India world’s top-ranked side in test cricket went to bat with the bitter memories of their 63 run defeat at Galle International Stadium two years back. This time they took the sweet revenge in style. For Srilanka all was not good as Asela Gunaratne fractured his thumb and was out of the series. The captain Rangana Herath followed with a hand injury and could not bat in the second innings.
On the fourth day the pitch at Galle International Stadium was not a gripping or spinning surface and to get 8 wickets on that day did not seem possible for India. Srilanka wanted to push the match to the fifth day and bring the game to a draw. But Ravinchandra Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja did not allow Srilanka to do that and the match ended on the penultimate day with Indians winning with 304 runs. Virat Kholi had not been scoring well in test cricket in the recent times. This jinx was shattered when he scored 103 in the second innings. The Captain declared once he reached 103 as there were enough runs in their kitty for the Srilankans to score. Srilanka had to score 549 in the second innings.
For Srilanka Dilruwan, Angelo Mathews and Upul Tharanga tried to push the score board but lack of support from the rest of team put their first innings score at 291. In the second innings Karunaratne’s brave 97 was not supported by batsmen on the other side. Kusal Mendis with 36 and Niroshan Dickwella with his 67 could not pull off to take the game the next day. That two main players were not on the field only added to the woes. In the end the runs alone matter and that was all on the side of India and India has scored one up on the series.
