Young India breach Lankan fort

Colombo, September 1

India broke a 22-year-old jinx with an emphatic 117-run win over Sri Lanka in the third and final Test on Tuesday, recording their first-ever series win on the Lankan soil. After setting hosts a daunting target of 386, India dismissed the opposition for 268 despite captain Angelo Mathews’ valiant century to wrap up the series 2-1, their first overseas series victory since June, 2011, against the West Indies.

The last time an Indian team won a series in Sri Lanka was back in 1993 under Mohammed Azharuddin’s leadership. Since 1993, India have toured Sri Lanka five times but could not win a series. Till now, India have won only three Test series after losing the first Test; it’s the first time the feat has been achieved on foreign soil. Also, it was Virat Kohli’s first series win as skipper.

On an absorbing final play, the visitors took two quick wickets in the morning session before Mathews (110) and debutant Kusal Perera (70) scripted a spirited fightback. The duo put on a resolute 135-run partnership for the sixth wicket, the second-highest stand in the fourth innings in Sri Lanka’s Test history. Roy Dias and Duleep Mendis hold the record for the highest fourth-innings partnership with a 214-run stand.

R Ashwin provided the vital breakthrough by breaking the sixth-wicket partnership by dismissing Perera. The second new ball, taken after tea break, turned the tide completely in India’s favour with Ishant getting rid of Mathews in the very first over.

Prior to that, there were some moments of disappointment for the hosts as two of their main batsmen got out to poor shots. Kaushal Silva (27) was the first to go, in the third over of the day. Yadav continued with his short-ball tactics, and got the batman to play a pull shot straight to the fielder at short mid-wicket. Lahiru Thirimanne (12) came to the crease, looking to make amends for a lean series. He started well and helped Lanka cross the 100-mark in the 36th over. His problems started when spinners were introduced. Facing Ashwin, Thirimanne looked to play against the turn, only to lob a leading edge straight to KL Rahul at silly point. This was the fourth time in six innings in the series that Ashwin dismissed the left-handed batsman.

Perera and Mathews then came together and raised hopes of Sri Lanka escaping with a draw. However, it didn’t take long for India to end their resistance once the new ball was taken. Amit Mishra took the last wicket of Nuwan Pradeep to bring about India’s moment of glory, triggering scenes of wild celebrations in the dressing room as the players hugged each other and picked up stumps as mementos.

Off-spinner R Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers with four for 69. Ishant Sharma scalped three for 32, Umesh Yadav chipped in with two for 65. —PTI