India crush Sri Lanka in record equalling Test victory

(Photo: Reuters)

By Jonny Leighfield

India equalled their largest ever Test match victory as they thumped Sri Lanka by an innings and 239 runs in the second Test in Nagpur.

Despite resting some key players and opting to prepare a pitch that reduced home advantage with one eye on their series against South Africa, India still swept their opponents away with ease as they matched the victory they achieved against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2007.

A double century from skipper Virat Kohli, as well as tons from Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma, allowed the hosts to declare on 610-6 and put themselves in a commanding position after knocking over the visitors for just 205 earlier on.

The scoreboard pressure soon told as the tourists were bowled out for 166 on day four, Ravichandran Ashwin cutting off the tail of the Sri Lankan team as he took 4-63, simultaneously becoming the quickest bowler to reach 300 Test wickets. The result gives India a 1-0 lead with one to play, meaning Kohli is still yet to lose a Test series as captain.

Dinesh Chandimal was one of the few bright spots for the tourists, notching half-centuries in both innings (57, 61*), and Sri Lanka will hope he can inspire the rest of an anemic batting line-up into action in the third and final Test in Delhi with a share of the spoils still a possibility.