Highlights, India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Day 3: Karunaratne, Mendis lead Sri Lanka's fightback in follow-on

After bundling out at 183 in first innings, Sri Lanka showed great character and fight to get back into the match courtesy of two outstanding knocks from Kusal Mendis (110) and Dimuth Karunaratne (92 not out). The duo knitted a crucial partnership of 191 for the second wicket for the hosts. Lanka still have a long way to go and it would take something special from their batting line-up for them to get something out of the second Test in Colombo.

India on the other hand, are still a long way ahead in the game. Ravichandran Ashwin picked up his 26th five-wicket haul and played chief role with the ball in Lanka's demolition in the first innings. In the second innings, all-rounder Hardik Pandya provided them with an important break through towards the end of day 3 with the wicket of Mendis. The visitors would want to come out tomorrow morning and take a few early wickets and set the game up for them. Join us for the 4th day of the Test on Sunday at 1000 local 0430 GMT. Till then take care and cheers! (SCORECARD)

HIGHLIGHTS FROM INDIA VS SRI LANKA, 2ND TEST, DAY 3 at COLOMBO

17.20 IST: 

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17.15 IST: So, Sri Lanka are showing some character and fight to get back into the game courtesy of two outstanding knocks from Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne with the former scoring a ton and the latter unbeaten on 92. They still have a long way to go and it would take something special from their batting line-up for them to get something out of this game.

17.09 IST: MAIDEN! Close shave to end the day! Jadeja darts an arm ball outside off, Pushpakumara prods ahead and once again lets it go by keeping the bat inside the line. He doesn't pick the straighter one at all but is lucky that ball whizzes past the stumps. THAT'S STUMPS ON DAY 3! SL 209/2 in 60 overs at stumps, Colombo Test

17.03 IST: FOUR! Top shot! Short and wide outside off, Karunaratne goes back and smacks it through cover-point for a boundary. SL 209/2 in 58.1 overs

17.00 IST: 2 runs from the over. SL 204/2 in 57 overs

Ravichandran Ashwin is brought back into the attack.

16.55 IST: FOUR! Kohli makes mockery of himself. Moves a step to his right in anticipation and Dimuth's flick goes through his left, all the way to the fence for a boundary . SL 202/2

Malinda Pushpakumara the night watchman strides out to the middle.

16.51 IST: OUT! Hardik Pandya with the vital breakthrough! Bowls it a touch ahead of a length around off, angling in. Mendis prods forward to defend but gets an inside edge and lobs behind. Saha there, dives full stretch to his left and takes the catch. The Indians are excited and start celebrating. The umpire asks his partner whether the catch has been taken cleanly but then go upstairs, soft signal being 'out'.  SL 198/2 in 55 overs 

16.48 IST: FOUR and No Ball! Pandya has overstepped again. Sprays a low full toss outside off, flayed through covers for a boundary. This is poor cricket from Hardik. SL 198/1

16.38 IST: No ball! On a good length outside off, Karunaratne defends it off the outer half from within the crease. He has overstepped on this occasion and the umpire calls 'no ball'. SL 190/1 in 53 overs

16.30 IST: Ashwin drags his length a touch back, Karunaratne taps it on the off side. Just a single from the over, SL 186/1 in 50 overs

16.21 IST: FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Karunaratne cashes on the width on offer. Camps back and spanks it through cover-point for a boundary. SL 181/1 in 48 overs

16.19 IST: Just a single from Pandya's first over. SL 177/1 

Hardik Pandya comes into the attack for the first time.

16.15 IST: HUNDRED! FOUR! That's it! Kusal Mendis has scored a crucial century for his side. Take a bow, young lad! Kneels down and sweeps the fuller delivery hard through mid-wicket for a boundary. 3rd Hundred for Kusal Mendis. What an innings this has been! Shown his class, determination and mantle.  SL 176/1 in 46 overs

16.11 IST: NOT OUT! Spinning down leg, Karunaratne goes back to work it on the leg side but misses. As it goes past him, some sound is heard. Saha collects and everyone start appealing their heart out. The umpire though stay unmoved. After a major discussion with the surrounding players, Kohli goes for the review. The Ultra Edge shows that the ball came off the back thigh. India lose both their review now. SL 169/1

16.10 IST: REVIEW from INDIA! India looks confident in their appeal for caught behind but the umpire stays put. The visitors have referred it upstairs. Let's see...

16.06 IST: Time for Drinks!

16.01 IST: FOUR! Mendis sweeps hard. He gets a fuller ball from Jadeja and he's able to squeeze it out with a swab through mid-wicket. SL 166/1 in 44 overs

15.49 IST: MAIDEN! SL 158/1

Mohammed Shami replaces Ravichandran Ashwin.

15.45 IST: 150 partnership comes up b/w Mendis (87*) and Karunaratne (67*). Strong response from the Lankan batsmen after being enforced to play in the follow-on, good intent shown by them.  SL 158/1 in 40 overs

15.36 IST: 150 up for Sri Lanka. This is Sri Lanka's highest partnership in a follow-on innings.  

15.32 IST: FOUR! Lovely extension of the arms from Mendis. He drives it with the spin through covers for a boundary. SL 148/1 in 36 overs

15.23 IST: FOUR! Easy peasy! Short and wide outside off from Umesh, Karunaratne cuts it through backward point for a boundary. SL 139/1

15.21 IST: FOUR! Nails the reverse sweep through the vacant point region for a boundary. 7 runs from Ashwin's over. SL 135/1 in 33 overs

Finally, Kohli has his wish fulfilled. The umpires feel that the ball has lost his shape after it failing the 8-shape gauge test. And, the ball has now been replaced.

15.15 IST: MAIDEN! Umesh Yadav bowls a tidy line and length. SL 128/1 in 32 overs.

15.03 IST: FOUR! Karunaratne stays in the crease and glances this through fine leg. SL 125/1 29.5 overs.

Umesh Yadav to start the proceedings in the final session.

15.02 IST: Sri Lankan batsmen and the Indian players walk on back onto the field for the evening session

14.56 IST: 

14.45 IST: What a turn of events! Finally a session in Sri Lanka's favour! They lost Upul Tharanga early again but the stand between Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis has helped his team gain some momentum. Both the batsmen scored half centuries and have stretched their partnership to an unbeaten 111.

14.43 IST: MAIDEN! Loopy delivery, Karunaratne leans ahead and keeps it out. THAT'S TEA ON DAY 3! SL 118/1 in 29 overs, trail India by 321 runs.

14.39 IST: Just 2 runs from Umesh's over, cautious approach from the Lankan batsmen just before the tea-break. SL 118/1 in 28 overs

14.29 IST: FOUR! Good length delivery wide outside off from Umesh flayed on the up through cover-point for a boundary. Mendis is just growing in confidence. SL 112/1

Umesh Yadav is back into the attack. 100 partnership also comes up between Karunaratne and Mendis.

14.25 IST: FOUR! Boundary brings up 13th Test fifty for Karunaratne. Slower through the air on the pads. Dimuth tickles it fine down the leg side for a boundary. It is a fighting knock from him and he still has a long way to go.  SL 108/1 in 25 overs

14.20 IST: 5th Test fifty up for Kusal Mendis. SL 101/1 in 24 overs

14.19 IST: FOUR! Fifty up for Kusal Mendis and 100 up for Sri Lanka! Kusal keeps going after Jadeja. Goes to sweep it against the spin, gets a top edge and the ball goes over the keeper and to the fence behind. Some counter-attacking cricket this!  

14.18 IST: MAIDEN! Good over from Ashwin.  SL 96/1 in 23 overs

14.15 IST: FOUR! Towards the fence! Flatter and fuller around off, spinning away, Mendis kneels down and sweeps it off the toe end wide of mid on for a boundary.  SL 96/1 in 22 overs

14.12 IST: Kusal Mendis is receiving some treatment on his right leg. So a slight halt in play.

14.08 IST: There is a referral for a run out at the non striker's end. Direct hits are always close. The replays show Karunaratne had made it in, he's safe!

14.05 IST: FOUR! Just a tickle! Sliding down leg, Mendis stays in the crease and nudges it fine down the leg side for a boundary. Fourth one of the over, what an over it is turning out to be!  SL 84/1 in 20 overs

14.04 IST: FOUR! Third boundary of the over. Mendis is toying with Jadeja now. He picks up boundary with a sweep shot this time. SL 80/1

14.02 IST: FOUR! Cut away! Short outside off, spinning away, Mendis goes back and spanks it through square on the off side for a boundary. SL 76/1

14.01 IST: FOUR! Punched away! Landed outside off, spinning away, Mendis goes back and cracks it through covers for a boundary. SL 72/1

13.57 IST: REVIEW from Sri Lanka!  Kusal Mendis is confident and has reviewed his decision of being given out caught behind. He tells his partner that it brushed off the thigh pad. SL 68/1 in 19 overs, NOT OUT given by third umpire.

13.53 IST: FOUR! Short and punished! Ashwin drags his length back, spinning in, Mendis gets down on one knee and pulls it through square leg for a boundary. Well adjusted by Kusal!  SL 63/1

13.51 IST: Fifty partnership comes up between Karunaratne and Mendis. SL 58/1

13.46 IST: Time to take a small breather, Drinks!

13.44 IST: FOUR! CRUNCHED! Jadeja tosses it up on off, Kusal sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary. SL 56/1 

13.43 IST: MAIDEN! Third maiden on the trot, Ashwin is giving nothing away at the moment, Sri Lankan batsmen finding hard to tackle him. SL 52/1 in 15 overs

13.38 IST: MAIDEN! Another tight over from Ashwin. SL 52/1

50 up for Sri Lanka. 

13.34 IST: FOUR! Fires it on middle, Mendis goes down on one knee and slog sweeps it over mid on for a boundary.   SL 52/1 in 12 overs

13.32 IST: FOUR! That is one way to counter the spin! Brings out the reverse sweep and hits it over the backward point fielder and the ball races to the fence. SL 47/1

13.26 IST: FOUR! Third boundary of the over. Slower through the air on off, turning away. Dimuth waits and guides it through short third man for a boundary. SL 39/1 in 10 overs

13.24 IST: FOUR! Good intent by Mendis here! He uses his feet and goes over midwicket with the spin for another boundary. SL 34/1

13.23 IST: FOUR! FOUR! Poor by Dhawan. He has not had the best time in the field. Mendis comes down the track and drives it down the ground. Shikhar runs to his left and dives but is not able to stop the ball and it races to the long on fence. SL 30/1

13.21 IST: FOUR! Angles it into the pads, Karunaratne flicks it through square leg. Ashwin runs to his right from fine leg and dives but in vain as the ball is in contact with him as he touches the boundary. SL 26/1

Mohammed Shami is into the attack.

13.18 IST: Dropped! Loopy delivery around off from Ashwin, Mendis dances down and looks to hoick it on the leg side. Gets it off the toe end towards mid on. Dhawan stationed there, fails to get his fingers underneath the cherry and ends up dropping it. Mendis gets a life! SL 22/1 in 8 overs

13.11 IST: FOUR! Handsome! Short and angling away, Karunaratne rides the bounce and pulls it with authority through forward square leg for a boundary. IND 20/1 in 7 overs

13.08. FOUR! Streaky boundary! Tries to play the reverse sweep but goes off his glove over first slip and the ball races to the fence. SL 11/1 in 4 overs

Kusal Mendis walks out to bat. Let's see how much resistance can he provide?

12.59 IST: OUT! Cleaned up! Umesh Yadav gets his man. Tharanga's dismal match continues! SL 7/1 in 3 overs

12.55. IST: MAIDEN! Brilliant start from Ashwin, he's continuing from where he finished in the first innings. SL 4/0 in 2 overs

Ravichandran Ashwin to share the new cherry as expected! Two slips, a silly point and a short leg in place.

12.51 IST: Just 4 runs from Umesh's over. SL 4/0 in 1 over

12.47 IST: We are back. The Lankan second innings is about to kick start. Karunaratne and Tharanga are at the crease. Karunaratne is on strike. Umesh Yadav will open the attack for India

12.15 IST: Sri Lanka started the day by taking Chandimal and Mendis quickly. Dickwella and Angelo tried to counter attack but a brilliant catch to dismiss the latter and a false shot by the former got the better of them. For India Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers bagging a five-for and he was well supported by the rest. On a wicket which is providing a lot of assistance to the bowlers we just might see the visitors clinching the series today. Join us for the second session in a while.

12.11 IST: So Sri Lanka have been bundled out for 183. The Indian bowlers have made short work of the Sri Lankan batting line up. They trail by 439 and India have enforced the follow on.

12.08 IST: All-out! Dragged on! Ashwin tosses it up outside off, Pradeep plants his front foot across and after feeling that the ball won't spin much tries to leave it. However, he is late in it and the ball takes the inside edge and rattles the stumps. That's the end of the Sri Lankan innings. THEY ARE ALL OUT ON 183!

12.04 IST: FOUR! Dropped and a boundary! Served fuller around off, spinning away. Pushpakumar goes for the slog again. Gets it off the toe end over mid on. Yadav there backpedals, gets both hands to it but ends up spilling it. The ball trickles to the fence behind. That was a difficult chance though!  SL 181/9

12.02 IST: SIX! Slogged down the ground! Pushpakumara makes room and slogs the fuller delivery straight down the ground for a maximum. Take that Jaddu, says Malinda!  SL 177/9

Nuwan Pradeep the last man comes out to bat. With only two minutes left before lunch if the last wicket does not fall in that time the session will be extended.

11.58 IST: OUT! Ashwin gets through Perera's defence. Does him in with flight. Lands it around off, Dilruwan looks to push it on the off side but plays down the wrong line. The ball goes past the inside edge and shatters the woodwork. 4th wicket of the innings for Ashwin. He is continuing his good run. SL 171/9 

11.48 IST: FOUR! Perera slogs it across the line from the off-stump and sends it racing through mid-wicket. SL 168/8

11.42 IST: FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries. Shorter in length outside off, Perera cuts it through cover-point and the ball races to the fence. SL 161/8 in 43 overs

11.41 IST: FOUR! Dilruwan sweeps it through backward square leg for a boundary. He used the pace well there.

11.38 IST: BOWLED! Brilliant Yorker Shami sends back Herath back to the pavilion. Shami on fire! The perfect delivery for a tailender. He comes steaming in and spears it very full on middle and off, tails in sharply too. Herath is yorked and sees his woodwork disturbed. India just a couple wickets away from bowling out the hosts, depending on whether Pradeep comes out to bat.  SL 152/8 in 42 overs

Rangana Herath strides out to the middle.

11.32 IST: OUT! Dickwella (51) oversmarts himself! Shami strikes with his first ball today. SL 150/7

Mohammed Shami is into the attack.

11.28 IST: 150 up for Sri Lanka. 

11.25 IST: 5th Test fifty up for Niroshan Dickwella.  Another half century for Dickwella! His fastest one! He once again kneels down and plays a controlled sweep in front of square on the legs side for a single. SL 147/6

11.20 IST: SIX! Into the stands! Game plan from Sri Lanka is clear, to go after the Indian bowling. This time it's Perera who gives the charge. Dances down and clobbers it over long on for a biggie. SL 143/6

11.19 IST: FOUR! Handsome! Fuller delivery on middle, Dickwella kneels down and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket for a boundary. SL 136/6

11.16 IST: FOUR! This time Dickwella gets across and sweeps courageousl puts in the air but away from the fielder standing square on the on-side. SL 132/6 in 37 overs

11.14 IST: FOUR! Dickwella goes down the wicket and with the turn, lofts over the man at mid-on.  SL 127/4

Dilruwan Perera comes to the crease for SL

11.08 IST: OUT! Ravindra Jadeja sends Dhananjaya de Silva back to pavilion for a duck. 150th Test wicket for Jadeja! He is the second fastest Indian to do so. Quicker on middle, turning away. De Silva tries to defend it off the front foot but gets beaten by the turn and the ball takes the off pole. That was a beautiful delivery. Not a good return for Dhananjaya as he bags a golden duck. There was no foot movement by him. Sri Lankan batsmen are falling like a pack of cards. Jadeja gets his third.  SL 122/6 in 35 overs

Dhananjaya de Silva is the new man in.

Drinks break! Sri Lanka have lost half their side but are still 505 runs behind. They will have to pull something magical and also will need a lot of fortune if they want to get anything from this match. India would be looking to continue the same.

11.01 IST: OUT! Angelo Mathews (26) gone. Ashwin gets his third and Sri Lanka have lost their fifth wicket. Sensatinal from Pujara! Great reflex catch there. Mathews cam't belevie it. Ashwin flaots it on off, Angelo plays it with the spin towards leg gully where Che dives low to his left and takes an excellent one handed catch. The umpires go upstairs to check whether it is a clean catch or not. Replays show that he has taken that cleanly and Mathews has to walk back. Sri Lanka have half their side back in the hut. This is a huge wicket for India and you can see by their celebration how happy they are.  SL 117/5

10.59 IST: The umpire has gone upstairs as India appeal for a clean catch from Pujara. Soft signal from umpire is out.

10.57 IST: Fifty Partnership comes up between Dickwella and Mathews off just 46 balls!

10.56 IST: FOUR! Dickwella smashes it to sweeper cover, this time off Ashwin. Raining boundaries here. Shorter in length outside off, Dickwella cuts it through covers and the ball races to the fence. SL 114/4

10.55 IST: SIX! Second of the over from Angelo Mathews. Counter attack from the ex-skipper. Fires it on off, Mathews moves his front leg out of the way and smacks it straight over the fence for a huge maximum.  SL 110/4

100 comes up for Sri Lanka.

10.52 IST: SIX! TOP SHOT! A lot fuller on leg stump, Mathews picks it up over mid on for another maximum.  SL 102/4 in 32.2 overs

10.51 IST: SIX! Brave hit from Dickwella, he comes down the track and hits it straight over long-off. SL 96/4

Ravichandran Ashwin to start his spell on Day 3. Two slips, a leg slip and a silly point in place.

10.47 IST: Just 3 runs from Jadeja's over, SL 88/4 in 31 overs 

10.39 IST: FOUR! Dickwella will continue playing his shots. Walks across and sweeps it fine to the leg side for a boundary. If he would have missed that he would have been a dead duck. SL 84/4 in 29 overs

10.33 IST: FOUR! Nicely done! Dickwella opens the face of the bat and nicely glides it through backward point for a boundary. SL 76/4 in 28 overs

10.30 IST: FOUR! Good intent from Mathews! Shuffles across and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket for a boundary. He picked his spot as there was no one out there.  SL 72/4

10.27 IST: FOUR! Boundary to end the over from Dickwella. Lovely timing! Full outside off, Dickwella leans into it and drives it through the covers for a boundary. He will play his shots. SL 68/4 in 26 overs

Niroshan Dickwella walks out to bat.

10.23 IST: OUT! UMESH STRIKES! Kohli having dropped one makes no mistake this time. Umesh bowls it on leg stump, Mendis tries to flick but the ball stops on him and takes the outer half and lobs up to Mid off, who pedals back and takes an easy catch. Sri Lanka are in dire straits here. SL 64/4

10.20 IST: FOUR! INNOVATION! Darts it on the stumps, Mathews paddles it through short fine for a boundary.  SL64/3 in 25 overs

10.20 IST: DROPPED! Jadeja is causing all soughts of problems here. Fires it in on middle, turning away. Takes the outside edge of Mathews and goes to the left of second slip. Kohli positioned there first moves to his right and then dives low to his left gets a hand to it but could not hang on. Mathews gets a reprieve.

Angelo Mathews comes to the crease.

10.17 IST: OUT! Jadeja removes Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal (10). Jadeja gets his man! Good field placement by Virat there. Full ball on leg stump, Chandimal shuffles across and sweeps it straight to Pandya at backward square leg who takes an easy catch. He had that man positioned for the sweep and Chandimal hits it straight to him. An early wicket for India and it is of the skipper who is walking back to the hut. The visitors are ecstatic. SL 60/3 in 24.1 overs 

10.11 IST: MAIDEN! Consecutive maidens from bowlers, India have been right on money first-up in morning so far. SL 57/2

10.09 IST: MAIDEN! Brilliant stuff from Yadav, he bowls a tight line to Lankan batsmen, gave nothing away. SL 57/2 in 22 overs

10.05 IST: Umesh Yadav finally gets a go with the ball this innings.

10.04 IST: EDGED and FOUR! Streaky start from Mendis, Jadeja fires it on off, gets it to turn away from the batsman. Mendis pokes at it and gets an outside edge and Pujara stationed at 2nd slip fails to react and it goes between the 1st and the 2nd slip for a boundary. Jadeja is not happy. That should have been taken. Che was standing too close. SL 57/2 in 21 overs

10.01 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to start proceedings for India.

09.57 IST: We're ready to get underway. The players and the umpires are out in the middle. Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis will continue their innings.  

09.51 IST: Pitch Report - "We are seeing some genuine signs of wear and tear," reckons Simon Doull. Doull also spotted a couple of dents from where Jadeja would bowl to the Lankan batsmen. Meanwhile, Russel Arnold was at the other end, most probably the end where Ashwin will bowl and he too found a few cracks right where the ball lands for a right-hander. Lankan batsmen will have to show some real patience as the India spin-twins are likely to dicate terms on the third day of the Colombo Test.

09.40 IST: 

 

09.30 IST: 

Brief Report:

Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets to punish Sri Lanka soon after India declared their first innings on 622 for nine on day two of the second Test on Friday. At the end of day two the hosts were 50 for two. (Scorecard)

Ashwin broke through in the second over of the innings when he had Upul Tharanga caught by Lokesh Rahul with the team yet to score. Dimuth Karunaratne showed promise, scoring 25 runs before Ajinkya Rahane took a low catch at slip to dismiss him off Ashwin.

Kusal Mendis (16 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal 8 not out) were batting at the close.

Ashwin had two for 38 in 10 overs.

Earlier, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane scored centuries and four other batsmen scored half-centuries to help India to a big score. (FULL DAY 2 REPORT)