Jadeja bowls India to victory

COLOMBO. — Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja broke the back of Sri Lanka’s resistance after lunch to secure India’s series-clinching victory by an innings and 53 runs in the second Test cricket yesterday.

The all-rounder claimed his ninth fivewicket haul as Sri Lanka, forced to follow on after being shot out for 183 in the first innings, made 386 in the second before collapsing minutes before the tea break on the penultimate day.It was a first victory by an innings or more for India in Sri Lanka and, following their biggest victory by runs in Galle last week, ensured an eighth straight series triumph under Virat Kohli.

“We said this morning that even if we don’t get wickets early on, we are going to enjoy the tough times because they really improve you as a side and you need those tough times to improve as cricketers,” the India captain said.

“We were very happy that we went through that difficult phase as well, for you never want to get complacent as a side.”

Kohli will fancy equalling Australia’s modern era record of nine consecutive test series wins when India host Sri Lanka for three matches later this year.

Sri Lanka will take a modicom of confidence into that series from a second innings resurgence that was built around the 191run stand between Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis, who fell for 110 on Saturday.

Lefthander Karunaratne’s gallant 141 merely delayed the inevitable yesterday, though, as Jadeja (5-152) and spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin (2-132) tormented Sri Lanka on a worn-out track where the ball spun alarmingly and often kicked off. — Reuters.