SL vs Ind 2nd Test, Day 4: India bundle out Sri Lanka for 386, seal series 2-0
Colombo: Team India bagged another Test series win on Sunday by beating Sri Lanka by an innings and 53 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match Test series. After enforcing the follow on after bundling the hosts for 183, the Sri Lankans came up with a gritty fight back in the third innings but failed to withstand the Indian spin attack.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis smacked thrilling tons, only to see them go in vain. Once they departed, partners at the other end began falling like nine pins that seen the Sri Lankan innings end at 386-10. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers among Virat Kohli’s men, claiming a 5-wicket haul.
During the first innings, the Men in Blue posted a gigantic 622-9 on board thanks to centuries from Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and half-centuries from KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha. Ashwin spun his magic on a spin friendly wicket, spearheading the Indian bowling with a five-wicket haul.
Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged the Man of the Match award for his five-wicket heroics in the second innings.
Virat Kohli’s men will now the play the final Test on 12th August before starting off with the 5 match ODI series and 1 T20.
Sri Lanka 386/9 from 15.1 overs
WICKET! Hardik Pandya gets the wicket of Niroshan Dickwella as India close in on innings win.
Sri Lanka 343/8 from 105.4 overs
WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja gets a five-wicket haul as he remoivesDhananjaya de Silva. It was Ajinkya Rahane in the slip who caught the catch.
Sri Lanka 321/7 from 100 overs
WICKET! Dilruwan Perera walks back as Ravindra Jadeja is at it again. Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha did a brilliant job as he missed no time in stumping the batsman. India is just three wickets away from clinching the match as well as the series.
Sri Lanka 315/6 from 97.3 overs
WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja strikes yet again as former captain Angelo Mathews departs. India on the brink of another win here.
Sri Lanka 310-5 from 96 overs, trail by 129 runs
WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja gets the wicket of dangerman Dimuth Karunaratne, and once again, Team India get the breakthrough.
Lunch break: Sri Lanka 302-4 (91 overs)
There were plenty of things to forget for Team India at lunch on Day 4, as they dropped a couple of sitters that could’ve put the hosts in more trouble. Apart from Pushpakumara’s heinous shot and Chandimal’s soft dismissal, things went very smooth for Sri Lanka. Dimuth Karunaratne scored a fine ton, while Angelo Matthews played a supportive role.
India skipper Virat Kohli’s main focus, for now, will be getting the two batters back to the pavilion, because at the rate they’re going, we may never know if the hosts could stretch it to Monday.
Sri Lanka 241/4 from 74 overs
WICKET! Captain Dinesh Chandimal departs after scoring just two runs. So, the Sri Lankan collapse begins as Team India are back in the game.
Sri Lanka 240/3 from 73 overs
WICKET!Malinda Pushpakumara departs for just 16 runs as he is bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin. Much-needed breakthrough for India.
Colombo: The Sri Lankan team displayed on Saturday what had been missing from them so far, as the hosts put up 209-2 at the end of Day 3 after Team India enforced a follow on. India, who had a rather tough time in the middle after dismantling Sri Lanka for 183 in the first innings, will look to put an end to the hosts’ fight on Day 4 of the second Test here on Sunday.
With opener, Upul Tharanga once again failing to be a mainstay presence on the pitch, Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne steered the hosts from what initially seemed like a one-sided contest following R Ashwin five-wicket helped Virat Kohli’s side secure a mammoth 439-run lead.
After a staggering century and adding almost 200 for the second wicket, Kusal Mendis was soon dismissed by Hardik Pandya before night watchman Malinda Pushpakumara made his way out to the middle. However, the pressure will be on Karunaratne to build on from his hard-fought unbeaten 92.
Though the pitch offered assistance to the spinners, the Sri Lankan batsmen have targeted their opponents well using the sweep shot as their arsenal. Also, the fact, that there is still some time for the new ball to be introduced will be a boost for the hosts. However, despite a gritty fight back it will be intriguing to see how the Sri Lankan team sticks through as they trail by 230 runs.
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