India Breaks 22-Year Jinx to Sweep Sri Lanka Series 2-1

India’s first test series win in Sri Lanka in 22 years is also its first in 2 years.

R Ashwin celebrates Lahiru Thirimanne’s wicket with his teammates. (Photo: AP)

India has won the third Test in Colombo by 117 runs to take the series 2-1. This is their first Test series win in two years and a first Test series win in Sri Lanka in 22 years.

After toiling through the second session of the final day with just one wicket, Ishant Sharma got the big wicket of Angelo Mathews. The Sri Lankan captain failed to cover a full and straight ball and got out LBW.

Ishant celebrates after taking a wicket. (Photo: AP)

A few overs later, R Ashwin picked up two wickets in a single over, sending Dhammika Prasad and Ranagana Herath back to the pavilion.

Amit Mishra got Nuwan Pradeep with a googly in the next over to wrap up the match.

Earlier in the day, Angelo Mathews and Kaushal Silva resumed the Sri Lankan innings at 67/4.

Umesh Yadav sent Kaushal Silva packing in the third over of the day. Silva got caught by Pujara while trying to pull a bouncer.

Umesh Yadav celebrates Kaushal Silva’s wicket with his team-mates. (Photo: AP)

Lahiru Thrimanne joined Mathews at the crease and steadied things down for the Lankans. They were ticking along fluently until KL Rahul took a splendid catch at silly point to dismiss Thirimanne for 12.

Thereafter, Kusal Perera and Mathews looked pretty comfortable at the crease. They were judging the lines perfectly and kept putting away the loose deliveries before lunch.

Angelo Mathews raises his bat after getting to his century. (Photo: AP)

Angelo Mathews played a gem of an innings and scored a terrific hundred. He, along with Silva, continued playing sensible cricket after lunch and strung a big partnership of 135 runs before Silva was caught by Rohit Sharma at point, while he tried to play a reverse sweep just before the tea break.