For the second time in the day, India have lost a wicket at the stroke of a break. Both Virat Kohli (76 not out) and Abhinav Mukund (81) looked set to get to their tons untroubled but of all bowlers, Danushka Gunathilaka trapped the southpaw in front of the stumps. India have a massive lead of 498 runs and have a firm grip on this Test. They might look to add a few runs tomorrow morning and then have a go at the hosts.
Sri Lanka have their everything to the wall. If the injury to Asela Gunaratne was not enough, their skipper too hurt his bowling hand and walked off the field. While they will sweat over his fitness, they will know they have a huge task on the hands to save this game from this stage. The hosts were bowled out for 291 in the first innings earlier in the day. Cricket has seen miraculous efforts before so don't rule them out. Let's see if they manage to do that. Do join us for all the action on Day 4 tomorrow at 1000 local (0430 GMT). Until then, it's goodbye and take care! (LIVE SCORECARD)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM INDIA VS SRI LANKA, 1ST TEST, DAY 3
18.03 IST: OUT! Gunathilaka gets his man! Drifting in from around off, the ball spins with the arm. Mukund prods forward and tries to defend. Is beaten by the turn and gets rapped on the pads. The players appeal and the umpire after thinking a bit raises his finger up. The Ball Tracker shows that it was pitched outside off, impact was in line and it was going onto hit the stumps. So that means, the umpire was right and Mukund has to walk back to the hut with the rest as it's STUMPS ON DAY 3! IND 600 and 189/3 in 46.3 overs, lead Sri Lanka (291) by 498 runs.
18.02 IST: REVIEW! Abhinav Mukund is adjudged LBW by the umpire. But he consults his skipper and asks for a review.
18.00 IST: Beaten for turn and bounce. The umpire go upstairs to check for a stumping appeal against Abhinav Mukund. Completely beaten! Gives a bit of loop outside off, Mukund gets forward and tries to defend. Is beaten and the keeper is quick to collect it. Dickwella clips the bails and appeals. the umpire goes upstairs. Replays show Mukund is safe. NOT OUT! IND 188/2 in 46 overs
17.52 IST: FOUR, Overthrows! Tossed up outside off, Mukund stays back and punches it towards point. Kohli calls for a quick single. Mukund responds too. The backward point fielder collects the ball and has a shy at the non-striker's end. He misses and the batsmen are lucky to get four extra runs via overthrow. Replays show that a direct hit could have been trouble for Abhinav. IND 182/2 in 44 overs
17.40 IST: Wide! Full and wide outside off, Kohli still goes after it but misses it completely. IND 172/2 in 41 overs
17.38 IST: Wide! Again way wide outside off, Kohli lets it through. The umpire signals it as a wide.
17.37 IST: Top Edge and Four! Lucky for Abhinav Mukund. Short delivery into the batsman, Mukund goes for the pull but ends up top edging it through the fine leg region for a boundary. IND 167/2 in 40.2 overs
17.34 IST: In the air...safe! Mukund has luck on his side! Tossed up around middle and leg, Mukund is way too early in his clip. Gets a leading edge on it and the ball balloons between the fielder at point, cover and silly mid off. The batsmen run a single. IND 163/2 in 40 overs
100 partnerships comes up for Kohli (67*) and Mukund (62*)
17.22 IST: FOUR! Deft! Good length delivery outside off, dabbed through the third man region for a boundary. IND 158/2 in 37 overs
11 overs left in the day.
17.17 IST: Good over for India as 8 runs came off it. IND 149/2 in 36 overs
The physio is out there in the middle to treat Rangana Herath. He seems to have hurt his bowling hand. Wait! Another setback for the Lankans, their skipper is walking back to the dressing room in pain.
17.13 IST: Tossed up outside off, Kohli leans forward and drives it powerfully towards covers. Herath half stops it and the batsmen run a couple. He seems to have hurt himself. IND 143/2 in 35.1 overs
Dilruwan Perera is back into the attack.
17.11 IST: 5 runs from Lahiru Kumara's over. India lead by 450 runs. IND 141/2 in 35 overs
Time to take a breather. Drinks!
16.59 IST: FIFTY for skipper Kohli! Milestone alert! Shorter around leg, Kohli gets across and tucks it towards fine leg for a couple of runs. 1st fifty for him in eight innings, 1000 runs as captain for him in Tests outside India. IND 136/2 in 34 overs
16.44 IST: FOUR! This brings up 2nd Test fifty for Abhinav Mukund. Herath bowls it outside leg, Mukund kneels down and sweeps it nicely through the fine leg region for a boundary. IND 120/2 in 30 overs
16.42 IST: FOUR! Top shot! Floats it around off, Mukund comes down and clips it over mid on for a boundary. That was well hit.
16.36 IST: Just two runs from Herath's over, another tight one for Sri Lanka. IND 110/2 in 28 overs
16.29 IST: Fifty-partnership between Mukund and Kohli. IND 108/2 in 26 overs
16.24 IST: FOUR! Good length around the hips, Kohli gets across and tucks it to backward square leg. Kumara looks to cut it off in the deep to his left but fails to do so. Another boundary. IND 104/2 in 24.4 overs
16.23 IST: FOUR! Beautiful! Full and outside off, Kohli presses forward and just drives it through covers for another boundary. He moves on to 30 from 30. 100 up for India. Lead is now 409.
Time for Nuwan Pradeep! He was the one who dismissed Kohli and will be again aiming to bowl short to the Indian captain.
16.17 IST: Full and outside off, Kohli presses forward and drives it through covers for a couple of runs. The lead crosses 400-run mark. IND 92/2 in 23 overs
16.14 IST: FOUR! What placement! Shorter in length around middle, Mukund gets on top of it and pulls it nicely in the gap between the two fielders in the deep at long leg and square leg. Brilliantly placed. IND 89/2 in 22.2 overs
16.12 IST: Loops it around off, Kohli drives it nicely through covers. Gunathilaka covers good ground and stops it near the fence with a dive. Saves a run for his side. IND 84/3 in 22 overs
16.01 IST: FOUR! Full toss from Kumara, Mukund pushes it through covers for a boundary. That was nicely timed. Sri Lanka look pretty flat. IND 73/2 in 19 overs
15.57 IST: FOUR! Pure timing from Virat Kohli. Fuller around off and middle, Kohli backs away and times his push through the covers. IND 67/2 in 18 overs
Play starts tomorrow at 0945 local time tomorrow. Rangana Herath to bowl from the other end.
15.54 IST: FOUR! Kohli off the mark with a boundary! A friendly full toss on off, Kohli gets forward and pushes it firmly past the short extra cover fielder. IND 60/2 in 17 overs
At last! The players are out in the middle for play. VIRAT KOHLI joins Abhinav Mukund. Lahiru Kumara to complete his over!
15.47 IST: Guys, the news from the centre is that all the covers have been peeled off and play is expected to start soon. Sri Lankan players are also walking into the field now. Play to start in 10 minutes! 31 overs will be bowled.
15.35 IST: The covers are being removed from the outfield as the rain has stopped. We have an inspection in 10 minutes.
15.26 IST: Umpires are out again for inspection.
15.20 IST: Sorry folks! The rain seems be back now and the covers have also come out.
15.15 IST: Good news! The rain seems to have gone. There will be an inspection at 1515 local time.
14.45 IST: Early tea has been taken with India 600 & 56/2, lead Sri Lanka (291) by 365 runs. India will look to reassess their target and might look to attack a bit more after the break, if the rain relents. Stay tuned for more updates.
14.15 IST: Rains were always threatening to come down hard. A moment of brilliance from Pradeep to lift the spirits of Sri Lanka. India though are in firm control with a huge lead of 366 runs. They will have to wait for the rain to go though to resume. They might not want to delay the declaration with such weather.
14.10 IST: RAIN IS HERE! The players have raced to the dug out and the ground staff have covered the entire ground. Cheteshwar Pujara must be feeling so unlucky!
14.10 IST: OUT! Lahiru Kumara removes Cheteshwar Pujara for 15. Good fielding placement! Angling into the pads from a good length, Pujara shuffles a tad bit and clips it. Ends up flicking it straight towards the fielder at leg gully. Mendis fumbles the first time but holds onto it on the second attempt. Pujara has to walk back and Kumara is really happy. IND 600 & 56/2, lead SL (291) by 365 runs
14.05 IST: It is getting darker in Galle. A massive cloud cover hovering over the stadium. Sri Lankan ground staff on high alert.
14.00 IST: Fifty comes up for India in the second innings with a single from Mukund off Lahiru Kumara. IND 600 & 52/1, lead SL (291) by 361 runs
13.56 IST: Sri Lankan bowlers have kept it tight after the drinks break. They haven't given much to the Indian batsmen. IND 600 & 49/1, lead SL (291) by 358 runs
13.45 IST: Drinks are on the field now. So far India have maintained a strong hold over the match. Both Pujara and Mukund are solid at the crease and will look to increase India's lead further.
13.36 IST: FOUR! Perera lands it around middle, Mukund comes down the deck and cips it wide of the mid on region for a boundary. IND 600 & 32/1, lead SL (291) by 351 runs
13.32 IST: FOUR! Great shot from Pujara, he hits a half-volley from Pradeep for a boundary to covers.
13.30 IST: Good over from Perera, just one off it. IND 600 & 31/1, lead SL (291) by 340 runs
13.27 IST: FOUR! Pradeep angles it on middle, Pujara clips it through square leg. The timing is too good and he gets a boundary instead of the two he called for. IND 600 & 30/1, lead SL (291) by 339 runs.
13.24 IST: FOUR! Shorter length outside off from Pradeep and Mukund goes back and slaps it to the third man fence. The runs are coming thick and fast.
13.21 IST: Good over from Perera, just a single off it. IND 600 & 20/1, lead SL (291) by 329 runs.
13.14 IST: OUT! Perera removes Dhawan for 14. What a soft dismissal! Short and wide from Perera, Dhawan looks to smash it but the ball goes of the splice straight to point. The substitute de Silva takes the catch and Shikhar cannot believe his luck. 11 out of 10 times, he will hit that to the fence but not this time, for some reason. That was a really soft dismissal. IND 600 & 19/1, lead SL (291) by 328 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara comes out to bat.
13.11 IST: FOUR! Perera bowls it short and Dhawan cuts away efficiently for a boundary through point.
13.08 IST: FOUR! Pradeep bowls it full and outside off, Dhawan comes forward and drives it through covers for a boundary. IND 600 & 13/0 in 3 overs, lead by 322 runs
13.05 IST: FOUR! Off the mark! Short again, wide, Mukund dispatches Dilruwan Perera through the cover-point region for a boundary. The fielder gives it a chase but comes second best. Gunathilaka tried his best from covers. IND 600 & 8/0 in 2 overs, lead by 317 runs
13.00 IST: FOUR! Easy as you like! Shorter outside off, Dhawan arches back and cuts it late behind point for a boundary to get off the mark. IND 600 & 4/0 in 1 over
12.57 IST: Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund are out to bat. Nuwan Pradeep will open the proceedings for Sri Lanka.
12.53 IST: It could be the innings from Perera that would have convinced the Indians that they should bat since the deck is still a pretty good one. The bowlers weren't at their best but got the work done at the end. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled well yesterday but didn't get the same bite today. India get a lead of 309 runs and will look to bat Sri Lanka out of the game completely. Join us in a while for their innings.
12.51: IST: India have not enforced the follow-on, they will bat. A very good effort from them on what has been a reasonably good wicket to bat. The pacer Mohammed Shami set it up with two quick wickets early on. Upul Tharanga and Angelo Mathews fought hard scoring fifties but the Indian spinners kept troubling them all the time. Dilruwan Perera stayed unbeaten on 92 and will rue on missing out a ton since he was batting and playing his shots really well.
12.48 IST: OUT! Jadeja removes Lahiru Kumara for 2. Jadeja lands it just outside off, spins in, Kumara plays down the wrong line and is bowled. Sri Lanka all out for 291, trail IND (600) by 309 runs. Dilruwan Perera 92*, Ravindra Jadeja 3/67. India will not enforce follow-on.
12.46 IST: Pandya concedes just two runs off the over. SL 291/8, trail IND by 309 runs
12.40 IST: The players are out in the middle. The two batsmen, Dilruwan Perera and Lahiru Kumara to bat. India will want to take the final wicket quickly. They begin with Hardik Pandya! Wonder why the umpires took lunch since there is no Gunaratne to bat. Cricket at times, befuddles you. Let's see how they go and if they enforce the follow-on.
12.15 IST: Sri Lanka have managed to survive the session and they have also scored 135 runs in the process. Angelo Mathews and Dilruwan Perera started off the day in a really comforting manner. Both of them looked settled in the first hour but a rather rash shot from the former broke the stand. Dilruwan kept on playing his shots from the other end and is closing in on his maiden ton. None of the bowlers except Ravindra Jadeja were effective as they hardly troubled the batsmen in the middle. It would be interesting to see how long the hosts last though. Will Virat Kohli impose the follow-on or will he bat again? That seems to be the thing which would be on everyone's mind. Join us in a while for the post-lunch session.
12.03 IST: Lahiru Kumara survives and that'll be lunch. Sri Lanka 289/8 at Lunch, trail India (600) by 311 runs. Jadeja 2/67, Pandya 1/11
12.00 IST: FOUR! Jadeja floats it outside off, Perera goes for the drive. Gets a thick outside edge to it and the ball goes past the slip region for a boundary.
11.58 IST: R Ashwin is brought into the attack again!
11.52 IST: OUT! Pandya removes Nuwan Pradeep (10) to get his first Test wicket! Good length delivery around middle and off, straightens a touch. Pradeep tries to drive it but gets beaten by the away movement. Misses it completely and gets finds his timber disturbed. India finally get a breakthrough and the 39-run stand comes to an end. SL 280/8, trail IND (600) by 320 runs. Lahiru Kumara is the last man in. Just a reminder that Asela Gunaratne is injured and out of this match. So, this will be counted as the last Sri Lankan wicket.
11.50 IST: FOUR! Full toss from Pandya and Nuwan Pradeep times it to deep extra cover for a boundary!
11.47 IST: SIX! A maximum to end the over, smashes Jadeja over deep mid-wicket. Perera is playing good cricket here. Jadeja tossed it up outside off, Perera gives it a full swing this time and gets it over the mid-wicket region for a half a dozen. SL 272/7
11.26 IST: FOUR! Ashwin's fielding comes under scanner again! An unhappy Jadeja looks at Kohli. Jadeja floats this one outside off, Perera kneels down and plays a slog sweep. Ashwin in the deep is not at the fence which allows the batsmen to get a boundary.
11.45 IST: Great first over from Pandya, he gives away just a single. SL 260/7
11.42 IST: Hardik Pandya bowls his first spell in Test cricket.
11.41 IST: Jadeja concedes just 3 runs, SL reach 259/7, trail IND by 341 runs
11.37 IST: FOUR! Short delivery from Umesh and Perera hits it towards mid-on for a boundary! Seven runs from the over. SL 256/7, trail IND by 344 runs
11.35 IST: Maiden over from Jadeja! SL 249/7, trail IND by 351 runs
11.30 IST: FOUR! Perera gets the better this time around! Umesh bowls another bouncer around off, Dilruwan premeditates it, goes leg side and plays the ramp shot over the slip region for a boundary. SL 249/7, trail IND by 351 runs
11.28 IST: FOUR! Shortish delivery from Umesh outside off, Perera arches back a bit and plays it over the point region for a boundary.
11.23 IST: OUT! Jadeja removes Herath for 9. Jadeja bowls it shorter around off, Herath again goes for the fancy reverse sweep. Cannot connect it with the bat, but he maybe gloves it and the ball balloons over the keeper's head. Rahane from slip goes a couple of steps behind to take a simple catch. India appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Herath seems confident and is quick to opt for the review. Replays show that the ball had made contact with the glove and the skipper has to walk back to the hut. SL 241/7, trail IND (600) by 359 runs
11.20 IST: SIX! Ashwin floated outside off, Perera dances down the track, reaches to the pitch of the ball and smashes that over the keeper's head for a boundary. SL 241/6, trail IND by 359 runs
11.19 IST: Perera completes his fifty with a couple off Ashwin. Great knock under pressure from Perera!
11.18 IST: SIX! Perera smashes Ashwin over deep-wicket for a maximum. In the arc...out of the park! Tossed up outside off, Dilruwan kneels down and plays the perfect slog sweep over the mid-wicket region for a biggie. Good shot this!
11.17 IST: Jadeja concedes just two runs as SL reach 229/6, trail IND by 371 runs
11.14 IST: Good over here from Ashwin, just a single off it. SL 227/6
11.11 IST: FOUR! Attacking cricket here from Perera! Stays in his crease and plays the slog sweep over the mid-wicket region for a boundary. SL 226/6, trail IND by 374 runs
11.08 IST: FOUR! Ashwin sprays it down the leg side, Rangana tickles it fine past the keeper for a boundary. Rahane tries to chase it down but cannot stop it. SL 221/6, trail IND by 379 runs
11.03 IST: NOT OUT! What a review, Dilruwan! Jadeja bowls it around off, Perera plays down the wrong line and is rapped on the pads. The players appeal and the umpire rules it out. Dilruwan takes the customary review since he was batting well. Replays confirm there was no bat there. Ball Tracker shows it to be missing the stumps with the bounce. Not sure even Perera expected that. Dilruwan Perera survives. SL 216/6, trail IND by 384 runs. Time for a drinks break!
11.00 IST: Too full around off, Perera shapes to defend but with his bat and pad together. The bowler appeals along with the players but nothing from the umpire. They think of the review but decide against it. Smart choice since replays show it was off the bat only.
10.58 IST: FOUR! Perera ends Ashwin's over with a boundary. Ashwin lands it outside off, Perera comes forward and drives it through the covers for a boundary. He has really played well today. SL 215/6, trail IND by 385 runs
10.56 IST: SIX! Good use of the feet from Perera to hit Ashwin for a maximum over long on. Ashwin floats it outside off, Perera comes down, gets under it and tonks it over long on for a biggie. He is enjoying his time out in the middle.
10.54 IST: OUT! Jadeja removes Mathews for 83. What a soft dismissal! Floats it around off, Mathews backs away and looks to go over covers. The ball goes straight to Virat Kohli at short cover who takes it gleefully. That is a waste of a wicket, Angelo should not have played that. India get a breakthrough out of nowhere and the change of end works for Jadeja. End of a fighting knock though. SL 205/6, trail IND (600) by 395 runs
10.51 IST: Ravindra Jadeja is back for a bowl. Can ge get a breakthough?
10.50 IST: A maiden over from Ashwin. SL 203/5
10.46 IST: FOUR! Well controlled! Short and outside off from Shami and Mathews fetches it from wide outside off and drags it wide of Ashwin at mid on for a boundary. SL 203/5, trail IND by 397 runs
10.42 IST: FOUR! Ashwin bowls it short and down the leg side, Mathews goes back and pummels it through the backward square leg region for a boundary. That was asking to be hit. 50-run stand up! Good stuff from Mathews and Perera. SL 196/5, trail IND by 404 runs
10.40 IST: Super stuff from Shami, gives away just a single. SL 190/5, trail IND by 410 runs
10.36 IST: Another good over for Sri Lanka as Ashwin concedes 5 runs. SL 189/5, trail IND by 411 runs
10.33 IST: Shami gives away 7 runs in his first over. SL 188/5, trail IND (600) by 412 runs
10.30 IST: FOUR! Terrific shot from Mathews to hit Shami to deep extra cover for a boundary.
10.30 IST: Double bowling change for India as Mohammed Shami replaces Umesh Yadav.
10.29 IST: Ashwin starts with a maiden over! SL 181/5, trail IND (600) by 419 runs
10.26 IST: Enough of Jadeja, time for Ravichandran Ashwin! A slip, leg slip and a short leg in place.
10.25 IST: Good over for Sri Lanka! Umesh concedes 6 runs. SL 181/5
10.20 IST: SIX! Slammed! Jadeja floats it outside off, Perera gets down and goes over extra cover for a biggie. Superb shot, that. SL 175/5, trail IND (600) by 425 runs
10.18 IST: Decent over from Umesh, he gives away 3 runs. SL 168/5
10.14 IST: Jadeja follows Umesh's over with another tight one. He concedes just one run. SL 165/5, trail IND (600) by 435 runs
10.12 IST: Good over from Umesh, just a single off it. SL 164/5, trail IND (600) by 436 runs
10.07 IST: FOUR! Jadeja tosses it up around off, Perera comes down and mistimes it just wide of the mid on fielder for a boundary. Good intent from Dilruwan! SL 163/5, trail IND (600) by 437 runs
10.05 IST: Ravindra Jadeja to bowl from the other end. A slip and a gully in place.
10.03 IST: FOUR! Umesh bowls it short and wide outside off, Perera punches it wide of the point fielder for a boundary. That was well timed as Pandya gave it a chase but could not stop that one. SL 158/5, trail IND (600) by 442 runs
10.00 IST: Angelo Mathews and Dilruwan Perera come out to battle it out. They have a massive task at hand. Meanwhile, India will aim for quick wickets. Umesh Yadav to start the proceedings for the visitors.
9.55 IST: Pitch Report - Russel Arnold doing the pitch report observes that the behavior of the pitch is changing. He reckons that yesterday was a fantastic day of cricket where a lot of runs were scored and also wickets kept on falling and mentions that the deck will dry up and the spinners are going to get a lot of purchase from the track today. He adds that Ashwin was effective because he was giving the ball much more air compared to the Lankan bowlers. He spots two areas on the deck from where the ball is likely to misbehave - one will help the ball turn, the other which is lot closer to the stumps might make the ball skid on. Plenty of help for the spinners. Tough work for the batsmen expected.
9.40 IST: The tourists lost the first Test at Galle in 2015 from a similar position. They were chasing a paltry total after getting a huge lead but it was Rangana's Herath magic that did them in. They will be aware that the deck at Galle has a history of breaking down quickly and hence might want to bat again and leave nothing to chance. The Islanders have a tough task on hand, let's see how they go.
9.30 IST: India have got the hosts on the mat at the moment. After scoring 600, they have reduced the home side to effectively 154 for 6, with no Asela Gunaratne. With only Angelo Mathews left as the last recognized batsman, they will want to try and avoid the follow-on. Not sure if India will enforce it though.
Brief Day 2 Report: Sri Lanka slipped to 154-5 and were still 446 runs behind India's huge first-innings total of 600 all out on Day 2 of the first Test on Thursday in Galle. Sri Lanka were 247 runs short of avoiding the follow-on, with only Angelo Mathews showing some resistance with his 54 not out. Upul Tharanga scored 64 in Sri Lanka's only other meaningful innings as the Indian bowlers made progress to follow the dominant performance by their batsmen.
India piled up the second-highest total by any team in Galle, and their second-highest ever in Sri Lanka, with big centuries by Shikhar Dhawan (190) and Cheteshwar Pujara (153), and half-centuries by Ajinkya Rahane and Hardik Pandya. Sri Lanka were 68-3 in their reply when Kusal Mendis fell for a duck to give Mohammed Shami his second wicket in an over.
Tharanga and Danushka Gunathilaka put on 61 and Tharanga and Mathews had a partnership of 57, but Sri Lanka was still in deep trouble by the close. Shami took his two wickets in five balls, with Gunathilaka and Mendis both caught at first slip by Shikhar Dhawan.
Mukund was in the action again when he pulled off a one-handed diving catch at silly point to dismiss Niroshan Dickwella off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. (Read Full Report Here)
