India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test Day 3: Jadeja gets introduced into the attack for the ninth delivery of the innings. Superb stop by Pujara at mid-on after a drive by Karunaratne, saving a potential boundary for his side and earning plaudits from his teammates. And its stumps at the end of the over, as Sri Lanka head to the fourth day on a shaky score of 21/1. Day 2 report: Opener Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara hit sublime centuries to put India in command of the second Test against Sri Lanka, as the hosts took a 107-run lead on Saturday’s day two. The overnight batsmen put together a 209-run partnership to pulverise the opposition attack after the hosts started the day on 11-1 in response to Sri Lanka’s 205. [caption id=“attachment_4227781” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Indian captain Virat Kohli and his Sri Lankan counterpasrt Dinesh Chandimal. Agencies[/caption] India were 312 for two at stumps in their first innings with Pujara, on 121, and skipper Virat Kohli, on 54, batting to push the visitors out of the game. Vijay, who made an impressive return to the team after a long injury lay-off, registered his 10th Test ton before falling to Rangana Herath in the final session of play for 128. The right-handed opener gifted his wicket to the veteran left-arm spinner after mistiming his sweep on a full toss to short fine leg where Dilruwan Perera made no mistake. Perera had dropped Vijay on 61 at short mid-on off paceman Lahiru Gamage and the spill proved costly for the visitors who managed only one wicket in the day. Vijay and Pujara made sure India rammed home the advantage from day one as they recorded their fifth century-plus stand in their last seven Test innings together. “Any day I will take this. Obviously, we are in a strong position at the end of the day and I wanted to always contribute to the team and I am happy,” Vijay told reporters. “Pujara also has a similar mindset as he likes to dig in deep and scrap it out in a situation with varied demands. “Pujara is calm and that rubs on me as well, the tempo that he plays suits my game,” he said of his marathon stand with the composed Pujara. Vijay, who replaced Shikhar Dhawan in the starting lineup after the left-handed opener pulled out due to personal reasons, hit 11 fours and a six during his 221-ball knock. Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul have been India’s first-choice Test openers while Vijay was away recovering from his wrist surgery, but he insists it doesn’t bother him. “I feel as a professional you should always be ready whether you get a chance or not… it’s difficult but I am used to it by now,” said Vijay. “Playing for India is difficult and whoever gets a chance, I wish them luck. I know how difficult it is to be in that space and perform.” Pujara effect Pujara played the sheet anchor’s role to perfection and took control after the fall of his overnight partner to record his 14th Test century. Pujara, a classical batsman who passed 1,000 Test runs this year, played a sedate knock to frustrate the bowlers on a gruelling day for Sri Lanka on the field. He also combined with Kohli for an unbeaten 96-run stand, forcing skipper Dinesh Chandimal to continue juggling his bowling options till the end of the day. Kohli hit a 66-ball half-century and has smashed six boundaries so far. Sri Lanka’s batting coach Thilan Samaraweera praised the Indian top-order for their solid showing on a wicket that the visitors tripped on after winning the toss and batting. “I think we are behind the game at the moment. I thought we bowled in very good areas but they batted well on a good pitch,” Samaraweera said. “Disappointing that we won the toss, classic pitch, no seam movement, no spin and we didn’t bat well, to be honest with you,” he added. The top-ranked India are looking to go one-up in the three-Test series after the first match ended in a draw in Kolkata. With inputs from AFP
Highlights, India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test Day 3 at Nagpur: Visitors cornered at stumps after Kohli, Rohit show
Jadeja gets introduced into the attack for the ninth delivery of the innings. Superb stop by Pujara at mid-on after a drive by Karunaratne, saving a potential boundary for his side and earning plaudits from his teammates. And its stumps at the end of the over, as Sri Lanka head to the fourth day on a shaky score of 21/1.
 "Highlights, India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test Day 3 at Nagpur: Visitors cornered at stumps after Kohli, Rohit show")
Another one-sided day of Test cricket as the home team went past 600 in their first innings. The day belonged to the Indian captain, who continued from his overnight score of 54 and dazzled his way to fifth double Test ton.
Sharing the spotlight with Virat was ODI vice captain, Rohit Sharma, who returned to the Test cricket after a long time. But once he got in, he made complete use of his opportunity smashing his third Test century.
After taking a improbable lead of 405, Ishant Sharma accounted for Sadeera Samarawickrama off the second ball of their second innings with a terrific delivery.
Sri Lanka will begin Day 4 having 384 runs in deficit. Even if they manage to play out the entire day tomorrow it would be good for their morales. The team looks down and out but you do not discount teams in Test cricket. The Indian bowlers will come out fresh tomorrow to rattle the remaining batsmen.
We will be bringing you all the live coverage from Day 4 and look forward for your company. Do join us at 8 am tomorrow, until then its a goodbye from here.
Watch our correspondent Devdutt Kshirsagar analyse 3rd Day’s play between India and Sri Lanka from VCA stadium Nagpur
That’ll be it for today, ladies and gentlemen. Karunaratne and Thirimanne introduced some sanity after that shocker of a decision from Sadeera Samawickrama. But leave this particular phase behind and Sri Lanka would be scratching their heads. They have to bat out two frigging days against Ashwin-Jadeja and a Ishant, who seems to have discovered great rhythm not to forget Umesh Yadav, who would be itching to get among the wickets at his home ground. It’s going to be a ardous task for Lanka. Let’s hope they recover well and come back fully charged tomorrow.
After 9 overs,Sri Lanka 21/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 11 , Lahiru Thirimanne 9)
Jadeja gets introduced into the attack for the ninth delivery of the innings. Superb stop by Pujara at mid-on after a drive by Karunaratne, saving a potential boundary for his side and earning plaudits from his teammates. And its stumps at the end of the over, as Sri Lanka head to the fourth day on a shaky score of 21/1.
After 8 overs,Sri Lanka 21/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 11 , Lahiru Thirimanne 9)
Ashwin concedes just one leg-bye off his fourth over, having bowled a tight spell so far. The partnership is now worth 21.
After 7 overs,Sri Lanka 20/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 11 , Lahiru Thirimanne 9)
Ishant gets another crack at the cherry, with a couple of minutes to go before stumps, and collects his first maiden this innings.
After 6 overs,Sri Lanka 20/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 11 , Lahiru Thirimanne 9)
Ashwin into his third over. Unleashes a ripper off the third delivery that nearly turns square. Second consecutive maiden for the off-spinner.
After 5 overs,Sri Lanka 20/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 11 , Lahiru Thirimanne 9)
Ishant bowls his third over of the innings, with Karunaratne glancing the ball off the third delivery to collect a single, the only run scored off the over.
After 4 overs,Sri Lanka 19/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 10 , Lahiru Thirimanne 9)
Ashwin, bowling with two slip fielders in place, bowls the first maiden of Sri Lanka’s second innings, as Thirimanne chooses to stay defensive in this over.
After 3 overs,Sri Lanka 19/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 10 , Lahiru Thirimanne 9)
Six collected by the current pair off the third over of the innings, including a boundary off the third delivery of the over as Thirimanne clips one towards the cow-corner boundary. Ishant has leaked 14 off the two overs that he has bowled so far.
After 2 overs,Sri Lanka 13/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 5 , Lahiru Thirimanne 8)
Ashwin gets the new ball, bowling the second over of the innings. Appeals for an lbw as well as a catch at short-leg off the first two deliveries of the over, with Kohli pondering over DRS after being turned down on both occasions. Karunaratne gets off the mark with a well-timed drive through extra-cover off the third delivery of the over. Collects a single off the last delivery of the over to retain strike.
After 1 overs,Sri Lanka 8/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 0 , Lahiru Thirimanne 8)
Samarawickrama and Karunaratne walk out to bat at the start of the Sri Lankan innings, with around 30 minutes left in the day’s play. Samarawickrama walks back in just the second delivery, with the right-handed opener opting to leave a sharp inswinger that clips the top of his off stump. Thirimanne walks out to bat, and ends the over with successive boundaries, including a thick outside edge that carries all the way to the third man fence.
No they can’t!!! Have you seen a more obvious set up? Think this might be the Sadeera’s last Test for a while. An outswinger followed by the one which seams in as Samawickrama loses his off pole. The Indian team wont hear the end of it from Ishant Sharma. I can vouch for that.
India declare! They lead by 405 runs. Sri Lanka have to survive for a little over two days. Rohit Sharma bags a golden opportunity with both hands. Not that he was a doubt for the South African tour but this knock has just cemented his place in the squad.
After 177 overs,India 610/6 ( Rohit Sharma 102 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 1)
Just one delivery bowled in the 177th over, with Rohit guiding the ball towards sweeper cover to collect a double, and bring up his first Test century in four years! Skipper Virat Kohli declares the innings after Rohit’s century celebrations, with India posting a mammoth 610/6 in reply to Sri Lanka’s modest 205, a lead of 405.
The selectors will have a lot more headache looking at the batting combination for the South Africa tour now.
CENTURY NO 3 FOR ROHIT SHARMA — his first in the format in four years! Gets there in 160 deliveries, hitting eight fours and a six along the way.
Has been raining tons for the Indians in this innings, with Rohit being the fourth. The Mumbai Indians skipper brings up the milestone with a double in the 177th over! And skipper Kohli declares the Indian innings at 610/6, with a mammoth lead of 405!
After 176 overs,India 607/6 ( Rohit Sharma 99 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 1)
Rohit skips down the track off the third delivery of the over, hammering it down the ground. Collects a quick double and a single off the next two deliveries to move to 99, with seven runs being scored off the over.
After 175 overs,India 600/6 ( Rohit Sharma 92 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 1)
India cross the 600-run mark for the 30th time in Test cricket, with Rohit collecting a single off the fourth delivery of the over to bring up the milestone. Three singles collected off the over.
After 174 overs,India 597/6 ( Rohit Sharma 90 , Wriddhiman Saha (W) 0)
Good over for Perera, with just two runs coming off it along with the wicket of Ashwin, who misses the pitch of the delivery while attempting a drive, and gets his off-stump rattled in the process. Third wicket for Perera, which would have been impressive had it not been for the fact that he has leaked nearly 200 runs already. Wriddhiman Saha, the keeper-batsman, joins Rohit at the centre.
Nope. No declaration. Let’s wait for Rohit’s ton then. Dilruwan disturbs Ashwin’s furniture. He exits. Saha walks in.
Most double centuries in Tests for India:
6 – Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar
5 – Rahul Dravid, VIRAT KOHLI*
4 – Sunil Gavaskar
Most double centuries by captains in Tests:
5 – Brian Lara, VIRAT KOHLI*
4 – Don Brdaman, Michael Clarke, Graeme Smith
BOWLED EM! Perera collects his third wicket as Ashwin gets his off-stump rattled while looking for a cover drive. India 597/6
Ashwin b Perera 5(14)
After 173 overs,India 595/5 ( Rohit Sharma 89 , Ravichandran Ashwin 4)
Four runs collected off the 173rd over, including a double off the third delivery in which Rohit guides the ball towards the leg side.
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