Virat savors first series win as Test captain

Chasing a target of 386 runs the Lankan innings folded for 268.

Angelo Mathews played a superb knock of 110 under pressure and along with Kusal Janith Perera (70) forged a 135-run partnership for the sixth wicket that denied the visitors an early victory.

Things looked stable for the Lankans as Mathews and Perera batted with ease but once Virat Kohli took the new ball things changed for the better for the Indians.

Perera was sent back to the pavilion by Ashwin who picked by 4 wickets to finish with a total of 21 wickets in the series.

Ishant nipped one back to get rid of the dangerous Mathews as he was caught in the crease when the ball hit his pad.

Things proved easy right after as Ashwin added another scalp to his kitty and Mishra ended the proceedings to put an end to the wait that started 22 years ago.

Cheteshwar Pujara was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match for his brave knock of 145, which saw him carry his bat throughout the innings.

Ashwin took home the Man-of-the-Series trophy for his excellent bowling figures, the off-spinner picked up 21 of the 60 available wickets. He also chipped in with a crucial 58 runs in the second innings of the third Test that helped his side extend their lead over the Lankans.

India under the leadership of their new captain did not have the best of starts as the visitors lost the opening Test match.

They made an excellent turn around in the next game, Lankan legend Kumara Sangakkara’s last to make it a tad woeful for the retiring cricketer.

Kohli and his men thumped the hosts as the Indian batsmen and bowlers put up stellar performances in both the innings to level the series 1-1.

Rain threatened right from the start in the last game as day one was a semi-washout affair with India getting less than 30 overs to bat throughout the day.

Cheteshwar Pujara set the tone for the visitors with a comeback century, ably supported by Amit Misha who hit a fabulous half century to take his side total post the 300 run mark.

The underperforming Ishant Sharma lit up in the first innings of the third Test to not only take a five for but also cripple the Lankans and provide his side with a handy 111 runs lead.

Kusal Janith Perera, making his debut, played a fighting knock to save his team the blushes after India threatened to take the game away as the hosts was staring at a follow on.

Starting their second innings the visitors did not have the best of starts but their middle order made up for the loss up front and a handy lead was set up for the hosts to chase and win which they failed to manage.