GALLE (SRI LANKA), Nov 9: England claimed their first away Test victory in 13 matches on Friday with a commanding win against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Last man out was silver fox Rangana Herath, cricket�s most successful left-arm spinner in history, in his last match before retirement.
The hosts, chasing a notional 462 victory, were all out for 250 on day four, with Moeen Ali taking four wickets and Jack Leach three.
England had secured a first innings lead of 139 and on Thursday an unbeaten 146 by Keaton Jennings, his first century since a ton on his 2016 debut, allowed Root to declare at 322 for six.
Fifteen without loss overnight, openers Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne withstood the pressure from England�s formidable bowling attack for the first hour.
But both fell after attacking shots, with Kaushal leg before trying to sweep Leach for 30 and Karunaratne caught and bowled by Ali for 26 and skipped down the pitch for an attempted heave.
Dhananjaya de Silva, after a confident start, was caught at first slip by skipper Joe Root off Ben Stokes in the last over of the morning session for 21.
One ball earlier, de Silva had been given out caught behind flashing at a Stokes delivery wide of the off stump, but he was reprieved on review.
After lunch Kusal Mendis hit Leach for four over his head but attempting a repeat the next ball skied the ball to Ali and departed for 46.
He had earlier appeared confident at the crease, employing the sweep shot especially well against all England�s spinners, while secure in defence.
Home skipper Dinesh Chandimal, suffering from a groin injury that kept him off the pitch all of Thursday, was bowled by Leach for 11.
The final session began badly for the hosts. Niroshan Dikwella fell the first ball after tea, caught adroitly by Stokes one-handed at slip off Ali for 16.
SCOREACRD
England first innings 342
Sri Lanka first innings 203
England second innings 322 for 6 declared
Sri Lanka second innings: Karunaratne c and b Ali 26, Silva lbw b Leach 30, De Silva c Root b Stokes 21, Mendis c Ali b Leach 45, Matthews c Buttler b Ali 53, Chandimal b Leach 1, Dickwella c Stokes b Ali 16, Perera c Stokes b Rashid 30, Dananjaya c Stokes b Ali 8, Lakmal not out 14, Herath run out 5. Extras (nb 1) 1. Total (all out, 85.1 overs) 250. Bowling: Curran 5-1-15-0, Anderson 12-2-27-0, Ali 20-2-71-4, Rashid 18.1-0-59-1, Leach 21-1-60-3, Stokes 8-2-16-1, Root 1-0-1-0. Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-59, 3-98, 4-144, 5-154, 6-190, 7-197, 8-229, 9-239. � AFP
