It has been a terrific day for India and they are all over the home side. Sri Lanka still trail by 333 runs and it will require a herculean effort on their part to bail themselves out of trouble. In the morning, India dominated the proceedings. It was Hardik Pandya (108) who took the attack to the opposition and scored his maiden Test century. The Indian bowlers came out and piled the misery on the hosts. The Sri Lankan batsman tried hard but were found wanting against the testing lines and lengths. Only Chandimal was the one who showed some fight. Kuldeep Yadav was the star of the show as he picked up a four-for. He was supported well by Shami and Ashwin who picked up two wickets each.
Virat Kohli decided to enforce the follow-on and India continued to stamp their authority against the hosts in the third and final Test of the series in Pallekele. The Sri Lankan openers adopted a circumspect approach but Umesh Yadav outfoxed Tharanga. The track is taking turn and is gripping as well and it will be a stern test for the hosts tomorrow. Join us to catch all the action from Day 3 at 1000 local (0430 GMT). Till then, cheers! (Live Scorecard)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM INDIA VS SRI LANKA, 2ND TEST, DAY 2 at PALLEKELE
17.32 IST: Leg spinning delivery around leg and spinning away, Malinda defends off the back foot. THAT'S STUMPS, DAY 2! SL 135 and 19/1 13 overs, trail IND (487) by 333 runs.
17.28 IST: FOUR! That's dismissed from his presence. Shorter ball outside off, Karunaratne gets deep in his crease and cuts it to the left of the diving point. The ball meets the fence rather quickly. SL 135 and 19/1 in 12 overs
Kuldeep Yadav is introduced into the attack. Can he sneak in another wicket today?
Nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara walks out to bat.
17.25 IST: OUT! Timber shattered! Umesh Yadav strikes as Tharanga departs for the second time today. The field placement from Kohli does the trick. There was a deep point in place for the batsman to take a single and get off strike and this greed has consumed the opener. Length ball just outside off, he tried to play to that region, instead gets an inside edge on to the off stump. Excellent thought process. SL 135 and 15/1
17.18 IST: Just a single from Umesh's first over in the second innings. SL 135 and 12/0 in 9 overs
17.14 IST: Back after the cramp, Umesh Yadav is back into the attack.
17.11 IST: Length ball tucked away by Karunaratne for a single. SL 135 and 11/0
17.06 IST: Shortish ball outside off, punched off the back foot to the right of cover fielder who gets there and gives away no runs. Another maiden on the trot. Third consecutive MAIDEN on the trot. SL 135 and 10/0 in 5 overs
16.59 IST: MAIDEN from Shami! SL 135 and 10/0 in 3 overs
16.56 IST: Karunaratne has taken a blow near his shoulder and is in a lot of pain. The physio comes in to attend him. Hope he is alright.
16.53 IST: FOUR! Flighted ball outside off, Tharanga drives it powerfully through cover-point for a boundary. SL 10/0 and 135
R Ashwin will bowl from the other end.
16.49 IST: FOUR! Timed perfectly. Length ball on middle and leg, Karunaratne flicks it wide of mid on and the ball races away to the fence. SL 6/0 and 135
16.46 IST: The heavy roller is being used. Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga walks toward the crease for the second time in the day. Mohammed Shami will open the attack
16.45 IST: Sri Lanka surrender rather meekly yet again in the first innings. The conditions seemed treacherous while they batted and Kuldeep Yadav tricked their batsmen into submission. None of their batsmen displayed any resilience that one associate with Test cricket. Chandimal kept the Indian bowlers at bay for a while, but he was invariably just delaying the inevitable. Apart from him, only Dickwella got some kind of start yet he threw it away at a time when the need of the hour was the grinding game. Join us in a while as we will see the Lankan openers striding out with bats in hand for the second time today.
16.40 IST:
16.35 IST: OUT! That's the final nail in the coffin! Short delivery on middle and leg, spinning down. Sandakan rocks back and looks to pull it through square leg but only manages to get a thick inside edge onto his thigh pad. The ball spoons behind and goes to the left side of Dhawan who pouches it safely. A brilliant bowling display from India. SRI LANKA ARE BOWLED OUT FOR 135!
16.31 IST: OUT! Kuldeep is having a great outing, gets a four-for to his name! Bowls this one slower through the air around off and gets it to turn in appreciably. Fernando looks to defend it tentatively but gets an inside edge onto his pads. Then, the ball deflects back to crash into the stumps. The misery continues for the hosts. SL 135/9 in 37 overs
16.28 IST: FOUR! Good positive cricket from Sandakan! Slow through the air, Sandakan uses his feet and chips it over mid off. The fielder there hares after it but only comes second best. SL 135/8
16.26 IST: FOUR! Good shot! Tossed up delivery, Sandakan comes down the track and lifts it over the leaping Pandya at mid on to earn a boundary. SL 131/8 in 35.1 overs
Vishwa Fernando strides out to bat. During the drinks break, the Indian side was in a huddle. The discussion would have been to enforce the follow-on or not if such a circumstance arises.
16.19 IST: OUT! Bowled 'em! Another one bites the dust! Full delivery around middle, skids on through the surface. Pushpakumara misreads the length, comes a couple of steps down the track and ends up yorking himself. Misses it altogether to get the furniture behind him shattered. Sri Lanka in complete disarray! Kuldeep gets his third wicket. SL 125/8, trail IND (487) by 362 runs
Lakshan Sandakan is the new man in for the hosts.
Time for Drinks! India are all over Sri Lanka. The home side are failing to find a solution to the turn and grip on this surface and are falling like a pack of cards.
16.10 IST: OUT! Chandimal's (48) resistance comes to an end, Ashwin gets his first breakthrough and it's a big one. Soft dismissal in the end for the Lankan skipper! Tossed up delivery around off and middle, Chandimal looks to flick it. But he does so straight to leg gully, where Rahul doesn't falter. He was looking decent out there as he was approaching a 50. SL 125/7 in 31.3 overs
16.07 IST: FOUR! Tossed up ball around middle, Pushpakumara swept powerfully through square leg for a boundary. There was no fielder in the deep there. SL 125/6, trail IND (487) by 362 runs
16.06 IST: Floated around the middle, flicked away to the leg side for a run. SL 120/6 in 30 overs
15.58 IST: FOUR! Aaah! Cheeky and effective. Tossed up off-spinner outside off and turning in, Pushpakumara watches it closely and plays it ever so late to guide to the third man fence for a boundary. SL 118/6
15.53 IST: NOT OUT! India lose another review! That's tossed up around off and turning into Chandimal, who tries to sweep and misses. The ball passes his sweeping arm and settles in to Saha's gloves which brings up an appeal from the Indians. On seeing that denied, the Indians review. The Snicko doesn't return any spike as the ball passes the glove. So the onfield call stays. SL 111/6
15.52 IST: Virat Kohli opts to take a review for a caught behind appeal against Chandimal.
15.49 IST: No cover in place now. Point comes in. Kuldeep will encourage him to drive and hence, induce a false stroke.
15.46 IST: MAIDEN from Ashwin! SL 110/6 in 24 overs
Malinda Pushpakumara walks in at the fall of the 6th wicket.
15.40 IST: OUT! There are days when good balls go for runs and on some, even bad balls fetch you wickets! A rank half-tracker on middle, Perera either could have hit it anywhere out of the park or nudged somewhere round the corner for some runs. Instead he decides to go aerially towards mid-wicket and ends up picking up the lone man, Hardik Pandya, at deep mid-wicket to perfection. The hosts are just disintegrating quickly here. SL 107/6 in 22.1 overs, trail IND by 380 runs
15.36 IST: FOUR BYES! Dangerous even for the keeper standing far from the stumps. This length ball outside off is left alone. SL 105/5
Umesh Yadav has pulled up in his delivery stride. He is walking across gingerly. He is in a lot of discomfort and is now heading back to the dressing room. A while back, he landed awkwardly on the ground while trying to stop a boundary. Hope it is nothing serious. Meanwhile, Shami comes to complete the over in his place.
Umesh Yadav is back in the attack. 3-0-23-0 read his figures as of now.
Dilruwan Perera walks in next.
15.28 IST: OUT! Yes, this was coming once you couldn't pick the spinner yet were intent on attacking him. That was a tossed up wrong 'un around the middle, inviting Dickwella to go for a big shot. He does so and ends up missing the ball completely. Saha behind didn't miss the stumping chance and that ends Niroshan's expressive innings. Dickwella (29) gone, Kuldeep strikes. SL 101/5
15.27 IST: Tossed up ball around leg, Dickwella paddles it fine for a brace. This brings up 100 for the hosts. SL 100/4
15.26 IST: FOUR! Short and wide ball, Chandimal slaps it through cover-point as the ball rushes towards the fence. Umesh runs there from deep point but fails to keep the ball in the field of play despite multiple attempts to do so. SL 99/4 in 20 overs
15.23 IST: FOUR! Dashing Dickwella is on a roll! Length ball around off and middle, he takes the aerial route as he goes over mid on. The ball goes to the fence for a boundary. Didn't really get it off the meat of the bat though. SL 94/4
15.22 IST: Length ball on his pads, flicked away in front of square for a double. 50-run partnership between Chandimal and Dickwella.
15.18 IST: FOUR! And this one's even better. Another flighted ball on off, Chandimal smashes it to the right of mid off for the third boundary of the over. He's taking the attack to the spinner here. SL 86/4
15.17 IST: FOUR! Glorious shot that! Tossed up ball around off, Chandimal gets to the pitch and creams it wide of mid off for another boundary. SL 82/4
15.16 IST: FOUR! The first real bad ball from the tweaker. Short and wide of off, the batsman just crunches it through covers for a boundary. SL 78/4 in 18.1 overs
15.09 IST: FOUR! Tossed up ball around off from Kuldeep, Dickwella gets down on one knee and slog sweeps it through mid-wicket to collect a boundary. SL 69/4
15.08 IST: That's a back of a length ball outside off, Chandimal slaps it through covers. The ball races towards the boundary where sweeper cover cuts it off and keeps the batsmen down to two. SL 65/4, trail IND by 422 runs
Hardik Pandya to bowl from the other end.
15.04 IST: Just a single from Kuldeep Yadav's over. SL 62/4 in 15 overs
15.00 IST: We are back for the evening session. 41 overs are left today. Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella to continue their innings. Kuldeep Yadav to continue his spell. Here we go...
Day Two, Session Three
14.45 IST: India are on top and continue to dominate. After posting a huge total on the board, their bowlers were right on the money from the beginning. Especially Shami, who bowled a fiery spell and made life difficult for the opposition. He sent both the openers packing in quick time. After that, the combined brilliance of Ashwin and Kuldeep resulted in Mendis' downfall. Hardik Pandya continued to have a cracking day with the ball as well. Sri Lanka are caught in shallow waters and they will need the pair of Chandimal and Dickwella to stitch a substantial stand. Join us in a while for the evening session.
14.40 IST: Tossed up ball in line of the stumps, he again gets a run on the leg side off the inside half of his bat. THAT'S TEA, DAY 2! SL 61/4 in 14 overs, trail IND (487) by 426 runs.
14.37 IST: FOUR! The sweep gets Dickwella runs again. Tossed up ball around off and middle, Dickwella sweeps it powerfully in front of square on the leg side for a boundary. To attack Ashwin seems to be his plan. SL 58/4 in 13.2 overs
Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack.
14.34 IST: FOUR! This time Chandimal nails the sweep. Flighted ball around off, he gets down and sweeps through fine leg for a boundary. 50 up for Sri Lanka. SL 52/4
Kuldeep Yadav - the chinaman bowler is brought in to bowl.
14.31 IST: MAIDEN from Pandya! SL 48/4 in 12 overs
14.27 IST: Another good shot in this match doesn't get the runs that it deserves. Full ball outside off, Dickwella drives through covers. he batsmen run three as Ashwin chases it down from mid off. SL 48/4 in 11 overs
14.22 IST: FOUR! Crisp! Fullish delivery outside off, angling away. Dickwella leans into and strokes it through covers for a glorious boundary. He is off the mark in style. SL 42/4
14.19 IST: OUT! The wicket-to-wicket line has done the trick for Hardik Pandya! He has having a terrific day. Smart bowling brings in another dismissal. Length delivery on middle and leg, stays low. Angelo Mathews hangs back to keep it out but gets pinged low on the front pad. A confident appeal follows and up goes the umpire's finger. The former captain doesn't review it and keeps walking back to the dressing room. It looked quite plumb. Sri Lanka are in dire straits now. SL 38/4 in 9.3 overs
Angelo Mathews strides out to bat. Sri Lanka are in a real spot of bother.
14.14 IST: OUT! Sri Lanka are in disarray here at Pallekele! A run out it is that leads to Mendis' downfall. Fuller ball around off and middle, flicked towards wide of mid on. Mendis runs down in search of a run, but is sent back. Ashwin at mid on runs to his right, makes a diving stop, has a shy at the bowler's end and misses. It would have been curtains for Kusal if he had hit. But Kuldeep at covers, backs up that throw and immediately hits the stump at the bowler's end. The third umpire is called for, and on replays, he confirms that the batsman is short. SL 38/3
14.11 IST: FOUR! Shami is searching for the swing and hence bowls it full outside off. Chandimal gets to the pitch and drives it beautifully through mid off for a boundary to get going. SL 38/2
A man at short mid-wicket in place now.
14.07 IST: FOUR! Mendis on a four-hitting spree, his fourth. Length ball around off and middle, Kusal whips it through square leg for another boundary on the leg side. SL 32/2
Hardik Pandya will bowl now.
14.03 IST: Fuller ball outside off, draws the batsman into the shot. The ball takes the outside edge and lands agonizingly short of the diving third slip. SL 28/2
13.59 IST: FOUR! Mendis is too good to miss out on opportunities like that. That was full on middle and leg, clipped away over square leg for a boundary. SL 28/2 in 6 overs
13.55 IST: India have reviewed an LBW call against Chandimal. Looks not out to the naked eye. NOT OUT! It's all happening! Length ball outside off angling into Chandimal, he strides to defend and misses the ball to get hit on his pad. The Indians appeal, only to see a denial.
13.51 IST: OUT! Shami strikes again, the previous match centurion Dimuth Karunaratne (4) departs cheaply this time. A beaut of a length ball outside off, coming in to Karunaratne and leaves him ever so slightly as he plays at the original line. The ball takes the edge of the bat and goes low to Saha, who bends his left knee to pouch it smartly. Excellent bowling, event better catching. SL 23/2 in 4.3 overs
13.46 IST: FOUR! Boundary ball, dealt with. Length ball on middle and leg, clipped away through mid-wicket for another bowling. Umesh just letting the batsmen get off the pressure that Shami is creating. SL 23/1
13.45 IST: FOUR! Length ball angling into him, Kusal Mendis uses the pace of Umesh's delivery and guides through backward square leg for a boundary. SL 19/1
Kusal Mendis comes in at the fall of the early wicket.
13.38 IST: OUT! Sri Lanka waste a review! Fuller in length outside off, swings in a touch. Tharanga pushes at it with minimal foot movement but gets a faint nick. Saha dives to his right and takes a good low catch. The Indians go up in an appeal in unison and the umpire obliges. Upul walks across to Karunaratne and he tells him to go for the DRS. The replays confirm the nick. Tharanga is disappointed and has to walk back. SL 14/1 in 2.3 overs
13.37 IST: Upul Tharanga opts to take a review after Karunaratne suggests him to do so. It is against a caught behind decision. Seems like there was a clear nick.
13.33 IST: FIVE WIDES! Fuller length delivery outside off, stays low and swings away late. Saha dives to his left but fails to stop it from reaching the third man fence. Bonus runs for Sri Lanka. SL 13/0
13.32 IST: FOUR! Elegant! Fractionally overpitched outside off, Tharanga strokes it through extra cover and the ball whistles away to the fence. SL 8/0
Sri Lanka's highest opening stand against India in the last ten Tests is just 22. That's something that the hosts would look to improve on.
Umesh Yadav to share the new ball.
13.28 IST: Fuller ball staring from outside off, swung in a great deal as it passed the stumps. Saha had to dive to collect it. Just two runs from the first over. SL 2/0
Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga are at the crease. Karunaratne is on strike. Mohammed Shami will open the attack, Two slips and a gully in place.
SRI LANKA INNINGS
13.23 IST: Lakshan Sandakan was the pick of the bowlers as he took his maiden five-wicket haul while Pushpakumara ended with three wickets. The visitors will be aiming to take early wickets to inflict more trouble on the hosts. Join us shortly for Sri Lanka's reply with the bat.
13.19 IST: Sri Lanka will be relieved that they have at least managed to keep India under 500 but it is still a mammoth score on the board. The tourists on the back of a brilliant century from Pandya managed to go past the 450-run mark with ease. He took his chances, put the opposition bowlers under the pump who eventually crumbled under the onslaught. Hardik got good support from the tail as well.
13.14 IST: OUT! Hardik Pandya (108) holes out! Maiden five-wicket haul for Lakshan Sandakan. He has been smart with his variations and has rightly reaped the rewards. He has been smart with his variations and has rightly reaped the rewards. Tosses this one well outside off, encouraging Pandya to go for an expansive stroke. He looks to go downtown but his bottom hand comes off while playing that. He ends up slicing it over covers. Dilruwan Perera in the deep settles under it and takes it comfortably. INDIA GET BOWLED OUT FOR 487!
13.11 IST: We are back for the afternoon session. The Sri Lankan team is in a huddle. They will be aiming to take the final wicket quickly. Hardik Pandya and Umesh Yadav to continue their innings. Lakshan Sandakan to start off the proceedings in this session for Sri Lanka.
Day Two, Session Two
12.40 IST: Sri Lanka now seem deflated by Pandya, like a nail's effect on a tyre. They were brimming with confidence after they snaffled up Saha early in the session. The passage of play thenceforth was inspiring as Fernando was bowling probing lines to Kuldeep. But after drinks, the session swung in India's favour in quick time. Post lunch, the visitors would look to score more, while it would be interesting to see the hosts' approach. Join us in a while.
12.37 IST:
12.35 IST: 32 overs 158 runs 3 wickets - These figures show towards which side this session has tilted. Hardik Pandya is a name that the Sri Lankans may dread in future, like the Aussies dreaded Laxman in the past decade. This innings from the all-rounder stands as a testimony to his hitting prowess. Mature and exhilarating are the two adjectives that could describe his innings so far. Kuldeep Yadav gave him able support before he departed.
12.32 IST: Fuller in length outside off, Pandya takes a couple of steps forward and eases it to mid off for a single to retain strike. Smart cricket from him, he is aware of the game situation. THAT WILL BE LUNCH ON DAY 2! IND 487/9 in 122 overs
12.30 IST: Another stat for the number lovers - Pandya is the 5th Indian to get a Test ton as his maiden first-class hundred.
Vishwa Fernando comes back into the attack.
Pandya becomes the first Indian in Tests to score hundred in a session before lunch. Meanwhile, Sandakan will continue.
12.22 IST: FOUR! Cheeky! He is toying with the Sri Lankan bowling! Shortish delivery on off, Pandya ramps it over the keeper's head for a boundary. IND 485/9
12.20 IST: HUNDRED! Pandya deserves this, he brings up his first Test hundred with a boundary. Take a bow, Pandya! What a knock it has been from the all-rounder, the fastest from a No. 8 in Test cricket. Fullish delivery on middle, Pandya drives it past mid on and the ball rolls to the fence. He raises his arms up and the Indian dressing room erupts with joy! IND 481/9
12.16 IST: Shortish outside off, eased through covers. Good running between the wickets allows the batsmen to come back for the second, Pandya is on 99 now. IND 475/9
12.15 IST: SIX! High and mighty! Fullish on middle and leg, Pandya gets underneath it and tonks it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Such power in that shot. This brings up the fifty-partnership between Pandya and Umesh. IND 473/9
12.12 IST: Umesh Yadav gets a change of bat now as a consequence of the broken bat.
12.09 IST: SIX! Pandya didn't hit this one cleanly but such is the power of the man that the ball lands into the stands! Short delivery around off, Pandya shuffles across and goes for the pull but gets a top edge. The ball flies over deep backward square leg for a maximum. He is on 90 now. IND 465/9 in 117.5 overs
Change of bat for Pandya. Wonder if he can hit even bigger sixes with this one! Lahiru Kumara is back in the attack.
Over count - 26 - the most runs by an Indian in an over in a Test match ever.
12.01 IST: SIX! Pushpakumara comes around the wicket and gives it air. Pandya gets his dancing shoes again and hammers it over long on for the third maximum in a row. 26 from the over. IND 456/9
11.59 IST: SIX! Pandya is on a carnage! Floated delivery, Hardik uses his feet and bludgeons it over the bowler's head for a maximum. 450 up for India. IND 450/9
11.59 IST: SIX! The bowler is under the pump now. Tosses this one up on off, Pandya dances down the track and goes downtown. Has hit that straight as an arrow and the ball lands over the sightscreen. IND 444/9
11.58 IST: FOUR! Pandya is turning it on! He is such a clean striker of the cricket ball, a sheer delight to watch! Uses his feet and hammers it past the left side of the bowler to find the long off fence. IND 438/9
11.57 IST: FOUR! Hit with disdain! In the zone for Pandya. He kneels and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket for a rocketing boundary. IND 434/9
11.55 IST: SIX! Boom! Pandya uses his feet and Sandakan bowls it wider outside off. The all-rounder does well to reach out and lifts it over wide long off. The fielder in the deep has no chance of catching it. IND 428/9
11.52 IST: OUT! Shami departs for India, Sandakan picks up his fourth scalp. Shami gets lured into a false stroke and pays the price for it! Slow through the air around off, Shami takes a couple of steps down the track and drills it back towards Sandakan. He is alert, positions himself well and takes it reverse cup near his chest. Sandakan gets his third wicket, he has bowled well. IND 421/9
11.48 IST: FIFTY for PANDYA! This is his second half-century in his third Test for India. Very controlled innings from Hardik Pandya, he showed great character. IND 420/8
11.46 IST: SIX! Great hit! He goes against the spin and connects well. Floated around off, Pandya comes down the track and hammers it towards wide long on. Perera in the deep runs to his left and leaps but can only watch it sail over him for a maximum. IND 416/8
11.45 IST: FOUR! The tailender is capable with the bat and here is an example of that. Shorter in length and it is the wrong one. Shami stays back, reads it well and cuts it through covers for a boundary. IND 409/8
Mohammed Shami is the new man in.
11.39 IST: OUT! The on-field call stays! Floated on off, turns away after pitching. Yadav prods forward to counter it but only manages to get a faint outside edge. Dickwella behind the stumps collects it nicely and appeals. Goes up the umpire's finger. IND 401/8 in 111 overs
11.38 IST: Kuldeep Yadav has opted to take a review against a caught behind decision.
Russel observes that Pandya camps on the back foot, which makes it easier for him to punish the short balls that the Lankans feed him with. The wagon wheel is also a proof of the fact that the pull shot has been productive for the all-rounder. So Arnold believes that the hosts need to change their bowling plans against Hardik.
This is the first time India has managed to score 400 in the first innings in each Test of a series in Sri Lanka.
11.34 IST: Tossed up delivery, Pandya uses his feet and milks it to long on for a single. 400 up for India! This is the second time a visiting side has scored 400 in all the three Tests in Sri Lanka.
11.32 IST: MAIDEN from Sandakan! IND 397/7
11.28 IST: FOUR! Shot! Slow through the air on middle, Pandya comes down the track and lifts it over mid on to find the fence. That almost went for a maximum. IND 395/7
Malinda Pushpakumara to bowl for the first time today. The umpire had a chat with Chandimal about the over rate. Sri Lanka for sometime now have had an issue about slowing the game too much.
11.25 IST: Fifty-partnership between Pandya (29*) and Kuldeep (24*). Tossed up outside off from Sandakan, Yadav goes for a drive but gets it off the outer half through the vacant slip region. Three runs taken. IND 390/7 in 107 overs
11.17 IST: Tossed up delivery from Sandakan, spinning down. Yadav looks to sweep hard but misses. Dickwella takes the bails off and appeals. The square leg umpire has a wry smile on his face. The replays show that Kuldeep's foot was in the air for a moment but got it back in time. IND 381/7
Lahiru Kumara is back on.
11.09 IST: A loud appeal for an LBW denied! Tossed up outside off, it is the wrong one. Yadav prods forward to counter it but misses to get struck on the pads. However, the umpire is not interested in the appeal. The impact was in question. In fact, the replays show there was an inside edge. 3 runs from Sandakan's over. IND 377/7
11.06 IST: The Sri Lankan side is in a huddle. A pep talk from the skipper Chandimal. Let's see if it works for his side. Change in bowling. Lakshan Sandakan comes into the attack. A slip and short leg in place.
It's drinks time after an hour of play! After picking up an early wicket, Sri Lanka are bowling probing lengths, but are still left searching for wickets. Pandya has looked solid so far and has played his shots too. Kuldeep has had a few plays and misses but is still battling on. The hosts would like to have a wicket-taking potion with the drinks!
11.00 IST: MAIDEN! Fernando is bowling a tight line at the moment to both the Indian batsmen, he's hard to get away. IND 374/7 in 102 overs
10.53 IST: FOUR! Kuldeep gets into the act now. Full and wide of off, Kuldeep Yadav opens the face of his bat and guides it to the backward point fence for a boundary. That was smart, considering there was a man in front of square on the off side. IND 373/7
10.51 IST: 7 runs from the over, a good one for the visitors. IND 368/7 in 100 overs
10.48 IST: FOUR! Smashed smartly! Short ball around off, Pandya pulls it off the front foot through midwicket for a boundary. IND 365/7
10.47 IST: Just a single from Karunaratne's over. IND 361/7
Dimuth Karunaratne to have a bowl.
10.41 IST: Kuldeep caught by surprise with that nippy delivery. Started well outside off and came back sharply, the ball missed Kuldeep's bat and struck him high on the front pad and rolled to the keeper. The Lankans put up an LBW appeal only to see it turned down. IND 360/7 in 98 overs
10.39 IST: FOUR! STREAKY YET EFFECTIVE! Back of a length ball outside off, Kuldeep pokes his bat at that. The ball takes the outside edge and falls short of the slips and races away through the gap between second and third slip for a boundary. IND 360/7 in 97.2 overs
Pandya is having a little chat with Kuldeep. The talk will be to keep going and build up a handy partnership.
10.32 IST: Length ball around off, played towards point for a run. Just a single from Fernando's over. IND 354/7
10.25 IST: FOUR! Crunched crisply! Short ball outside off, Pandya stands tall and punches it through covers. The ball rushes away to the fence beating the sweeper cover. That brings up 350 for the visitors. 350 comes up for India. IND 353/7
10.22 IST: Good ball, that makes Pandya a tad uncomfortable!Back of a length ball on off and middle, nipping into him, the batsman gets beaten on the inside. The ball hits the back thigh and goes to the keeper, who along with the bowler appeals. The umpire turns it down. IND 348/7 in 94 overs
10.14 IST: FOUR! The upper cut from Pandya fetches him a boundary. That is another short ball on off and middle, Hardik sways back and just helps it over the keeper's head for a boundary. IND 345/7
10.12 IST: A peach from Fernando to end the over. He shortened his length and got it to straighten from an angle. 4 runs and a wicket from the over. IND 341/7 in 92 overs
10.11 IST: Wonderful ball first up. Fuller ball around off, Yadav looks to push defensively with an angled bat. The bat hits his pad and the ball goes through to the keeper and the Lankans put up an appeal for a caught behind. The umpire stays put. IND 339/7
Kuldeep Yadav walks in to bat.
10.09 IST: OUT! Early success for Sri Lanka and Fernando. Back of a length ball outside off, Saha saw an opportunity to collect runs. He cuts that and does so straight to Perera at gully. Probably the bounced more than he expected, but he could have done better there. This will pump the hosts up. IND 339/7
Vishwa Fernando to bowl from the other end.
10.06 IST: 8 runs from the first over of the day, a good one for India. IND 337/6 in 91 overs
10.01 IST: FOUR BYES! Length ball outside off, swings in after it passes the batsman. It dips as it reaches Dickwella, who gets an awkward bounce just before him, and races away to the fence. IND 335/6 in 90.2 overs
09.59 IST: We are set to get underway. Wriddhiman Saha and Hardik Pandya to continue their innings. Lahiru Kumara to open the bowling this morning. Two slips and a gully in place. Here we go...
09.57 IST:
09.51 IST: Can India once again touch the magical 500-run mark in the series?
09.40 IST:
09.32 IST: Pitch Report - Simon Doull and Russel Arnold are out there. Russel feels that it's crucial to make early inroads. About the pitch he says that it is still pretty good and there is some sweat due to the overnight rain. He feels that it could be lively and helpful to the bowlers at the start.
Brief Preview:
India opener Shikhar Dhawan continued his golden run but a rare flop show from the famed middle-order saw Sri Lanka restrict India to 329/6 on the first day of the third and final Test in Pallekele. Courtesy Dhawan's (119) sixth Test hundred and a record 188-run opening stand with KL Rahul (85), India looked good for a score to close to 400 after opting to bat.
However, some fine bowling in the final two sessions by left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara (3/40 in 18 overs) and chinaman Lakshan Sandakan (2/84 in 25 overs) helped Sri Lanka gain some foothold when stumps were drawn on the opening day.
The in-form Cheteshwar Pujara (8), last Test's centurion Ajinkya Rahane (17) were dismissed cheaply while skipper Virat Kohli (42) was dismissed after getting set.
However, Kohli had been reaching out to play the spinners from his crease and ended up edging the ball to first slip off Sandakan in the 79th over.
Ravichandran Ashwin (31) looked compact but became left- arm seamer Vishwa Fernando's scalp at the fag end of the day. (Full Day 1 Report)
