INDIA cruised to a comprehensive win in Bengaluru outplaying Sri Lanka for a 238-run victory to win the pink-ball Test and seal the series 2-0. Sri Lanka showed some fight in the second innings, but it was nowhere a match for the mighty hosts who have now pocketed another 12 points for the World Test Championship after bowling out the opponents for 208, with 24 points in the series.
This was the first time in the series that Sri Lanka had got to a total of over 200. That was largely on the back of skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who put on a stoic resistance with the bat for a splendid century.
Karunaratne was positive and aggressive in his approach. He kept his temperament and composure despite wickets falling at the other end regularly. After the first hour of the third day’s play on Monday, India struck back with quick wickets ending the 97-run stand between Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis, who had got to his fifty. However, thereafter, it was only a matter of how long Sri Lanka would be able to resist India’s bowlers with Karunaratne left with the bowlers for company.
Ashwin bowled a great spell where he was able to extract some turn and drift returning four wickets for the innings. Jasprit Bumrah, who got a five-wicket haul in the first innings, ended Karunaratne’s stay for 107 after which three wickets in three overs ended the Test within 8 sessions. Bumrah finished with 8 wickets in the Test.
Sri Lanka made a positive start on Day 3, putting up a display of aggressive play, much in contrast to what was seen all series. The overnight pair of Mendis and Karunaratne played their shots and were aggressive against India’s spinners. Although, India struck back with quick wickets forcing Sri Lanka to 151 for four at Tea, despite 123 runs coming in the opening session.
Runs were steadily flowing, at almost five an over, as Mendis went on to score a fifty. He failed as an opener in the first innings, but at number three he played a handy knock with Karunaratne.
Mendis, though, fell soon after reaching the milestone, stumped by Rishabh Pant off Ashwin. India struck back quickly to get rid of Angelo Mathews, who was cleaned up by Ravindra Jadeja.
The quick wickets undid all the good work from the second-wicket pair, but Karunaratne continued to lead the fight.
Ashwin bowled quicker to Karunaratne without much flight, but the skipper did well to hang in there, batting with control and measure to keep India at bay. Ashwin then struck back ending Dhananjaya de Silva’s uncomfortable stay in the middle to go past Dale Steyn’s tally of Test victims. (Cricbuzz)
INDIA 1st innings 252.
Sri Lanka 1st innings 109
India 2nd innings 303/ 9 d
SRI LANKA 2nd innings o/n 28-1
Lahiru Thirimanne lbw Jasprit Bumrah 0
Dimuth Karunaratne b Jasprit Bumrah 107
Kusal Mendis st Rishabh Pant b Ravichandran Ashwin 54
Angelo Mathews b Ravindra Jadeja 1
Dhananjaya de Silva c Hanuma Vihari b Ravichandran Ashwin 4
Niroshan Dickwella st Rishabh Pant b Axar Patel 12
Charith Asalanka c Rohit Sharma b Axar Patel 5
Lasith Embuldeniya lbw Ravichandran Ashwin 2
Suranga Lakmal b Jasprit Bumrah 1
Vishwa Fernando c Mohammed Shami b Ravichandran Ashwin 2
Praveen Jayawickrama Not Out 0
Extras 16b 3lb 1nb 0pen 0w 20
Total (59.3 overs) 208 all out
Fall of Wickets : 1-0 Thirimanne, 2-97 Mendis, 3-98 Mathews, 4-105 de Silva, 5-160 Dickwella, 6-180 Asalanka, 7-204 Karunaratne, 8-206 Embuldeniya, 9-208 Lakmal, 10-208 Fernando
Bowling: Jasprit Bumrah 9 – 4 – 23 – 3, Mohammed Shami 6 – 0 – 26 – 0, Ravichandran Ashwin 19.3 3 – 55 – 4,- Ravindra Jadeja 14 – 2 – 48 – 1 ( 1nb),Axar Patel 11 – 1 – 37 – 2.
