Sri Lanka sweep series vs Ireland at Galle International Stadium

 GALLE: Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis picked a five-wicket haul while conceding 64 runs as Sri Lanka beat Ireland by an innings and ten runs on day five of the second Test to complete a 2-0 series sweep at the Galle International Stadium, here on Friday.

Ireland had put up a record-breaking performance in the first innings, crossing 400 for the first time in Test cricket with Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher both making hundreds in their total of 492. But going into the final day's play, they were facing an uphill battle for survival after Sri Lanka declared on 704/3 in their first innings and Ireland had lost two wickets on day four.

Day five's play began with Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Tector in the middle, but the Ireland captain was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from the fiery Asitha Fernando and left the field after receiving medical attention.

Stirling attempted to counter-attack but picked out extra cover after backing away and driving off Prabath Jayasuriya. The scalp meant the Sri Lanka left-arm spinner became the fast bowler to reach 50 Test wickets, doing so in just seven Tests, snatching the record from West Indies' Alf Valentine.

Jayasuriya also equalled the second fastest bowler overall to reach the 50-wicket mark along with Vernon Philander of South Africa and Tom Richardson of England. The two pacers also claimed 50 wickets in seven Tests with Philander hitting the mark in 2012 and Richardson in 1896.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 704/3 dec in 151 overs beat Ireland 492 and 202 in 77.3 overs (Harry Tector 85, Andrew Balbirnie 46, Ramesh Mendis 5/64, Asitha Fernando 3/30) by an innings and 10 runs. IANS

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