Second Test, Colombo (SSC) (day five, close):
Match drawn: Sri Lanka 642-4 dec & 129-3 dec v India 707
Match scorecard

A draw was likely after Sri Lanka scored 642-4 in their first innings

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was critical of the Colombo pitch after the second Test against Sri Lanka petered out into a predictable draw.

The tourists were dismissed for 707 to take a first-innings lead of 65 and Sri Lanka ended on 129-3 to preserve their 1-0 series lead with one Test to play.

A total of 1,478 runs were scored and only 17 wickets taken over five days.

"If there is nothing for fast bowlers in a wicket it should help spinners. This was just for batsmen," said Dhoni.

"The bowlers got spanked all around the park.

"I am glad we took the lead because when the opposition bats first and puts up more than 600 runs on the board, there is always pressure on the team batting second.

"But we played well and built partnerships, so there are a lot of positives to take away from the Test."

India's last-wicket pair proved how docile the pitch was, Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha putting on 39 runs after resuming on 669-9.

Sri Lanka, who had declared their first innings on 624-4, cut short their second knock at 129-3 when both captains decided to end the match 13 overs after tea on Friday's final day.

Home coach Trevor Bayliss said such dead wickets were unlikely to ever produce positive results in Tests.

"We need pitches which are good for batting and have something for the bowlers too," he said.

Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (219) and India's Sachin Tendulkar (203) made the most of the helpful batting conditions, while three other batsmen, Mahela Jayawardene (174), Tharanga Paranavitana (100) for Sri Lanka and Indian debutant Suresh Raina (120) also boosted their averages.

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