ENGLAND END 17-YEAR WAIT IN SRI LANKA
Spin duo Moeen Ali and Jack Leach combined to end England’s 17-year wait for a Test series victory in Sri Lanka after bowling the tourists to a 57-run victory in the second Test at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy yesterday.
Moeen struck twice in three deliveries and Leach completed his maiden five-wicket haul as the tourists took a little over 30 minutes on the final morning to seal victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-test series.
Sri Lanka resumed on 226 for seven, needing 75 to keep the series alive after their opening loss in Galle but were all out for 243 as England completed their first away series win in Tests since beating South Africa at the beginning of 2016.
The England side led by Nasser Hussain were the last to register a series victory in Sri Lanka in 2001 and Joe Root’s men arrived in the country winless in their last 13 tests away from home.
Their last series victory in Asia was in India six years ago and not many would have bet on England to win with a match to spare against Sri Lanka, who defeated South Africa 2-0 at home in July.
For the first time in a Test match, spinners claimed 38 wickets with Leach and Moeen sharing 14 between them on a turning track.
Sri Lanka’s stand-in Captain Suranga Lakmal was the only quick to pick up a wicket while the other was a run out.
It was also the first time since 1973 in Karachi that no seamer took a wicket in a Test for England.
The third and final Test of the series will start on Friday (23) in Colombo