Sri Lanka celebrate after whitewashing the West Indies 2-0
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath claimed four wickets to carry his side to a 72-run win over the West Indies on the fifth day of the second Test in Colombo.
With the fourth day having been abandoned due to heavy rain, the West Indies required 224 runs to win as they finished on 20/1 on the third day.
However, while Shai Hope and Darren Bravo were able to put together a 60-run partnership, things started to go awry after Hope was dismissed for 35.
Aside from Bravo, who made 61 off 134 balls which included three boundaries and two sixes, debutant Jomel Warrican was the only other batsman to reach the 20-run mark. As a result, the West Indies struggled to get near to their target and were eventually skittled out for a dismal score of 171.
Bravo made a gutsy 61
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Herath inflicted the most damage with four wickets, while Milinda Siriwardana snapped up three and Dhammika Prasad and Dilruwan Perera chipped in with one wicket each.
Herath finished with figures of 4-56 off 19.5 overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
West Indies captain Jason Holder was less than impressed with his side’s performance, and said: “We fell just short in this Test, we didn’t bat well enough in the second innings. We have got to be patient and patience is key. Whenever we came under pressure from the Sri Lankan bowlers, we succumbed to it. There is a lot we can take away from this series, we are still a young team and we have a lot to learn.”
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews was thrilled to have completed the whitewash, and said: “It was a hard-fought win, our bowlers were under constant pressure because our batsmen didn’t deliver. I never had doubts about my bowlers, even when they were 80 for 1. Ranga has enough and more experience and he showed his masterclass yet again.”
Siriwardana was named Man of the Match, and said: “I’m really proud and happy about my performance. I was just trying to bowl normally and the wicket helps.”
Herath received the Man of the Series award, and said: “As a spinner and a bowler, we have to take the responsibility. The batsmen can hit three or four sixes, I don’t mind, but we knew we had enough on the board because there was a bit in the pitch.”