SL v IND, 2nd Test Day 3 as it happened: India lead by 157 after bowlers stage fightback

Good summary there, Mr. Memon. 

Most purposeful performance by India seen in a while. Kept Lanka on a leash in 1st session, bundled them out in 2nd & built good lead in 3rd

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 22, 2015

Ominous for Sri Lanka..

India lead by 157 runs at close of day three. Sri Lanka have never beaten India chasing a 4th innings target of 150+#SLvsInd #IndvSL

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 22, 2015

Exactly my thoughts, as I was completely on-board the idea of having Rahane at No.3, even though the way it was handled was messy.

Promotion to no.3 for @ajinkyarahane88 prompted to protect @ImRo45, but could make this position his own.Shouldn't be fiddle around with now

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 22, 2015

Two balls from Herath and the umpires get together again – and this time they offer it to the batsmen who gladly take it. End of a (long) day in Colombo.

At stumps India 70/1 after 29.2 overs. Lead by 157 runs. That did not look like a possibility at lunch. Definitely India’s day.

After 29 overs India 69-1 (Vijay 39, Rahane 27)

Herath with a steady over and Rahane watchful in defence – four dot balls and then a single. Vijay retains strike with  a single of the last ball.

Kaushal to continue and he goes over the wicket now to try and get the batsmen play one to the leg -slip or maybe get a LBW decision going for him. Watchfully played  though – just two singles.

Herath to continue as the light is dropping..

After 27 overs India 65-1 (Vijay 37, Rahane 25)

Two short and wide balls to start with and Chameera’s favourite fielder at deep point keeps it to single. Four dot balls after that as Rahane presents full face of the bat.

Another excellent over from Kaushal as there is another huge appeal for an LBW against Rahane. This one pitches on the off stump from around the wicket and it turns a long way to hit him in line with leg stump – must have carried beyond leg. Tempted to say another excellent decision. 

Umpires check light – happy with it for now as Herath replaces Chameera

After 25 overs India 61-1 (Vijay 35, Rahane 23)

Maiden over from Herath as Vijay plays six forward defensive shots. 

Kaushal with another probing over from around the wicket – gets some bounce again from a ball pitching on the stumps and hits Vijay close to the thighs. A bat-pad off the last ball falls short of short-leg.

It’s getting quite dark now and MAthews brings on Chameera. Attempt by Mathews to end day’s play? India’s lead 148.

After 23 overs India 60-1 (Vijay 35, Rahane 22)

Herath beats Vijay outside his off stump for the third time today off the first ball. Plays a late cut for two and then takes a single off the fourth ball. Rahane plays out couple of forward defences.

Kaushal continues around the wicket and has an optimistic (very) appeal for LBW against Vijay off a ball that pitched outside leg and spun even further away. Takes a single off the fifth ball.

After 21 overs India 56-1 (Vijay 31, Rahane 22)

Excellent over from Herath – two huge LBW appeals, one against each of the batsmen. First one was straight on the middle and only the inside edge saved Vijay there. Rahane then plays a very simliar shot but this one was slightly more towards the leg stump and didnt turn enough to convince the umpire. Sri Lanka miffed but it looks like two good decisions from Rob Tucker. Rahane frees his arms to play it to wide long off for a single.

Kaushal continues with another good over from around the wicket. He seems to be getting extra bounce from the angled ball that straightens at the right hander. Rahane gets everything behind the ball.

bit of a discussion between Mathews and the umpire over the decisions.

After 19 overs India 52-1 (Vijay 29, Rahane 20)

After a quiet over from Herath for two singles, Kaushal continues to test the Indian batsmen from around the wicket – with some sharp off-spin and the wristy doosra. three singles there. India cruising along nicely here.

After 17 overs India 47-1 (Vijay 26, Rahane 18)

Herath’s over goes for three singles but Indian batsmen showing some intent to take him one. Fifth ball sees Rahane drill one to wide long-off and then Vijay goes down the track but cannot get much meet on it, chips it to deep mid. 

Kaushal’s next over goes for four runs – four easy singles with the in-out field as India rotate well. Vijay again dances down the track of the last and misses it completely this time, hits his pads luckily for him.

After 15 overs India 40-1 (Vijay 22, Rahane 15)

Spin from both ends now as Kaushal into the attack. After a wayward start, Kaushal interests the leg-slip fielder wiith a push around the corner – went quickly past the fielder. Rahane drives him well to deep extra cover for a couple. Two more singles off that over.

After 14 overs India 35-1 (Vijay 20, Rahane 12)

Herath starts with two full balls and then drops one slightly short, to which Vijay stays on the back-foot and cuts it late (really late) past short third man for four. Goes down the track to drive one straight to Herath which Chandimal thought was caught and bowled – it was a bump-ball though. Takes a quick single off the last ball as a direct hit makes it tight – he’s safe though.

After 13 overs India 29-1 (Vijay 15, Rahane 11)

Another pacy over from Chameera and the deep point folder has been kept busy. Both Vijay and Rahane have no hesitation in going after the short and wide balls – all three runs from the over through that area. Tests Rahane with the bouncer too but he keeps it down. Bouncer to Vijay to end the over.

Drinks. India lead by 116.

After 12 overs India 26-1 (Vijay 14, Rahane 7)

Just a single from that over and Rahane’s propensity to go chasing outside off almost got him there. Gets the inside edge and goes behind the stumps as the batsmen scamper for a single. Five dot balls otherwise.

After 11 overs India 25-1 (Vijay 14, Rahane 6)

Very interesting over from Chameera – seems to be given the task of peperring Indian batsmen with the short ball. After a wild one that was called wide, he gets one spot on – angling in, rising and hitting Vijay on the gloves right underneath the chin. Falls safe and Rahane calls him for a clever single. A short-wide one is then slapped by Rahane to deep point for a single and he ends the over with another wide bouncer that Vijay doesnt bother playing at. Five runs from that over.

After 10 overs India 20-1 (Vijay 12, Rahane 6)

Angelo Mathews brings himself on and starts with a maiden. Just what you’d expect from Mathews – steady off stump, off-middle line. Rahane defends well but showing a tendency to get the front foot across and play with the bat in front of his pad. Would do well not fall over.

After 9 overs India 20-1 (Vijay 12, Rahane 6)

23-year-old Dushmantha Chameera into the attack for the first time. Vijay should be more comfortable facing the speedster because of his liking to stand tall at the crease. After a few good-looking shots straight to fielders on the off-side, Vijay manages to get one away for four when Chameera goes straighter – a nice flick off his hips to square leg.

One of the readers with a similar observation to the one we made..

@firstpostsports that's been the story of kl rahul's career so far..
100 or nothing

— Shuvodeep Ash (@geeky_ash) August 22, 2015

After 8 overs India 16-1 (Vijay 8, Rahane 6)

More of the same from Herath, more of the same from Rahane. Six dot balls, all six played on the front foot. Missed out on a half-volley in that over too, but don’t think he’d worry about that too much.

After 7 overs India 16-1 (Vijay 8, Rahane 6)

Prasad in excellent rhythm. Short-of-good-length, Short-of-good-length, full on the stump and then a rising bouncer that hits Vijay on the arm as he takes evasive action. Plays a drive on the rise off the last ball for a couple. Bit of a delay there as Vijay has a change of bats.

After 6 overs India 14-1 (Vijay 6, Rahane 6)

Prasad continues and another good steady over, impeccable line and length. Vijay takes a quick single to mid-on to get off strike. Rahane then reaches out to a wide half volley and drives through cover for two – would do well to be careful not to chase too many after his dismissal in the first innings.

Herath continues from the other end. Vijay again gets off strike early. Rahane taking good long strides forward to see off the over. Good stump-to-stump line, as always, from Herath.

After 4 overs India 10-1 (Vijay 4, Rahane 4)

Herath, for the second time this innings, beats Vijay outside off stump with a turning beauty. Vijay dances the track to relieve some pressure, but loses shape and plays a slog, top hand coming off the bat. Does get three for his efforts. Rahane watchful in defence.

After 3 overs India 7-1 (Vijay 1, Rahane 4)

Steady over from Prasad again, making Rahane play at everything. Last ball of the over is beautifully driven down the ground, presenting the full face of the bat, by Rahane.

After 2 overs India 3-1 (Vijay 1, Rahane 0)

Herath starts with a maiden to Vijay. Loud appeal for LBW off the third ball but that might have carried on past the leg stump. Gripping start here.

It’s Ajinkya Rahane at No. 3 – first time in the series India have the same batsman at No. 3 for two consecutive innings. (Cheeky stat alert) 

Herath from the other end with the new ball.

OUT! What a start for Sri Lanka. An absolute beauty to clean up Rahul in the first over. Pitches on the off stump, good-length, lands on a scrambling seam and moves off the pitch to sneak between the bat and pad and rattle his stumps. Centurion in the first innings, gone in the first over here. Rahul knows only two extremes, it seems.

This is the New Ball Test.

Superb from India. Made that second new ball count. Ishant bowled impressively. Hunting in a pack as Ashwin would say. #SLvInd

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 22, 2015

Complete team effort too. Mishra leads the way with four wickets but Ishant’s double-strike and Binny’s dismissal of Mathews were the crucial breakthroughs.

Gr8 effort by bowlers post lunch. Lead of 87 on this pitch crucial. Lanka hv to play catch up from here. But India's batsmen must hold nerve

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 22, 2015

India’s best effort on the field on the tour so far, especially considering the odds were against them at Lunch. Last seven wickets have falled for 65 runs and Mathews will be really disappointed with effort. Still doesn’t seem like there are demons on the pitch, but the new ball is causing enough problems. India will be chuffed with that effort, taking an 87-run lead. Up to the batsmen now to make it count.

Breathless test cricket action at its best.

This did not look at all possible when Mathews and Thirimanne were batting..

Last 6 wickets for 47 runs. Superb stuff from India. Lead by 87. Close enough to that 100-target. #SLvInd

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 22, 2015

After 107 overs SL 306/9 (Kaushal 6, Chameera 0)

Ashwin starts over the wicket and quickly changes to around to Chameera. First an off-spinner that goes past leg – leg slip was interested just for a little bit. Follows that with a straight one that beats him outside off.

After 106 overs SL 306/8 (Herath 1, Kaushal 6)

Mishra getting a little carried away there as starts the over with a full toss that is driven through the covers by Kaushal for a couple before a rank long-hop is put away through square leg for four. He recoups well to finish the over with four fuller balls. 

For a long time, Indian team’s achilles heel in Tests has been removing the tail – India would do well to not let the Sri Lankan tail narrow the deficit here.

After 105 overs SL 300/8 (Herath 1, Kaushal 0)

Mishra’s been superb for the most part of this innings and that really was a special delivery. Turned but not as much as Mubarak expected it to and beat him on the outside edge of the bat.

Ishant from the other end starts with a maiden to Herath, peppering him short balls from over the wicket. Expect a full ball early next over.