England completed a comprehensive 6-wicket victory over Sri Lanka inside four days in the second Test at the Galle International Stadium on Monday (January 25).
Even though England conceded a 37-run lead in the first innings, the visitors bounced back brilliantly, bowling out Sri Lanka for a paltry 126 in the second essay, with Dom Bess (4-49) and Jack Leach (4-59) claiming 8 wickets between them.
None of the Sri Lankan batsmen managed to cross the 50-run mark in the second innings as England were set a target of 164 for victory.
Chasing the target, England lost three wickets to Lasith Embuldeniya, who also claimed 7 scalps in the tourists’ first innings, but the duo of Dominic Sibley (56 not out) and Jos Buttler (46 not out) stayed there till the end to take the team over the line.
With this victory, England also inflicted a 2-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka and also strengthened their position in the World Test Championship table by earning a crucial 120 points.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 381 (Angelo Mathews 110, Niroshan Dickwella 92; James Anderson 6-40) and 126 (Lasith Embuldeniya 40; Dom Bess 4-49; Jack Leach 4-59) lost to England 344 (Joe Root 186; Lasith Embuldeniya 7-137) and 164/4 (Dominic Sibley 56*; Lasith Embuldeniya 3-73) by 6 wickets.