Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne led Sri Lanka’s stubborn fightback on the third day before Ravichandran Ashwin ensured India’s big win in the Bengaluru Test. Ashwin picked up four in the second innings to help India record a 238-run win in the pink-ball game as Rohit Sharma started his journey as Test skipper with a 2-0 series sweep over the islanders.
Left-handed Karunaratne made a second-wicket stand of 97 before Ravichandran Ashwin broke through for the stumping of overnight partner Kusal Mendis, who recorded his 12th Test half-century. Ashwin then sent back Dhananjaya de Silva for four and his third prey was Embuldeniya, who got trapped on a delivery that was crashing in front of the middle and leg. Ashwin sealed the win by removing Vishwa Fernando on 2 in the second session. With the win, India have bagged 12 points in the World Test Championship (WTC) table and take the fourth spot in the table.Jasprit Bumrah also castled Suranga Lakmal, who was playing the last match of his international career, to help India inch closer to the victory. He was also the first bowler to strike in Sri Lanka’s second innings on Sunday, denting their total to 28 for one in the floodlights.
“I would have been more happy if we had won,” Karunaratne, who waged a lone battle and raised his 12th Test century with a boundary off Bumrah.Ravindra Jadeja also made his presence felt by removing Angelo Mathews for one. Karuranaratne’s resistance with the willow was the lone bright spot for Sri Lanka, who ended their India assignment without a single victory.
Earlier, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant hit crucial half-centuries to guide India to 303 for nine before skipper Rohit Sharma declared the innings on Day 2. Pant again dished out an entertaining knock to become the fastest Indian batter to score a Test fifty.
