 | « Back to article | Print this article |
India spoiled Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara's farewell after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowed the visitors to a series-levelling 278-run victory in the second Test on Monday.
Ashwin (5-42) and his spin colleague Amit Mishra (3-29) ran through the Sri Lankan batting order as the hosts, chasing 413 for an improbable victory, collapsed to 134 all out in the second innings.
Resuming on 72-2, Sri Lanka lost skipper Angelo Mathews to the first ball of the day, a setback that completely unhinged them and they collapsed soon after to give Virat Kohli his first Test victory as India captain.
"A commendable effort by the boys, coming together nicely after that kind of loss (at Galle), regrouping very quickly and putting a performance like this," Kohli said after the victory.
"We were pumped up to get wickets and we got a perfect start. From there on, the bowlers realised it's time to squeeze in now and build up some really good pressure," he added.
Sri Lanka's day begun in the worst possible fashion when India paceman Umesh Yadav struck with the first ball of the morning, which Mathews (23) edged for stand-in wicketkeeper Lokesh Rahul to take a diving, one-handed catch.
Rahul was keeping in place of regular India stumper Wriddhiman Saha, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the series with a hamstring injury.
Mishra dealt the next blow, pulling off a classical leg-spinner's dismissal by bowling Dinesh Chandimal around his legs.
Ashwin and Mishra maintained relentless pressure on the hosts to reduce them to 130-9 when rain brought a premature lunch, but the relief proved short-lived as the hosts folded soon after the break.
"We did not play our best cricket," Mathews rued at the presentation ceremony.
"More disappointing is we could not do it for Sanga, who deserved to leave the field with a high and a win. We promise him we will play our best in the next game and win it for him."
Rahul, who scored a century in the first innings, was adjudged man of the match.
Ashwin was equally impressive. With 17 wickets from the first two Tests he is likely to trouble Sri Lanka again in the third and final Test, in Colombo, starting Friday.
Sangakkara, who scored 32 and 18 in his 134th and final Test, was given a rousing send-off, with the Indians shaking hands with him and the former captain being hoisted by his teammates for a round of the stadium as the crowd gave a standing ovation.
