IND vs SL | Day-night Test: Game, set, series...India complete clean sweep

IND vs SL | Ashwin surpasses Dale Steyn to become 8th highest wicket-taker in Test cricket

India spinner R Ashwin has added another feather to his hat after he surpassed South Africa great Dale Steyn to become the 8th highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Ashwin achieved the feat during the Day-night Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru after he dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva for 4 off 21. Ashwin bagged a total of four wickets in the second innings against the Lankan Lions to take his tally to 442 now. The right-hander first removed Kusal Mendis after he was stumped for 54 by Rishabh Pant and later removed De Silva to etch his name in history books. He then got rid of Lasith Embuldeniya after trapping in front of the stumps for 2 and Vishwa Fernando who played one from the spinner in the air and was caught by Shami for 2 to complete his four-wicket haul. Ashwin is one of the four Indian bowlers to have picked more than 400 wickets in the format with Anil Kumble topping the list. Kumble has 619 scalps to his name. Talking about the match, India wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings at 208 to win the match by 238 runs on the third day. Chasing 447, the visitors never really looked in control and lost wickets at regular intervals of Day 3 to eventually get bowled out. The home side had registered a massive win in the first Test as well in Mohali and has now completed a 2-0 whitewash.

IND vs SL | Day-Night Test: Dimuth Karunaratne scores fighting ton but SL remain on back foot

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was the lone warrior for his side in the second innings of the Day-night Test against India in Bengaluru after he notched up a hundred during the course. While the other batters thoroughly struggled to negotiate the Indian bowling unit and especially the spinners on Day 3, the skipper showed a lot of resistance and patience but also played his strokes as and when he could. Karunaratne eventually scored 107 off 174 deliveries including 15 boundaries before he was castled by Jasprit Bumrah. Talking about the game, the home side handed Sri Lanka a target of 447 runs after compiling 303/9 (D) in the second innings. Shreyas Iyer once again top-scored for the side with 67 while wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant notched up a brisk 50 off 31 deliveries. Earlier, the home side was bundled out for 252 despite a scintillating knock from Iyer who scored 92 in the first innings. But the Indian bowlers then got into the act and rattled the Lankan batting line up. Fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah scalped a five-wicket haul while Ashwin and Shami had a couple of scalps each as India bowled out Sri Lanka 109, taking a massive lead. India are already leading the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first match in Mohali and are on course to complete a whitewash in Test fixtures.

Shreyas Iyer, Amelia Kerr voted ICC Players of the Month

India batter Shreyas Iyer and New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr have been voted as the ICC Player of the Month for February 2022. Iyer has been in brilliant form against Sri Lanka in the home fixtures after he scored three unbeaten fifties on the trot in the T20Is and has been among runs in the on-going Test series as well. “Iyer contributed a match-winning 80 against West Indies in the final ODI, before following it up with a 16-ball 25 in the final T20I of the subsequent series,” an ICC statement read. “Promoted in the order to bat at number three, Iyer made three unbeaten half-centuries for the series and amassed an outstanding 204 runs from three hits at a strike rate of 174,” it added. Former Sri Lanka batter and voting panel member Russel Arnold lavished praise on the right-handed batter and said that he showed a lot of consistency and during the course. "Throughout the month Shreya's showed tremendous consistency and control," Arnold said. "He totally dominated opposition bowlers and proved very hard to bowl at, scoring runs all around the wicket and attacking the bowlers at the right moments.” "What really stood out for me was his composure as he battles for a regular place in the India line-up,” he added.

ICC Women's CWC 2022 | SAW vs ENGW: Marizanne Kapp scalps fifer, SA etch win despite hiccups

South Africa etched a three-wicket win against England in the on-going ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 in Mount Maunganui after chasing down a target of 236 runs in the final over. The South African team lost an early wicket after Lizelle Lee was undone by Shrubsole for 9 off 15 but Laura Wolvaardt held the fort at one end and stitched crucial stands with Tazmin Brits and Sune Luus respectively. Wolvaardt was involved in a 56-run partnership with Brits who scored 23 and then chipped in with 74 runs for the third wicket along with Luus. Luus was eventually out for 36 while Wolvaardt went on to score 77 off 101. But the latter’s dismissal certainly broke the shackles as South Africa then lost a few wickets and were 226/7 in the penultimate over before Trisha Chetty and Shabnim Ismail made sure that the side didn't lose any more wickets and go over the line. Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped one wicket for just 23 runs in 10 overs. Earlier, in the day, England were off to a struggling start as they lost three wickets for 42 before Beaumont and Jones joined hands and came in for the rescue. The two batters scored 107 runs for the fourth wicket and also notched up individual fifties. But the departure of the two batters once again saw wickets falling at regular intervals and England concluded the innings at 235/9 in 50 overs. Kapp scalped a fifer for her side. “We do our best when we put the opposition under pressure (bowling first). Happy that it worked out tonight. Oh, world class (Kapp). She's an inspiration for young girls and boys out there. Lizelle hasn't played much cricket in the past few months. Don't want to put pressure on her. Glad everyone chipped in,” Luus said after the match.