For those surprised by how Indian cricket team’s Ravindra Jadeja is the No 1 ranked Test bowler, the left-arm spinner provided a good proof with a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in the second innings of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground in Colombo on Sunday. (SL vs IND, Day 4 Highlights)
With Sri Lanka national cricket team showing resolve to slug it out in the morning session, there was some pressure on the Indian bowlers as they came out after lunch. (SL vs IND, Day 4 Full scorecard)
Jadeja came to the fore, and his five wickets for 152,, helped India to a innings and 53 runs victory.
Jadeja came in when Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews looked good to take the fight to the visitors. He first had Karunaratne at the score of 141, who had no chance on the ball which exploded off the spot.
One of the most experienced batsmen in the Sri Lanka ranks, Karunaratne’s wicket was crucial for Sri Lanka hopes to save the second Test.
In the next over, Jadeja had Mathews caught behind and followed it with the scalp of Dilruwan Perea for his fourth wicket of the innings to reduce the hosts to 327 for seven. Ajinkya Rahane pulled off a low catch off Dhannanjay de Silva’s edge to give Jadeja his fifth wicket.
{{/usCountry}}In the next over, Jadeja had Mathews caught behind and followed it with the scalp of Dilruwan Perea for his fourth wicket of the innings to reduce the hosts to 327 for seven. Ajinkya Rahane pulled off a low catch off Dhannanjay de Silva’s edge to give Jadeja his fifth wicket.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, in the morning, Jadeja had prized out captain Dinesh Chandimal for just two runs. Jadeja would have ended Sri Lanka’s resistance much earlier but KL Rahul dropped a sitter off Karunaratne when he was on 95.
In the first innings, he had completed 150 wickets in Test cricket with two wickets in 32 Tests. He is the fastest left-arm bowler to the mark.