Kandy: England won the second Test against Sri Lanka by 57 runs on the fifth and final day at the Pallekele International Stadium to clinch their first series victory in Sri Lanka in 17 years.
The tourists, who had won the first Test in Galle by 211 runs, needed just 32 minutes on Sunday to claim the second Test as their spinners quickly took control.
Sri Lanka, resuming on Sunday from their overnight score of 226-7, required 75 runs to win the game but could only add 17 as Moeen Ali struck twice in an over before Jack Leach had Malinda Pushpakumara caught and bowled to seal the victory.
Sri Lanka’s chances to pull off a difficult win depended heavily on overnight batsman Niroshan Dickwella, but local hopes faded quickly as the wicketkeeper-batsman was dismissed for 35 by Ali (4-72) when Ben Stokes completed a good catch at first slip.
Two balls later captain Suranga Lakmal was bowled by Ali for no score to bring England to the brink of its first series victory in Sri Lanka since Nasser Hussain’s side recorded a come from behind 2-1 win in 2001.
Leach (5-83) completed the win when he took a return catch off Pushpakumara to claim his maiden test five wicket haul.
The left-arm spinner playing his third test finished with match figures of 8- 153.
England captain Joe Root was named man of the match for his magnificent 124 that helped England to a total of 346 in its second innings, after the tourists had conceded a deficit of 46 runs in the first innings. (AP)
