Mumbai, Dec 6 (IANS) India became the No.1 Test team with an emphatic 2-0 series win after they demolished Sri Lanka by an innings and 24 runs in the third and the final cricket Test at the Brabourne Stadium here Sunday.
A fiery Zaheer Khan (5-75) bowled an incredible line on the fifth day as India wrapped up the Sri Lankan tail in just 30 minutes. Sri Lanka, resuming at their overnight score of 274 for six, were bowled out for 309 in the second innings. Of the four wickets that fell in the morning, Zaheer picked up three.

India, riding on Virender Sehwag’s 293 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s unbeaten 100, declared their first innings at 726 for nine in reply to Sri Lanka’s 393. Sehwag was not only adjudged as Man of the Match but was also crowned as the Player of the Series.

Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara (137) led the fight-back in the second innings with his defiant 21st Test ton, but didn’t last long on the final day. He could add just four runs to his overnight score before edging Zaheer’s away going delivery to Dhoni.

With Sangakkara back in the pavilion, it was just a matter of time for India. Zaheer picked up Rangana Herath (3) and Nuwan Kulasekara (19) in consecutive overs and Harbhajan Singh dismissed Muttiah Muralitharan as Sri Lanka tasted their second consecutive innings defeat.

The first Test in Ahmedabad ended in a draw but India won the second Test in Kanpur by an innings and 144 runs.