JOIN USClean sweep for Indians
A few minutes into the extended second session, India wrapped up the proceedings to script a historic 3-0 series triumph against Sri Lanka.
While there was little doubt about India’s win, the only point of interest left in the match was how long Sri Lanka would delay the inevitable. After an abject surrender in the first innings, which saw the hosts fold up for a pitiable 135 in reply to India’s first innings total of 487 all out, Lanka fared marginally better with current and former skipper duo of Dinesh Chandimal (36) and Angelo Mathews (35) putting up a token resistance and Niroshan Dickwella compiling an aggressive 41. But these efforts fell woefully short in the face of the stiff target they were up against.
Needing to score 333 more runs to make India bat again, Lanka, overnight 19/1 after following on, were all out for 181 in 74.3 overs, handing Virat Kohli and company an innings and 171-run win on the middle day of the third Test here at the Pallakele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
India thus swept the series 3-0 after their 304-run win in Galle in the opening Test and the innings and 53-run drubbing of Lanka at SSC, Colombo in the second Test. In all, India needed just about 10 and half days of action out of the possible 15 days to clinch the series.
Kuldeep Yadav, who had scalped four in the Lanka’s first innings endured a relatively quiet Monday, even as Mohammad Shami (3/32) and R Ashwin (4/68) shared major spoils with some intense, intelligent bowling. Ashwin set the tone for the day’s proceedings by foxing Dimuth Karunaratne in his first over of the day. A classic off-spinner’s delivery that landed on middle and off, bounced and turned before brushing Karunaratne’s glove and shoulder of the bat to Ajinkya Rahane at slip.
Ashwin was in his elements right from his first over and continued in the same manner through the day, tossing and turning, teasing and tormenting the batsmen with his drifters, skidders and wrong ones. While he started the day with an off-break that gobbled up Karunaratne, the Chennai bowler finished the day with a carrom ball that crashed into the off-stump of last man Lahiru Kumara.
In between, Shami had the Lankan batsmen in all sorts of trouble with his pace and perfect seam position. He worked up good speed and darted the ball around just enough to plant doubts in the batsmen’s mind. His three wickets weren’t a true reflection of the quality of the bowling he produced on the day. The right-arm quick ended the resistance of night watchman Malinda Pushpakumara by testing him on the corridor and trapped a shuffling Kusal Mendis in front with a fastish one. With three wickets in less than five overs into the day’s play, the match appeared headed for a lunch-finish before Chandimal and Mathews prolonged the innings.
The two most experienced batsmen in the Lankan side took the innings into the lunch break without further damage and with a promise of a better fightback. Upon resumption, however, it was the same old story.
Kuldeep ended the stubborn stand of 65 when Chandimal tried to work the chinaman bowler on the leg only to play the ball straight into the hands of Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg. Mathews was the next to go, sweeping an Ashwin delivery and missing the line to be rapped on his pads. He reviewed the lbw verdict but the replays returned with umpire’s call.
The off-spinner then had Dilruwan Perera while Shami was too good for Lakshan Sandakan.
Even as Ashwin and Shami were striking in tandem, Umesh Yadav got into the act. Having prised out Upul Tharanga the previous evening, the right-arm pacer cut short Dickwella’s aggressive stay, hastening the end. With nine down, the second session was extended by half an hour but India needed no more than five minutes to put an end to Lanka’s misery.
DH News Service