India Win 3rd Test, Clinch Series in Sri Lanka after 22 Years

The young Team India led by Virat Kohli achieved a milestone, as they won a Test series in Sri Lanka after a long gap of 22 years. They beat Sri Lanka by 117 runs in the 3rd and final Test in Colombo to clinch the series 2-1. The last series win for India in Sri Lanka came in 1993-94. India had won the three-match series 1-0. This is also India’s first overseas Test series win since West Indies 2011.

Sri Lanka, resuming from the overnight score of 67/3, lost two wickets to slump to 107/5. However, skipper Angelo Mathews and debutant Kushal Perera batted sensibly and thwarted every Indian attempt and even threatened to win this game. They added 135 runs for the 6th wicket.

Ashwin struck at the right time before Tea by claiming Perera. And, Ishant Sharma struck with the new ball to remove dangerous Angelo Mathews, who scored his 7th Test hundred. He made 110. That was all over and Sri Lanka bowled out for 268 to lose this match by 117 runs. Perera scored 55 and 70 on debut – only 2nd Sri Lankan to score fifties on debut.

For India, Ashwin took four wickets, while Ishant Sharma took three. Umesh Yadav took two wickets. Sri Lanka had registered a dramatic 68-run victory over India in the first Test, while India bounced back to win the 2nd Test by 278 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara was declared ‘Man of the Match’ for his 145*. R Ashwin was declared ‘Man of the Series’ for taking 21 wickets and contributing with the bat.

Scores:

India 312 (Pujara 145*, Rohit 26, Naman Ojha 21, Amit Mishra 59; Dhammika 4/100, Herath 3/84) & 274 (Kohli 21, Rohit 50, Binny 49, Ojha 35, Amit Mishra 39, Ashwin 58; Dhammika 4/69, Pradeep 4/62).

Sri Lanka 201 (Chandimal 23, Kushal Perera 55, Dhammika 27, Herath 49; Ishant Sharma 5/54, Binny 2/24, Amit Mishra 2/25) & 268 (Kaushal Silva 27, Angelo Mathews 110, Kusal Perera 70; Ishant Sharma 3/32, Umesh Yadav 2/65, Ashwin 24/69).