After escape in opening Test at Kolkata, visitors slump to a massive innings defeat inside four days in Nagpur
India trounced Sri Lanka by an innings and 239 runs, their joint highest and Sri Lanka's worst to take an unassailable lead in the three-match Test series here at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium yesterday. While Virat Kohli was adjudged man of the match for his fifth double century (213), the top performer with the ball was R Ashwin. He bagged eight wickets in the match, thereby also becoming the fastest to 300 Test wickets, surpassing Dennis Lillee, who did it in 56 Tests; two more than the off-spinner.
India captain Virat Kohli gesticulates during Day Four of the Nagpur Test against Sri Lanka at the Vidarbha CA Stadium yesterday. Pic/PTI
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Umesh waits for landmark
That also meant that fast bowler Umesh Yadav will have to wait for his 100th Test scalp. The two bowlers were bowling in tandem when India were just one wicket away from sealing the win, but it was Ashwin who cleaned up Lahiru Gamage with a carrom-ball to reach the milestone. Earlier, Sri Lanka were trailing by 384 at the start of the day, but wickets fell in a heap once India got the first breakthrough. It was Ravindra Jadeja who provided that, except Murali Vijay, who hung on to a sharp chance at short-leg was equally responsible. The batsman, Dimuth Karunaratne (18), may have considered himself slightly unlucky, given that the ball had almost come off the face of his bat, as he tried to work Jadeja for a single to the on-side. However, there was nothing unfortunate about the dismissals that followed. Lahiru Thirimanne, who had hitherto looked in control, sliced a wide, full ball from Umesh to backward point for a 62-ball 23. Mathews was the next man out as he tried to loft Jadeja down the ground, but only succeeded in spooning a catch to mid-off for 10. The shot selection got progressively worse, giving the impression that Sri Lanka were trying to set a target rather than save a Test match.
Lone ranger
Like the first innings, the only batsman to show a semblance of resistance was captain Dinesh Chandimal, who scored 61. Head coach Nic Pothas was scathingly critical of his batsmen, in light of a third dramatic collapse - 9 for 145 - in as many innings, after the seven for 75 in Kolkata and six for 45 in the first innings here. "It's hugely disappointing. It's disappointing for the amount of work that goes in behind the scenes and to put in a performance like that is embarrassing, the players should be embarrassed in their own performances," said Pothas.
32 This year's international wins are the most by India in 1 year
7 The number of Test matches lost by Sri Lanka this year
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