England win series in Lanka after 17 years

Kandy, November 18

Spin duo Moeen Ali and Jack Leach combined to end England’s 17-year wait for a Test series victory in Sri Lanka after bowling the tourists to a 57-run victory in the second Test.

Ali struck twice in three deliveries and Leach completed his maiden five-wicket haul as the tourists took a little over 30 minutes on the final morning to seal victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series. Sri Lanka resumed on 226/7, needing 75 to keep the series alive after their opening loss in Galle, but were all out for 243 as England completed their first away series win in Tests since beating South Africa at the beginning of 2016.

Sri Lanka’s hopes of squaring the series rested entirely on wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella, who was unbeaten on 27 overnight. The hosts managed to keep the England spinners at bay for 15 minutes while picking up singles to advance towards their target but Ali broke their resistance by dismissing Dickwella, who was caught at slip by Stokes for 35. The off-spinner then sent back Lakmal for a duck two deliveries later before Malinda Pushpakumara spooned a catch straight back to left-arm spinner Leach. — Reuters

Brief scores: England: 290 and 346; Sri Lanka: 336 and 243 (Mathews 88, Karunaratne 57; Leach 5/83, Moeen 4/72)