Sangakkara falls for 18; Rahane ton gives honours to India

Kumar Sangakkara lasted only 29 minutes in his final international innings as India took major honours on day four thanks to a scintillating century by Ajinkya Rahane at P. Sara Oval grounds.

Sri Lanka requires 341 runs in the final day to win the 2^nd Test match with 8 wickets in hand. India set a record-breaking target of 413 for the Sri Lankans after Ajinkya Rahane stroked his 4^th Test ton.

Sangakkara walked out to bat amidst two guard of honours, first by kids and secondly by the Indian team. His brief knock of 18 had an elegant flick off the pads and a gentle push straight past the bowler. Ashwin took out Sangakkara for the 4^th consecutive time when he was caught at gully. He held his arms aloft and walked out with the whole stadium giving a standing ovation.

Sangakkara was brought to the crease with the dismissal of Kaushal Silva who flicked a full toss off Ashwin straight to short mid-wicket in the 3^rd over.

Opener Dimuth Karunarathe and Angelo Mathews played positive cricket in the final 30 minutes to keep Sri Lankan hopes alive.

During the Indian second innings, Rahane shrugged off any doubts on who should be the Indian Test no.3 when he batted beautifully during his 243-ball knock of 126.

The last time an India no.3 made a ton in Tests in Sri Lanka was way back in 1999 when Rahul Dravid had made 107 in the 1st innings of the SSC Test.

Rahane clipped an off-break to the leg-side in the 212nd ball he faced to reach his first Test ton against Sri Lanka.

Rahane and Rohit Sharma maneuvered the field well and played the ball on its merit. They managed to pile on 85 runs for the 4^th wicket in 22 overs.

Sharma holed out to Mubarak at deep mid-wicket off Kaushal while attempting a big heave and few overs later Kaushal took his 4^th wicket when Rahane was caught brilliantly behind the stumps by Chandimal.  

The lower order played their shots to add few muscle to the Indian score but ultimately with 8 wickets down, Virat Kohli declared the innings.

Earlier in the first session, Indians resumed from 70 for 1 and added 109 runs in the 2-hour session. The stylish pair of Rahane and Vijay had no hesitation in putting away the bad balls and defending the good balls.

Vijay, returning from an injury stamped his authority as a vintage Test batsman to score his 11^th half-century. Tharindu Kaushal trapped down Vijay for 82 in the 45^th over when he was hit right in front while attempting a sweep. The dismissal brought an end to a massive 140-run stand for the 2^nd wicket between Rahane and Vijay.

Tharindu Kaushal’s strategy of bowling round the wicket worked well once again when he trapped Indian skipper Virat Kohli plumb in front for 10.

India – 393 all out in 114 overs: KL Rahul 108, Rohit Sharma 79, Virat Kohli 78, Wriddhiman Saha 56, Rangana Herath 4/81, Dushmantha Chameera 2/72, Angelo Mathews 2/24, Dhammika Prasad 2/84.

Sri Lanka – 306 all out in 108 overs: Kaushal Silva 51, Kumar Sangakkara 32, Angelo Mathews 102, Lahiru Thirimanne 62, Amit Mishra 4/43, Ishant Sharma 2/68, R Ashwin 2/76.

India (2nd inn) – 325/8 declared in 91 overs: Murali Vijay 82, Ajinkya Rahane 126, Rohit Sharma 34, Tharindu Kaushal 4/118, Dhammika Prasad 4/43.

Sri Lanka (2^nd inn) – 72/2 in 21 overs: Dimuth Karunarathne 25*, Angelo Mathews 23*, R Ashwin 2/27.

Full Scorecard (Courtesy – BBC Sport)

India 1st Innings

Sri Lanka 1st Innings

India 2nd Innings

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings