India ended the Sri Lankan resistance to register a huge victory by an innings and 53 runs.
The islanders had showed some grit and fight after the meek capitulation in the first innings but a Ravindra Jadeja special ensured there would be no dramatic comeback as Virat Kohli’s men claimed the series after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
After an eventful day at the Sinhalese Sport Club ground in Colombo where India claimed their eight consecutive series victory, we look at the three key talking points of Sunday’s play.
Debutant Malinda Pushpakumara had come in as the night watchman at the fall of Kusal Mendis’ wicket late on Saturday. He showed a strong and astute defensive technique as he withstood everything the Indian bowlers threw at him.
After looking so assured for 57 deliveries, Pushpakumara threw it all away in a moment of madness against Ravichandran Ashwin. The right-hander telegraphed a premeditated reverse sweep only for the wily Ashwin to fire in a quicker and flatter delivery to uproot the debutant’s leg stump.
With Dimuth Karunaratne batting so well at the other end, Pushpakumara will not want to look at the replays of his timid dismissal.
WATCH: Malinda Pushpakumara gets roasted attempting most bizarre shot against Ravichandran Ashwinhttps://t.co/57sHTxThRZ pic.twitter.com/6ylTAvf7kk
— Zee News Sports (@ZeeNewsSports) August 6, 2017
The 29-year-old resisted the Indian attack with a Herculean effort in a way which would induce flashbacks to the Colombo Test in 2015 when Dinesh Chandimal’s heroics in the second innings enabled Sri Lanka to snatch victory from the jaws of an innings defeat.
The opener had stood tall from the very first delivery as he recorded his sixth Test century, which co-incidentally have all come in the second innings.
He was finally undone by a Jadeja delivery that sat up with venom from a good length. The right-hander could do nothing about it as the ball clipped his gloves to present Ajinkya Rahane with a simple catch at first slip.
It was a fabulous innings from Karunaratne which had changed the complexion of the game entirely. It seemed like India would canter to a mammoth victory after Sri Lanka’s first innings retort but for a while it looked like the opener would help the islanders pull off the greatest of escapes.
Karunaratne looks to the pitch after his dismissal
The number one ranked Test bowler in the world had a quiet Saturday as he went wicket-less. It looked to be another hard grind for the Indian bowlers on Sunday as Karunaratne continued his staunch resistance.
That Jadeja’s first wicket would come in the 74th over of the Sri Lankan innings is a testament to Sri Lanka’s resolve. By the end of the 106th over though, Jadeja had picked up his ninth five-for as he wrested the initiative back to India.
After snaring up the dangerous Chandimal as his first victim, the left-arm spinner went on to claim the prize wicket of Karunaratne before dismissing Angelo Matthews, Dilruwan Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva to lead India to a series win over the islanders.
After a frustrating day for the Indian bowlers yesterday, Jadeja’s late charge ended all Sri Lankan hopes and ensured that Kohli’s men did not need to bat again on a pitch which was misbehaving quite alarmingly as the game progressed.
Leading Wicket Taker In 2017,
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@RavindraJadeja_) August 6, 2017
70* With The Bat, Took 7 Wkts, Won The Man Of The Like A Boss. Sir Ravindra Jadeja. Sir For A Reason. #SLvIND… pic.twitter.com/qM9h1af6rl
