COLOMBO: Having toyed with Pakistan and New Zealand, Kumar Sangakkara’s Sri Lanka are eyeing India as their next scalp as the battle heats up to be the world’s top Test team.

Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan and New Zealand by identical 2-0 margins at home to climb to the No 2 spot in the official rankings with a rating of 120 behind No 1 team South Africa’s 122. With India just one rating point behind Sri Lanka on 119 and Ashes losers Australia in fourth place with 116, the scramble at the top could see a new no 1 by the end of the year.

Sri Lanka need to win their three-Test series in India in November-December to overtake South Africa, while a 2-0 win for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men will push India to the top. Sri Lanka have never won a Test in India, let alone a series, in seven previous visits, with eight losses and six draws since their first Test in Chennai in 1982.

It’s a record Sangakkara, who has won four of his five Tests as captain since taking over from Mahela Jayawardene earlier this year, is determined to set straight. “The Indian tour will test everyone, mentally, physically and skill wise,” he said. “But if we do our homework right, be confident, prepare as best as we can and go out there looking to win, and if our attitude is positive, we will do well.”

When they last played a series in India in December, 2005, Sri Lanka lost the second Test in New Delhi by 188 runs and the third in Ahmedabad by 259 runs after the first game in Chennai was washed out. “One likes to play against the best and India will definitely be a tough side to conquer,” said Sangakkara. “It is not easy playing Test cricket in India.”

Both sides get a chance to gauge each other’s strengths when India join New Zealand and Sri Lanka in a limited-overs tri-series in Colombo from September 8-14. India and Sri Lanka are drawn in different group for the Champions Trophy in South Africa in late-September, but could meet in the semi-finals if they qualify after the preliminary round.

ICC fines Paranavitana

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Tharanga Paranavitana has been fined 50 per cent of his match fees for an excessive appeal during the second Test against New Zealand, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday. Paranavitana claimed a catch at silly point off New Zealand tailender Iain O’Brien on Sunday and began celebrating by throwing the ball in the air even as the umpires conferred on the dismissal. Television replays showed the fielder take the ball on the half-volley, but match referee Andy Pycroft of Zimbabwe insisted Paranavitana was not fined for claiming a wrong catch. Pycroft said Paranavitana had apologised for his action and blamed the incident on “his excitement at Sri Lanka being on the verge of winning the series”. Sri Lanka won the Test by 96 runs to sweep the two-match series. — AFP