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Day 4 report: India remained on course for an away Test cricket series victory against Sri Lanka after 22 years, as the hosts chasing a challenging target of 386 to win, struggled to reach 67/3 in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day of the third match here on Monday. Opener Kaushal Silva (24 not out) and skipper Angelo Mathews (22 not out) were at the crease for Sri Lanka at stumps at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC). Indian pacers Ishant Sharma (2-14) and Umesh Yadav (1-32) struck yet again in the second innings to leave the visitors just seven wickets away from a memorable victory. [caption id=“attachment_2415730” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File picture of Ishant Sharma (L). AFP[/caption] Virat Kohli-led India slumped to a 63-run loss in the first Test at Galle despite dominating much of the match, but shook off the disappointment by thumping the hosts to a 278-run loss in the second Test at the P. Sara Oval. India are eyeing their first Test series win in the island nation since 1993. The fourth day of the ongoing Test belonged entirely to India which started off with their batsmen showing their class and composure to build a strong lead. Sri Lanka had managed 201 in the first innings in reply to India’s 312. Sri Lanka came into bat in the second innings with a daunting 386-run target ahead of them and looked nervous right from the start as opener Upul Tharanga (0) fell in the sixth ball of the innings to Ishant. Dimuth Karunaratne (0) too perished in the fourth over, leaving Lanka in a spot of bother at 2/2. In-form batsman Dinesh Chandimal (18) too soon went back to the pavilion, leaving the hosts on a sticky wicket with a day remaining in the Test match. Earlier, India resumed the fourth day at 21/3, with overnight batsmen Rohit Sharma (50) and Kohli (21) getting the proceedings underway by facing the Sri Lankan bowlers smartly on a bright sunny morning. But Kohli edged one to first slip off the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep to hand the opposition their first wicket of the day. India were 64/4 then. Then Stuart Binny joined hands with Rohit for a handy 54-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take the lead past the 200-run mark. Just a few minutes before lunch, Rohit gave his wicket away while attempting a pull off a short delivery from pacer Prasad. With the dismissal of Rohit, debutant wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha joined Binny in the middle as India reached 132/5 at lunch. The partnership between Binny (49) and Ojha (35) ended soon after lunch as the team’s score reached 160. After striking seven fours in his 62-ball 49, Binny edged a good length delivery from pacer Dhammika Prasad to Tharanga, who at first slip dived to his left and plucked a low catch. His partner Ojha who was also looking set, soon fell to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, leaving India wobbling at 179/7. Two quick wickets did not matter for incoming batsmen Ravichandran Ashwin (58) and Amit Mishra (39) as the duo added some vital runs in a 55-run partnership to push ahead India’s lead. Off-spinner Ashwin was the highest run-scorer for India and the last wicket to fall as India were bowled out for 274 in their second innings and set a challenging 386-run target for the hosts. Pacers Nuwan Pradeep and Prasad clinched four wickets each for the hosts. IANS
Sri Lanka vs India 3rd Test as it happened: Feels nice to have created history with such young team, says Kohli
Live score and updates of day 5 of 3rd Test between Sri Lanka and India at SSC, Colombo.
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That’s it! India win by 117 runs. Their first overseas series win in 4 years. They have ended their 22-year wait for a series win in Sri Lanka.
OUT! Mishra bowls a googly and traps Kaushal LBW. Celebrations all around. Sri Lanka all out for 268. A special moment for Kohli and co. to savour. Kohli is pumped up. While Rahane has a simple smile.
After 84 overs SL 263/9 (Kaushal 0, Pradeep 0)
A successful over from Ashwin. Two wickets in that over. We didn’t get a chance to witness Ishant vs Prasad as Prasad looked in some hurry and lost his wicket in space of 4 balls. India just one wicket away from a famous win.
OUT! Prasad arrives, he dazzles, he departs. All in space of 4 balls.
He Went for everything, got a two and a four but then went for one shot too many. Ended up skying it high in the air. Binny setttled under it on the off side and took a good catch.
Nuwan Pradeep is the last manin.
OUT! India inch closer. Herath is trapped LBW by Ashwin!
It’s very full on middle, Herath looks to flick but ends up yorking himself. He misses and the finger lifts his finger straightaway on the appeal.
Dhammika Prasad was seen running tot he dressing room last night, today he comes rushing outside. Gets a standing ovation.
After 83 overs SL 257/7 (Herath 11, Kaushal 0)
Ishant bowls a fiery over. He is all pumped up. Three bouncers to start with. He then bowls the next three balls on a back of a length area outside off, Kaushal lets them go through. A maiden.
After 82 overs SL 257/7 (Herath 11, Kaushal 0)
Herath – the senior batsman now – starts throwing his bat around, perhaps to unsettle the Indians. Umesh’s short ball from over the wickets is pulled away to mid-wicket and “slash? slash hard” shot fetched him a four through third man. 8 runs from that over as Herath plays out Yadav from around the wicket.
A bit wayward in that over to start and end with – as Ishant fired it wide down the leg with Naman Ojha diving to gather it well. But he kept it straight when it mattered and the biggest prize on offer was Ishant’s – Angelo Mathews’ wicket. Sadly, no Dhammika PRasad yet as Kaushal walks in and gets beaten twice.
Umesh Yadav from the other end.
OUT! First over after Tea & Ishant gets the big one of Mathews! His 200th Test wicket too. The third ball of a new session – Ishant keeps it full, straight, not much movement – but Mathews completely misses it. Plumb on the backfoot.
What a start but spare a thought for Angelo Mathews – what a stupendous innings!
Tea, day 5. Sri Lanka 249/6. 115 runs scored with just 1 wkt lost in the session. India have an upper hand. Mathews not out on 110.
Herath survives the last over before tea. One run scored off it. The 2nd new ball is due after tea for India and that gives them an added advantage. They need 4 wickets to end a 22-year wait for a win on Sri Lankan soil. However, Mathews is fighting it out in the middle with 110*.
After 79 overs, Sri Lanka 248/6 (Mathews 109, Herath 3)
Herath survives some anxious moments. ashwin bowls one quicker from outside off, herath comes half forward and defends it with bat and pad. A huge LBW appeal is turned down. Looked like bat first. Ashwin then loops it up nicely and it spins away viciously after landing. Herath is beaten on his forward prod. A maiden.
After 78 overs, Sri Lanka 248/5 (Mathews 109, Herath 3)
Herath too looking to be positive. He drags one down from outside off to deep mid-wicket for a single. Two more singles make it 3 runs off the over. Still, not much turn on offer for Mishra. Sri Lanka were doing well still don’t know what was the need of that shot from Kusal!
After 77 overs, Sri Lanka 245/5 (Mathews 108, Herath 1)
A Successful over for India. Ashwin got the big wicket of Kusal. Mathews still looked to be positive after Kusal’s departure as he sweeps one fine for a couple. 3 runs off the over.
OUT! What a waste of a wicket. Madness from Kusal. He was playing well but falls to a reverse sweep!
It’s full on middle and off, Kusal gets down and reverse sweeps it powerfully but straight to the fielder at point. He walks off disappointed but there are few words exchanged by the Indian fielder. Kusal is not impressed and he has a go at them. The 135-run stand is broken.
Rangana Herath walks out to the middle.
After 76 overs, Sri Lanka 242/5 (Mathews 106, Kusal 70)
Mathews, for unfathomable reasons, looks to get audacious and plays a reverse sweep but straight to the fielder. He is getting runs easily and playing well, why go for those unconventional shots? After five deliveries, Mishra comes from over the wicket and bowls a googly. Mathews defendsit carefully.
After 75 overs, Sri Lanka 241/5 (Mathews 106, Kusal 69)
Nothing much happening. Two singles and Mathews padding away delivery outside the leg stump. India need a wicket here.