India clinch series

Kandy: The over two-decade wait was worth it for Team India as it fashioned a first-of-its-kind whitewash of Sri Lanka in their backyard.

Having not beaten the island-nation on their soil in 22 years, India thrashed the host by an innings and 171 runs on the third day of the third and final Test to sweep the series 3-0 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium here on Monday.

Chasing a first innings deficit of 352 runs after being asked to follow on, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 181 in their second innings. India had posted a total of 487 runs before dismissing the hosts for 135 in the first innings.

In what comes as a dubious distinction, the entire Sri Lankan top order was within 50 runs in both innings of a Test match against India.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets while pacer Mohammad Shami claimed three. India had won the first match of the series by 304 runs and then thrashed the hosts by an innings and 53 runs in the second Test.

Middle-order batsmen Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella staged a desperate battle to prolong Sri Lanka's struggle in the second innings.

Coming together after the entire Sri Lankan top order had returned to the pavilion, Chandimal and Angelo Mathews added 65 runs between them in 27.4 overs. Chandimal scored 36 runs off 89 balls with four hits to the fence. Mathews scored 35 off 96 deliveries with two boundaries and a six studding his innings.

Dickwella later scored 41 runs off 52 balls even as the Sri Lankan resistance crumbled. Resuming at the overnight score of 19/1 in their second outing, Sri Lanka were off to a horrible start, losing three wickets within the first hour of play. The hosts were reduced to 39/4 before Chandimal and Mathews started their fight back.