Nagpur: A ruthless India equalled their biggest victory margin, decimating a lacklustre Sri Lanka by an innings and 239 runs in the second cricket Test to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, here Monday.
The victory margin is identical to India’s Test win over Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2007 when Rahul Dravid was captain.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (4/63) completed a coveted personal milestone of fastest 300 Test wickets in 54 games was the wrecker-in-chief as Sri Lanka were bowled out for a paltry 166 in their second innings.
Ashwin, who had a match-haul of eight for 130, bowled Lahiru Gamage with a doosra to bring down curtains on one of the most lop-sided Test matches in recent times. The celebrations were very muted with teammates shaking hands with Ashwin before quietly walking off the field.
Skipper Dinesh Chandimal (61, 82b, 10×4) was the only Sri Lankan batsman to show some resistance as others never matched showed the gumption to stick it out in the middle. He was ninth out, flicking a Umesh Yadav half-volley down Ashwin’s throat at long-leg. The six other wickets were shared by Ravindra Jadeja (2/28), Umesh Yadav (2/30) and Ishant Sharma (2/43).
Indian skipper Virat Kohli said after the match that the team are looking forward to the South African tour. “We are preparing for that. The pitch here deteriorated after the second day, but the wicket at Kolkata was ideal preparations for South Africa.” The captain was also effusive in his praise for Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Dimuth Karunaratne (18) was the first to get out on the day when his flick hit the stomach of Murali Vijay standing at short-leg. The fielder showed amazing reflexes to cling on to the catch. Then Lahiru Thirimanne (23), played a rank bad shot to be caught at point at Jadeja.
Former captain Angelo Mathews (10) was expected to show some responsibility while batting alongside Chandimal but his choice of shot also left a lot to be desired. Having hit Jadeja for a six over long-on, he tried the same shot over long-off but failed to clear Rohit Sharma at mid-off. The rest then crumbled easily.
Press trust of India
