Press Trust of India
Colombo, August 24: Ravi Ashwin (5/42) produced another magical spell of off-spin bowling as India notched up a series-levelling 278-run victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the P Sara Oval here Monday.
Set a daunting target of 413, the islanders caved in rather tamely for 134 in 43.4 overs shortly after lunch break.
This was Virat Kohli’s first Test win as captain with almost two full sessions to spare.
Nobody expected the game to end so quickly as Sri Lanka lost seven wickets for 58 runs at lunch break, which was taken early owing to a rain interruption.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra trapped last man standing Dushmantha Chameera (4) to seal the issue triggering off scenes of celebration in the Indian dressing room.
Apart from Ashwin’s mesmerising bowling effort, the pace duo of Ishant Sharma (1/41) and Umesh Yadav (1/18) were right on the money.
For the home team, opener Dimuth Karunaratne provided a semblance of resistance with a gritty 46 (103b, 6×4).
Sri Lanka’s day got off to the worst start possible as they lost a wicket off the first ball of the morning. Skipper Angelo Mathews (23) was caught behind off Yadav in the 22nd over and almost immediately the slide began for the hosts.
The spinners got into their act soon after. Mishra first bowled Dinesh Chandimal (15) with a wonder-ball around his legs in the 28th over.
The hosts somehow managed to cross the 100-mark in the 30th over and were placed at 106 for four after the first hour’s play.
The collapse came thereafter as Ashwin started getting great purchase from the pitch. He struck off the sixth ball after the mini-break, removing Lahiru Thirimanne (11).
In the very next over Ishant dismissed Jehan Mubarak (0). After which Dhammika Prasad (0) stepped out of the crease and mishit one high off Ashwin, holing out to Mishra at midwicket.
Two overs later, Ashwin had his second five-wicket haul of this series when he bowled Karunaratne.
With 14 minutes to go for lunch, Mishra removed Tharindu Kaushal (5), trapping him leg before. But thereafter a sudden rain shower stopped play, forcing the umpires to call for an early lunch.
Stats
Ravi Ashwin, with 17 wickets at 16.35 runs apiece in two Tests, has established an Indian record for most wickets in a Test series in Sri Lanka.
Ashwin’s bowling figures of 5 for 42 is the best by an Indian bowler vs Sri Lanka at P.Sara Oval.
