Virat Kohli on August 14 became the first Indian captain to mark the historic achievement of clean sweeping a Test series against Sri Lanka at their home. This is the first time that India have whitewashed Sri Lanka in a Test series in their own country. At the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on August 14, Team India thrashed Sri Lankans by 171 runs and an innings. Starting with the overnight score of 19/1, Sri Lanka were off to a horrible start, losing three wickets within the first hour of play. The hosts managed to post 82/4 in their second innings by lunch on the third day of the third cricket Test. However, they failed to handle Indian bowlers and were bowled out for 181.
Earlier, Team India rode on brilliant batting performances by Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and some late-game assault by Hardik Pandya to post a mammoth 487 in their first innings after Virat Kohli won the toss. Shikhar Dhawan (119), who opened the innings for India along with KL Rahul, scored his second century of the series and his third overall against Sri Lanka. This was the sixth century of his Test career.
Besides Dhawan, KL Rahul too created a record, scoring seventh 50 on the trot. In his 85 run innings off 135 balls, KL smashed eight fours. Indian skipper Virat Kohli too played sensibly but failed to reach 50, handing over his wicket in 79th over on day 1 after he tried to play an off drive to Sandakan. The ball took the top edge of his bat and landed safely in the hands of Dimuth Karunaratna who was fielding at the slips.
— Yograj Singh (@Cricvids1) August 13, 2017
On day 2, India resumed with 329/6, with India wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (16), who was batting with Pandya and failed to handle the pressure, being dismissed by Vishwa Fernando early.
Incoming batsman Kuldeep Yadav (26), who was drafted in the team as a replacement of Ravindra Jadeja, kept his temperament steady and forged a 62-run partnership with the Baroda player and helped India cross the 400-run mark.
— Yograj Singh (@Cricvids1) August 13, 2017
Though soon, Kuldeep was sent packing by left arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan. Incoming batsman Mohammad Shami (8) tried to pace up the innings with Pandya but failed to do so as he was caught by the bowler Sandakan.
Soon, Team India was reduced to nine men. Pandya then shifted gears and completed his debut Test century in just 86 balls which included 26 runs scored in an over with a hat-trick of sixes. His innings was laced with 7 sixes and seven fours.
— Yograj Singh (@Cricvids1) August 13, 2017
Sri Lanka struggled to form a constructive response, losing wickets at regular intervals. They were bundled or 135 runs in the first innings. For India, left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the leading wicket taker with a four-wicket haul. Virat Kohli then decided to enforce a follow-on for the next day.
Sri Lanka, in their second innings, could not improve upon their poor batting form. Resuming an overnight score of 19/1, Sri Lanka lost three wickets within the first hour of play. The hosts were reduced to 39/4 before Chandimal and Mathews started their fight back.
Power packed century
Power packed celebrations
Power packed reception back in the dressing room
Power Pandya!@hardikpandya7 __ #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/j8VzpMv9rC— BCCI (@BCCI) August 13, 2017
This is the first ever instance that the entire Sri Lankan top order has been dismissed within 50 runs in both innings of a Test match against India.
At lunch on day 3, the hosts were trailing India by 270 runs.
3rd Test. It’s all over! India won by an innings and 171 runs https://t.co/owBRclfgU1 #SLvIND #TeamIndia
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 14, 2017
Fall Of Wickets
India – 1st Innings: 1-188 (KL Rahul, 39.3 overs), 2-219 (S Dhawan, 47.1 overs), 3-229 (C Pujara, 50.1 overs), 4-264 (AM Rahane, 65.4 overs), 5-296 (V Kohli, 78.2 overs), 6-322 (R Ashwin, 87.6 overs), 7-339 (WP Saha, 91.3 overs), 8-401 (Kuldeep Yadav, 110.6 overs), 9-421 (Mohammed Shami, 114.2 overs), 10-487 (HH Pandya, 122.3 overs)
Sri Lanka – 1st Innings: 1-14 (WU Tharanga, 2.3 overs), 2-23 (FDM Karunaratne, 4.3 overs), 3-38 (BKG Mendis, 8.5 overs), 4-38 (AD Mathews, 9.3 overs), 5-101 (N Dickwella, 20.3 overs), 6-107 (MDK Perera, 22.1 overs), 7-125 (LD Chandimal, 31.3 overs), 8-125 (PM Pushpakumara, 32.2 overs), 9-135 (MVT Fernando, 36.5 overs), 10-135 (PADLR Sandakan, 37.4 overs)
Sri Lanka – 2nd Innings: 1-15 (WU Tharanga, 10.4 overs), 2-26 (FDM Karunaratne, 15.3 overs), 3-34 (PM Pushpakumara, 20.2 overs), 4-39 (BKG Mendis, 22.5 overs), 5-104 (LD Chandimal, 50.3 overs), 6-118 (AD Mathews, 53.6 overs), 7-138 (MDK Perera, 59.3 overs), 8-166 (PADLR Sandakan, 68.3 overs), 9-168 (N Dickwella, 69.5 overs)
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