India romp to record win

Hosts secure best-ever victory over Sri Lanka

Last updated: 27th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

India romp to record win

Winners: India players celebrate

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Second Test Match
Kanpur - Day four
India 642 (G Gambhir 167, R Dravid 144, V Sehwag 131, Yuvraj Singh 67, V V S Laxman 63, H M R K B Herath 5-121) v Sri Lanka 229 (S Sreesanth 5-75) & 269 (T T Samaraweera 78 no). India beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs

India have opened up a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series with Sri Lanka after they secured a comprehensive victory of an innings and 144 runs in Kanpur.

The record victory - India's highest over Sri Lanka and the 100th Test win - came despite some dogged resistance from Thilan Samaraweera.

Sri Lanka's middle-order batsman was the only player to defy the hosts, and he was left unbeaten on 78 as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 269 just before tea on the fourth day at the Green Park ground.

Sri Lanka had resumed the day on 57-4 and needing a miracle to avoid an innings defeat - and although they scored quickly, they also lost wickets at regular intervals.

A total of 149 runs came in the morning session alone, however they had also lost four wickets by lunch as well.

Angelo Matthews was the first to fall as he was removed by left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan for 15 in only the second over.

Swashbuckling

Prasanna Jayawardene and Samaraweera shared a sixth-wicket stand of 61 as they attempted to reach the 413 needed to make India bat again.

However Jayawardene departed for 29 when he was bowled by spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Harbhajan also trapped Rangana Herath leg before for 13, before a swashbuckling knock from Muttiah Muralitharan gave the Sri Lankan fans something to cheer.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha ended 11-ball cameo with Muralitharan on 29 to leave Sri Lanka on the brink at 191-8.

Samaraweera and Ajantha Mendia, though, dug in and remained defiant as they added 73 runs for the ninth wicket.

But Mendia finally fell for 27, though, when he was trapped leg before by Yuvraj Singh - and Chanaka Welegedara was dismissed in the next over as be was caught and bowled by Ojha.