NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka completed a 2-0 series sweep after
Rangana Herath spun the hosts to a comprehensive victory against South Africa in the second and final Test on Monday.
ALSO READ: Sri Lanka thrash South Africa to sweep Test series 2-0The 199-run win, which came with more than a day to spare, was due to Sri Lanka's tireless spin trio of Herath,
Akila Dananjaya and
Dilruwan Perera who together claimed all 20 South African wickets.
It was South Africa's first Test whitewash since they went down in the island nation 2-0 in a two-match series almost 12 years ago.
Sri Lanka had wrapped up the first Test in Galle within three days, reducing South Africa to 73 in the second innings -- their lowest Test total since the nation's post-apartheid readmission to international cricket.
Sri Lanka became the first side in Test cricket history to win a match by using only spinners. In South Africa's first innings in Colombo, Sri Lanka's spin trio sent down the entire 34.5 overs, as the visitors folded for 124:
- Rangana Herath (1/32)
- Dilruwan Perera (4/40)
- Akila Dananjaya (5/52)
In the second innings, chasing 490 to win, South Africa capitulated to 290 up against the same trio and two other spinners (who went wicketless):
- Rangana Herath (6/98)
- Dilruwan Perera (2/90)
- Akila Dananjaya (2/67)
In fact, it was the lowest number of overs bowled by pacers for a winning side in Test cricket history. The lone fast bowler and Sri Lankan captain
Suranga Lakmal sent down just 2 overs in the second innings, and for the entire match!