India thrash Sri Lanka in 3rd Test, sweep series

TIL Desk Sports/ India thrashed Sri Lanka by an innings and 171 runs on the third day of the third and final Test match to sweep the series 3-0 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium here on Monday.

Chasing the first innings deficit of 352 runs after being asked to follow on, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 181 in their second innings. India had posted a total of 487 runs before dismissing the hosts for 135 in the first innings.

For India, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed four wickets and pacer Mohammad Shami three. India had won the first match of the series by 304 runs and then thrashed the hosts by an innings and 53 runs in the second Test. This is the first time that India have whitewashed Sri Lanka in a Test series in their own country.

Middle-order batsmen Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella staged a desperate battle to prolong Sri Lanka’s struggle in the second innings. Mathews followed a couple of overs later after being trapped leg before by Ashwin. That started the downfall for Sri Lanka as none of their tailenders could manage to reach double-figures.