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India v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test: Match Drawn

After 1478 runs had been scored and just 17 wickets had been taken, the second Test between India and Sri Lanka was ended as a draw in Colombo, preserving both Sri Lanka’s 1-0 series lead and India’s number one ICC Test ranking.

India stole a first-innings lead of 65 as they were bowled out for 707 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 642 for four declared before Sri Lanka closed the game on 129 for three in their second innings.

Resuming on 669 for nine, India pressed on with their final batsman Ishant Sharma (27) and Pragyan Ojha (18 not out) frustrated Sri Lanka’s attempts to bowl them out before Sharma was finally caught by Kumar Sangakkara off Dilhara Fernando. Ojha’s innings, which spanned 92 deliveries, was a new career-best.

Pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka was Ajantha Mendis, who returned four for 172 while Tillakaratne Dilshan took three for 56.

Batting again, Dilshan fell for 14 when he was caught by Sharma off Abhimanyu Mithun and opening partner Tharanga Paranavitana made 34 before he was caught by VVS Laxman off Harbhajan Singh.

Sangakkara steadied the innings with an unbeaten 42 in 114 balls after Mahela Jayawardene (5) was trapped in front by Virender Sehwag and Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on ten.

Sangakkara made 219, Jayawardene 174 and Paranavitana 100 in Sri Lanka’s first innings before India’s reply was led by Sachin Tendulkar’s 203, Suresh Raina’s 120 on debut and Sehwag’s 99.

Sri Lanka won the opening match by ten wickets and the third and final Test, also in Colombo, gets underway on 3rd August.

While Sri Lanka need to avoid defeat to claim the series win, even if they win the game to take a 2-0 series victory, India will remain at the top of the ICC’s Test match ranking table.