed that at his chest height. He was again in action when Dilruwan Perera ran down the pitch and completely missed it. Saha was super quick to remove the bails.
Dhananjaya de Silva became his fifth wicket when he was also caught at slips. The formalities were completed when Hardik Pandya took the wicket of Niroshan Dickwella and Ashwin picked up his second Nuwan Pradeep skied a ball and was caught at mid-on.
Courtesy : indianexpress
