Sri Lanka suffer third heaviest defeat in Tests

Rex Clementine in Mohali

Sri Lanka were cut to size by a formidable India side as the first Test between the countries ended inside three days handing the hosts a massive innings and 222 run win. This is Sri Lanka’s third heaviest defeat as 16 wickets fell on a maniac day as India went 1-0 up in the two match series

Hero for India was Ravindra Jadeja, who backed up his 175 not out with nine wickets in the game including a five wicket haul in the first innings.

Sri Lanka’s batsmen showed little fight in both innings. There was assistance for spinners and the quicks rarely bowled a loose ball but the batsmen lacked application and the huge gap between two teams was exposed again.

Resuming from the overnight score of 108 for four, young guns Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka gave their team some hope as they batted out the first hour without being separated. The total had moved up to 161 and the pair had added 53 runs for the fifth wicket. India then reviewed a leg before shout against Asalanka off Bumrah and the decision was overturned to end Asalanka’s innings on 39.

That triggered a sensational collapse as Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 13 runs in the space of 42 deliveries. With Nissanka batting well, Sri Lanka needed their last recognized batsman Niroshan Dickwella to stick around to take the team out of the woods. But a rash shot brought about his dismissal. Nissanka was left stranded on 61.

India had a first innings lead of 400 runs and did not enforce the follow on as they were confident the bowlers could have another crack at their opponents. Lahiru Thirimanne was dismissed without scoring before lunch  and it was back to square one.

Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was the kind of player who was capable of taking the team out of trouble having posted big scores over the years but with him falling for 27, there was no coming back for Sri Lanka.

When Pathum Nissanka was dismissed for six runs with the total on 45 for three, the writing was on the wall for an early finish with two days to spare. Although Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva fought gallantly for a while, India’s bowling resources were too good find regular breakthroughs. Dhananjaya’s though was a soft dismissal.

Charith Asalanka scored a quick 20 off one over from Jadeja but it was just a matter of time before India got rid of him.

A half-century by Niroshan Dickwella may have saved his Test place but Sri Lanka need to do much soul searching before next week’s day-night fixture against in Bangalore.