India beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in the second cricket Test in Kanpur on Friday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Despite a brave ninth wicket stand worth 73 runs between Samaraweera and Mendis, Indian bowlers went through the defences of Lankan batsmen with ridiculous ease, with Harbhajan Singh (3/98) taking over the mantle of wrecker-in-chief during the visitors 2nd innings.

Thilan Samaraweera (78 not out) and Ajantha Mendis (27) did resist the Indians for nearly 20 overs with a gritty 73-run stand but it was too little and merely a footnote in the context of the match.

Both the teams now move to Mumbai for the third and final Test starting December 2.

Sri Lanka's distant hopes of stretching the match into its final day were in tatters in the morning session itself when they lost four wickets to expose their lower half.

Realising the futility of grafting, overnight batsmen Angelo Mathews (15) decided to counter-attack and chose out-of-rhythm Zaheer Khan for the treatment.

Zaheer's overpitched first ball of the day was driven down the ground, his second -- a no ball -- was pulled to the fence with ferocity and his third -- again a no ball -- scorched the cover area grass before crossing the rope.

Two balls later, Zaheer had the score settled. The left-arm seamer banged it short and Mathews' pull was a little premature. Rahul Dravid rushed from gully to pouch the top edge.

Mathews' exit meant the collective contribution of the Sri Lankan top order read a pathetic 79.

... contd.