India on Monday completed an innings and 171 run victory over Sri Lanka inside three days in the third Test at Pallekele. With this win, India have reinforced its position as the top-ranked team in Test cricket with a rare clean sweep in Sri Lanka. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took four wickets and seamer Mohammed Shami three as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 181 in its second innings.
India was dominant throughout the series, winning the first test by 304 runs and the second by an innings and 53 runs. Lanka had been whitewashed in a home series only once before, against Australia in 2004 - Ricky Ponting's first series as Australia captain. Monday's result was Lanka's fifth heaviest defeat ever in a test.
India made 487 runs batting first in the final Test and Lanka collapsed in both innings to be out for 135 and then 181 after following on. India's first-innings total was built on centuries by opener Shikhar Dhawan (119) and Hardik Pandya (108).
Resuming on 19/1 in its second innings, Sri Lanka lost three wickets quickly on Day 3 and was 39/4 before captain Dinesh Chandimal (36) and Angelo Mathews (35) put up some temporary resistance.
They took Lanka to lunch on 82/4 but their 65-run partnership was ended with Chandimal's dismissal by Kuldeep Yadav via a catch at short leg from Cheteshwar Pujara. From there, India took Lanka's last six wickets for 73 runs, with Niroshan Dickwella top-scoring for Sri Lanka with 41.
India's bowlers were on top throughout the test with no Sri Lankan batsman reaching 50 in either innings. After Chandimal went, off-spinner Ashwin struck twice by removing the experienced Mathews and Dilruwan Perera. Mathews was ruled out leg before wicket and the former Sri Lankan captain unsuccessfully reviewed the decision. A Perera slog-sweep went straight into the hands of Pandya fielding at deep mid-wicket. Tea was delayed as India opted for the extra half-hour with Lanka down to nine wickets as the end of the session approached. Ashwin wrapped it up, bowling last man Lahiru Kumara to finish with 4/68.
