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India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 3: The lightmeter comes out and umpires decide they have enough. Stumps on day four. Jadeja scalps two wickets in the final over of the play. Day 3 report: Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin turned it around for the hosts, clinching three wickets as centuries from skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews helped Sri Lanka reach 356/9 at stumps on Day 3 of the third and final Test on Monday. [caption id=“attachment_4242351” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
India captain Virat Kohli and Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal.[/caption] Bad light forced play to be called off five minutes prior to the scheduled close as Chandimal remained unbeaten on a 341-ball 147 with tailender Lakshan Sandakan on nought. The Islanders now trail India by 180 runs with one wicket remaining. After engaging in a massive 181-run fourth wicket stand with Mathews, Chandimal waged a lone battle for the tourists, helping them save the follow-on as the Indian bowlers led by Ashwin and the pace duo of Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami rocked the lower middle order. It turned out to be another typical Feroze Shah Kotla wicket where the ball started doing the trick, thanks to the foot-marks outside the crease helping Ashwin to get rid of dangerman Mathews (111), debutant Roshen Silva and stumper Niroshan Dickwella for ducks. Ishant and Shami added to the woes by picking the wickets of Sadeera Samarawickrama (33) and Suranga Lakmal (5) respectively, the credit for which also goes to stumper Wriddhiman Saha’s brilliant dives. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja also joined the party by trapping Lahiru Gamage (1) as the visitors found themselves tottering at 343/9. Earlier, resuming the day at 131/3, Mathews and Chandimal battled the hazy conditions to add 61 runs and deny India any luck in the morning session which saw the Sri Lankans going in to the lunch interval at 192/3. Coming back, Mathews made the most of the two lifelines – dropped on Sunday in single digits and then on Monday dropped at 98 by Rohit Sharma at second slip off Ishant Sharma – to bring up his 8th Test ton in style. Mathews’ 268-ball marathon effort, consisting of 14 boundaries and 2 sixes, was, however, ended just at the stroke of tea when he edged one to wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha off Ashwin, The 181-run partnership between Mathews and Chandimal came off 477 balls – the most balls faced by any pair against India since the 738-ball stonewalling by Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling in Wellington in February 2014. Chandimal at the other end, continued to put pressure on the home bowlers as he completed his 10th Test ton just after the tea break with Samarawickrama in company. Samarawickrama, the opening batsman, who was hit on the helmet grill on the opening day while fielding at short leg, came in to bat at the unusual No 5 spot. Ashwin turned the tide in favour of the home side during the final hour of play with two quick wickets before Ishant, Shami and Jadeja joined the Tamil Nadu off-spinner to make life difficult for the tourists on a day which saw the floodlights switched on post the lunch session. The early close of play on Monday will result in the addition of a couple of overs to the fourth day’s play on Tuesday. With inputs from IANS.
Highlights, India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 4 in Delhi: Visitors have backs to the wall, end day at 31/3
Ishant to begin the proceedings. Karunaratne on strike; he fell first ball to the same bowler in first innings. Ishant induces an edge on the fourth ball, but is falls short of Dhawan at third slip. India would hope the edges carry and the slip cordon pouches them. Single on the last ball towards mid wicket.
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Watch our correspondent Amit Banerjee review Day 4’s play from the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.
After 16 overs,Sri Lanka 31/3 ( Dhananjaya de Silva 13 , Angelo Mathews 0)
The lightmeter comes out and umpires decide they have enough. Stumps on day four. Jadeja scalps two wickets in the final over of the play.
After 15 overs,Sri Lanka 31/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 13 , Dhananjaya de Silva 13)
Dhananjaya de Silva was looking to attack since he came out to bat and does with a lovely slog over midwicket for half a dozen. Six off it.
After 14 overs,Sri Lanka 25/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 13 , Dhananjaya de Silva 7)
Jadeja starts from round the wicket and switches after De Sivla takes a single. Karunaratne sees out the remainder of the over.
After 13 overs,Sri Lanka 24/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 13 , Dhananjaya de Silva 6)
Four runs come off the over. Karunaratne outside edges the second ball past the slip fielder for a brace and the final two deliveries go for couple of singles.
After 12 overs,Sri Lanka 20/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 10 , Dhananjaya de Silva 5)
Jadeja bowls his fast five balls in no time. And then De Sivla whips the sixth delivery through midwicket for a couple.
After 11 overs,Sri Lanka 18/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 10 , Dhananjaya de Silva 3)
Dimuth tucks one through square leg for a run. Bowls it quicker and outside off, de Silva taps it to cover and runs one. Sharp running. Loops the third around off, Karunaratne lunges forward an defends. The over ends in a similar fashion. Three more dots.
After 10 overs,Sri Lanka 16/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 9 , Dhananjaya de Silva 2)
De Silva runs down the track to play a wild stroke and inside edges it onto hte pad. on the third ball, Jadeja drifts one on middle, de Silva prods forward in defence and gets rapped on the pad. India appeal and umpire Wilson raises his finger. Dhananjaya reviews it straightaway and replays indicate that he had inside edged it. He survives but Jadeja bowls yet another maiden.
After 9 overs,Sri Lanka 16/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 9 , Dhananjaya de Silva 2)
Another maiden from Ashwin. Karunaratne is playing against him very carefully.
After 8 overs,Sri Lanka 16/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 9 , Dhananjaya de Silva 2)
So the umpires have told Kohli that he will have to bowl spinners from both ends. So Jadeja comes into the attack. De Silva whips the fifth ball throug square leg for a couple. Two come in the over.
After 7 overs,Sri Lanka 14/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 9 , Dhananjaya de Silva 0)
Time for spin. Think it’s due to the (lack of) light. Ashwin has the ball. Two slips and a short leg in place. Karunaratne plays out his first over confidently.
After 6 overs,Sri Lanka 14/1 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 9 , Dhananjaya de Silva 0)
An outstanding over from Shami. He really made Samarawickrama uncomfortable. Then he surprised Samarawickrama with a bouncer and had him caught at gully the next ball. Uh-oh, think Shami is having some issues with the smog. He vomits but seems fine enough to continue. Two wickets and a wicket.
After 5 overs,Sri Lanka 12/0 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 8 , Sadeera Samarawickrama 4)
Ishant continues. Begins with two successive short of a length deliveries. Another short delivery and Samarawickrama pulls it behind square for a single. Ishant, from round the wicket, angles on around middle, Karunaratne whips it through midwicket for a brace. Three off the over.
After 4 overs,Sri Lanka 9/0 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 6 , Sadeera Samarawickrama 3)
The bounce is uneven. The ball is not carrying to Saha. Karunaratne gets beaten on the second ball. But plays the next two ball assuredly. Shami bowls a bumper and Karunaratne ducks to leave it alone. Shoulders his arms to the final delivery as well.
After 3 overs,Sri Lanka 9/0 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 6 , Sadeera Samarawickrama 3)
The light is fading. Floodlights are already on. Umpires have a talk and the game will continue. Three dots from Ishant. Half-hearted appeal from India after Ishant raps Samarawickrama on the pad. But nothing from the umpire. It would’ve missed the leg stump. The next ball is on a good length and outside off, Sadeera leaves it alone. Samarawickrama punches the sixth ball to the left of mid off and runs a brace.
After 2 overs,Sri Lanka 7/0 ( Dimuth Karunaratne 6 , Sadeera Samarawickrama 1)
Shami from round the wicket. Three slips and a gully. Shami has troubled Karunaratne throughout the series and does so here too. But fortunately the ball falls short of the slip cordon and runs away for a boundary. The next ball Dimuth taps the ball towards cover for a single. Samarawickrama ends the over with a run. Six off it.
After 53 overs,India 246/5 ( Rohit Sharma 50 , Ravindra Jadeja 4)
Ishant to begin the proceedings. Karunaratne on strike; he fell first ball to the same bowler in first innings. Ishant induces an edge on the fourth ball, but is falls short of Dhawan at third slip. India would hope the edges carry and the slip cordon pouches them. Single on the last ball towards mid wicket.
After 52.2 overs,India 246/5 ( Rohit Sharma 50 , Ravindra Jadeja 4)
Sri Lanka appeal for run-out of Rohit. Rather optimistic. Rohit completes his 50 and India declare with 409 ahead. Time to have a crack at Sri Lankan openers.
After 52 overs,India 242/5 ( Rohit Sharma 46 , Ravindra Jadeja 4)
Sandakan continues. Some Sri Lanka fielders still sporting masks. Single to Jadeja means India’s lead has gone past 400, which means they, in all probability, can’t lose from here. Six singles from the over.
After 51 overs,India 236/5 ( Rohit Sharma 43 , Ravindra Jadeja 1)
Quite an eventful over this. Bowling change works for Sri Lanka as Gamage gets Kohli. In comes Ravindra Jadeja. India would be hoping for familiar sword-fight celebrations from him.
After 50 overs,India 232/4 ( Virat Kohli (C) 50 , Rohit Sharma 41)
Sandakan keeps them quiet in this over; concedes just five with batsmen looking to get quick runs. Kohli has gone past 50, more fireworks in store here.
After 49 overs,India 227/4 ( Virat Kohli (C) 47 , Rohit Sharma 40)
Pretty clear intent from these two. 11 from the over with two boundaries coming from Kohli’s blade. He’s approaching another fifty here.
After 48 overs,India 215/4 ( Virat Kohli (C) 41 , Rohit Sharma 35)
Six runs from that Sandakan over. India coasting along, milking the bowling comfortably. A bit of a mix-up on the last ball, but no damage done. Remember, these two have a history of run-outs!