• Dom Sibley scored an unbeaten fifty as England defeated Sri Lanka in the second Test at Galle on Monday. All images courtesy Sri Lanka Cricket
    Dom Sibley scored an unbeaten fifty as England defeated Sri Lanka in the second Test at Galle on Monday. All images courtesy Sri Lanka Cricket
  • Jonny Bairstow plays a sweeps during Day 4 of second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
    Jonny Bairstow plays a sweeps during Day 4 of second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
  • Ramesh Mendis takes the wicket of Joe Root at Galle.
    Ramesh Mendis takes the wicket of Joe Root at Galle.
  • Jack Leach celebrates the wicket of Lahiru Thirimanna. Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 126.
    Jack Leach celebrates the wicket of Lahiru Thirimanna. Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 126.
  • Oshada Fernando plays a cut shot on Monday.
    Oshada Fernando plays a cut shot on Monday.
  • Lasith Ambuldeniya after his dismissal on day four.
    Lasith Ambuldeniya after his dismissal on day four.
  • Joe Root takes the wicket of Lasith Ambuldeniya.
    Joe Root takes the wicket of Lasith Ambuldeniya.
  • Dom Bess picked up four wickets in the second innings.
    Dom Bess picked up four wickets in the second innings.

India next for Joe Root after England complete Test series sweep against Sri Lanka


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England captain Joe Root shifted his focus to the four-Test series against India after his team completed a 2-0 sweep in Sri Lanka.

Dom Sibley (56 not out) and Jos Buttler (46 not out) anchored the run chase after a jittery start as England beat Sri Lanka by six wickets on Monday.

Sibley and Buttler put on an unbeaten 75-run stand as England, who were struggling at 89-4, got to their target of 164 in an extended final session on the fourth day in Galle.

England’s spinners had gone wicketless in the first innings but they came through in the second with Somerset duo Sibley and Jack Leach taking four wickets apiece.

Sri Lanka was dismissed for just 126 with tail-ender Lasith Embuldeniya, who finished with 10 wickets, also posting a career-best 40 off only 42 deliveries.

England face a much more daunting task in India, where the first Test in Chennai begins early next month.

"We've got a huge amount of confidence coming out of these games. We've had to manage different situations and all of that will stand us in good stead," Root told a virtual news conference.

"The challenge now is to look to replicate this over and over as a team. We can look at this as a platform, as a starting position."

England overcame some nervy moments to reach their 164-run target to win the final Test, getting the better of a difficult and deteriorating wicket through Sibley and Buttler.

"Those two guys saw us home in impressive style," the captain added.

"These wins are most important for us and the most pleasing thing for me is that for large portions, we were chasing the game.

"But for us to dig in and not allow them to get away from us was very impressive. But more anything the way we dealt with the pressure, both in the field and with the bat.

"We lost the toss in both games but managed to find a way to win in very difficult conditions, with very little lead up to the series as well. In the past, we've been guilty of being slow starters, be it home or away, so for us to start as well as this is really pleasing."

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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio

Date of birth: April 18, 1998

Playing position: Winger

Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda

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Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

Sole survivors
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