India made amends for the Colombo debacle by trouncing Sri Lanka by 170 runs within four days to level the three-match Test series 1-1 on Sunday.
Scorecard
After setting Sri Lanka a target of 307, Harbhajan Singh (4/51) and Ishant Sharma (3/20) bundled out the home team for a paltry 136 on a dramatic fourth day’s play which saw as many as 16 wickets fall.
It was a remarkable comeback by the Indians who were beaten comprehensively by an innings and 239 runs in the first Test in Colombo. The teams now return to Colombo for the series decider beginning on August 8.
For Sri Lanka, Thilan Samaraweera (67 not out) stood tall amid ruins but apart from Tillakratne Dilshan (38), none of the Sri Lankan batsmen could offer any resistance.
India earlier could add only 69 runs to their overnight score of 200 for four before they collapsed, their last five wickets falling for just 14 runs in the second essay.
For the hosts, Ajantha Mendis finished with four wickets in the second innings to complete his first match haul of 10 wickets.
After setting the hosts a victory target of 307 runs, India’s pace duo of Ishant and Zaheer Khan mowed down the Lankan top order as the pitch in the Galle International Stadium suddenly sprang to life.
In fact, by the time Sri Lanka’s score reached double digit in the fourth over, the hosts were without in-form Malinda Warnapura (0), dependable Kumar Sangakkara (5) and batting mainstay and captain Mahela Jayawardene (5).
Both Ishant and Zaheer struck the perfect line and length to make life difficult for the Lankans. Ishant induced an edge from Warnapura with his third delivery and in the next over, Zaheer scalped Sangakkara with a leg-cutter as VVS Laxman took his second catch in the slips.
Jayawardene’s stay too was cut short as he cut an Ishant delivery straight to Rahul Dravid at point and Sri Lanka found themselves in a hole as they went into lunch at 24 for three.
On resumption, Harbhajan trapped Michael Vandort (10) but Thilan Samaraweera (67) and Tillakratne Dilshan (38) then decided to bail Sri Lanka out of the rut.
Despite the pressure, the duo were in positive frame of mind as they remained cautious but did not err in punishing loose deliveries — all along ensuring that there was no further damage in this session.
The Indians grew desperate for a breakthrough and Ishant bowled a fiery spell but initially without luck. The lanky Delhi pacer finally had his man when he sent down a steep rising delivery that kissed Dilshan’s blade before nestling into Dinesh Karthik’s gloves. At that stage, Sri Lanka found themselves at 113 with the top half of the batting rder cooling their heels in the pavilion.
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