Ishant Sharma Bags Seventh Five-Wicket Haul to Rattle Sri Lanka
Ishant Sharma picked up his maiden five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka and has taken his tally of wickets to 197.
Pacer Ishant Sharma picked up his seventh career five-wicket haul to help India bowl out Sri Lanka for 201 on the third day of the third and final Test at SSC Colombo on Sunday. He finished with five for 54 to help India take a healthy 111-run lead. (Day 3 Blog | Scorecard)
Bowling with pace and venom after India scored 312 in the first innings, Ishant put the visitors in the driver's seat in the final match of the series. The series is locked at 1-1 after Sri Lanka won the opening Test in Galle by 63 runs and India drew level with a 278-run win in the second match at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo last Monday.
Ishant struck the first blow by dismissing Upul Tharanga (four) caught at second slip by Lokesh Rahul, who had earlier dropped the same batsman on zero in the first over of Sri Lanka's innings.
He returned for his second spell to get Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews (one) edging behind on his first ball for debutant Indian wicketkeeper Naman Ojha to complete his first test dismissal.
Ishant struck second ball after lunch when he dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne for nought. The 26-year-old right-arm speedster continued to bowl a superb line and length to wipe off the tail and complete his maiden fifer against Sri Lanka.