COLOMBO: It seems India were almost destined to win this second Test at the P Sara Oval here. The nature, elements and even their opposition — Sri Lanka — conspired to end this match in a hurry and level the three-match Test series 1-1.
In a match played in baking hot, humid conditions over the past four days, the gods smiled on India as a majority of the final day was played under heavy cloud cover, with a pleasant breeze across the ground.
India wrapped up the thumping 278-run win just four minutes after lunch. The end could have come sooner if not for a short but sharp shower when the Lankans were reeling at 128/9 after resuming on 72/2.
The win ended India skipper Virat Kohli's nine-month wait for a first Test win since leading his country for the first time in Adelaide in December last year. Kohli had come close to a famous victory at that time but India had eventually fallen short by 48 runs.
India have been the better of the two sides over the course of this series. Apart from a mindless session on the fourth day in Galle, Kohli and Co. have won almost every session so far.
The abject surrender by the home side on Monday was similar to India's own capitulation just over a week back in Galle. Chasing 341 to win on the last day, the fight went out of the Lankan challenge off the very first ball of the day, when skipper Angelo Mathews (23) edged Umesh Yadav and makeshift 'keeper KL Rahul took a superb diving catch in front of first slip.
"We knew that the Indians are going to come back really hard. We expected that and they did the same too. They played really good cricket. They played better than us. The first innings was very crucial on this wicket. It was a good wicket to be honest. It was turning a little bit but there were no demons. We didn't play well and they are the deserving winners," Mathews said after the loss on Monday.
This post is appeared on:Timesofindia
In a match played in baking hot, humid conditions over the past four days, the gods smiled on India as a majority of the final day was played under heavy cloud cover, with a pleasant breeze across the ground.
India wrapped up the thumping 278-run win just four minutes after lunch. The end could have come sooner if not for a short but sharp shower when the Lankans were reeling at 128/9 after resuming on 72/2.
The win ended India skipper Virat Kohli's nine-month wait for a first Test win since leading his country for the first time in Adelaide in December last year. Kohli had come close to a famous victory at that time but India had eventually fallen short by 48 runs.
India have been the better of the two sides over the course of this series. Apart from a mindless session on the fourth day in Galle, Kohli and Co. have won almost every session so far.
The abject surrender by the home side on Monday was similar to India's own capitulation just over a week back in Galle. Chasing 341 to win on the last day, the fight went out of the Lankan challenge off the very first ball of the day, when skipper Angelo Mathews (23) edged Umesh Yadav and makeshift 'keeper KL Rahul took a superb diving catch in front of first slip.
"We knew that the Indians are going to come back really hard. We expected that and they did the same too. They played really good cricket. They played better than us. The first innings was very crucial on this wicket. It was a good wicket to be honest. It was turning a little bit but there were no demons. We didn't play well and they are the deserving winners," Mathews said after the loss on Monday.
This post is appeared on:Timesofindia
