Colombo: Kumar Sangakkara’s farewell ended on solemn note, as Sri Lanka folded out for a paltry 134, chasing 413, handing out India a 278-run win. Consequently, India have leveled the series, with one Test to go at the SSC. More importantly, this was Virat Kohli’s first Test win as skipper.
Chasing down 413 was always impossible, but they could have at least shown some fight and saved the match. But that wasn’t to be, as Indian bowlers produced a no-frills show. The hosts struck the severest blow in the first ball of the day, when Umesh Yadav removed skipper Angelo Mathews, nicking to KL Rahul behind he wicket. Rahul, standing in for the injured Wriddhiman Saha, dived to his left to complete a superb catch, thus proving his multidimensional utility.
Like Yadav, leggie Amit Mishra too struck with his first ball, removing the dangerous Dinesh Chandimal, fooled by Mishra’s drift and bowled around the legs. Chandimal looked to sweep a full-length ball, but couldn’t get any connection whatsoever. Mishra’s celebrated like man possessed. By then, India had chopped the legs off their chase.
Hereon, it was just a matter of time before Sri Lanka folded out. With the addition of 15 more runs, they lost Lahiru Thirimanne, caught smartly by Cheteshwar Pujara at point off Ravichandran Ashwin, who masterminded the win with another five-wicket haul (5 for 42). As brilliant was the delivery, as Ashwin drifted it into him, tempted him out of the crease, before taking the leading edge to the silly point.
The perished Jehan Mubarak, again fishing outside the off-stump to an Ishant Sharma delivery that angled slightly away from him. Dhammika Prasad then went for a wild heave that he miscued to be caught at mid-on.
Despite the heap of wickets falling around him, only opener Dimuth Karunaratne offered resistance (46). Earlier, he disdained Mishra for a six over midwicket and drove gloriously. But he was undone by Ashwin’s slider, the one that skidded onto him and took his edge to the stumps. Mishra then came back to dismiss Tharindu Kaushal.
Indians would have hoped to complete their victory before lunch, only for the rain to delay the inevitable. But in the second over after resumption, Mishra trapped Dushmantha Chameera in front with a googly to signal India’s win. Mishra returned yet again with impressive figures of 3 for 29.