Sri Lanka vs India, First Test, Day 3, as it happened: India need 153 runs; Sri Lanka need 9 wickets

Hero of the day – undoubtedly – was Dinesh Chandimal who played one of the best counter-attacking innings in recent times – up there with some of Adam Gilchrist’s efforts. 162 off 169 balls, 19 fours and 4 sixes – pick off the lot being the reverse sweep over covers for a maximum. It was an absolute delight to watch and has given Lanka an outside chance of pulling off a miracle win on a wearing wicket.

For India, Rahane was sensational in the slips with stunning catches to dismiss Sangakkara – who was looking solid in his innings of 40 – and Thirimanne. Ashwin was some by distance India’s best bowler again, picking up four wickets to take his match tally to 10.

Day 3 Stumps: India 375 & 23/1 (8.0 ov) need 153 runs. Dhawan 13, Ishant 5* #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/0ndhPMVpb9

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) August 14, 2015

KL Rahul's Test scores: 3, 1, 110, 16, 7, 5
India 12 for 1 chasing 176 http://t.co/pgWzaXBjlQ #SLvIND

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 14, 2015

After 8 overs India 23/1 (Dhawan 13, Ishant 5)

Dhawan takes Herath and Ishant takes Kaushal as the two see off the 8-over spell without further loss. Ishant farms the strike off the last over – doing his job of protecting Dhawan. Gets almost undone by a doosra of the last ball but missed the outside edge. 

STUMPS on Day 3. India will resume their chase of 176 on Day 4.

After 6 overs India 19/1 (Dhawan 9, Ishant 5)

Ishant is in as the night watchman as its spin from both ends for Sri Lanka now. Kaushal continues around the wicket for Dhawan and hurried him again with a quicker one. A mad scramble for a single off the fifth ball could have seen Dhawan dismissed early but the throw is wayward. Ishant finishes the over with a copy-book cover drive through the vacant region.

After 4 overs India 12/0 (Rahul 5, Dhawan 7)

Kaushal with a good start as he troubles Dhawan with a couple of straighter balls from around the wicket. Three runs.

Change of ends for Herath..

Coincidence, eh?

Ashwin takes a 10-wkt haul. The last time an Indian spinner took a 10-wkt haul in an away Test was also at Galle - Harbhajan in 2008

— Bishen Jeswant (@bishen_jeswant) August 14, 2015

After 3 overs India 9/0 (Rahul 4, Dhawan 5)

A maiden over from Dhammika, as Dhawan is not showing any signs of discomfort yet.

Off-spinner Tharindhu Kaushal from the other end.

After 3 overs India 9/0 (Rahul 4, Dhawan 5)

A maiden over from Dhammika, as Dhawan is not showing any signs of discomfort yet.

Off-spinner Tharindhu Kaushal from the other end.

After 2 overs India 9/0 (Rahul 4, Dhawan 5)

There is spin from the other end as Herath starts from the other end. Almost has the perfect start as he gets the outside edge from Dhawan which goes between the ‘keeper and first slip. Chances like that need to be taken defending a target like 176. It goes for a boundary. Rahul finishes the over with a flick off the pads coming down the track.

After 1 over India 2/0 (Rahul 2, Dhawan 0)

No spin experiment from Mathews as Prasad starts with the new ball. Rahul begins with a confident push off the backfoot through point for a couple. Just a hint of movenent off the fifth ball but Rahul leaves it well.

Outstanding from Chandimal...reverse sweeping a spinner for a six was the highlight for me. Exceptional. #SLvsInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 14, 2015

Like I was saying, a tricky chase for India. Big question: Will (can?) Dhawan come out to bat?

100+ chases in 4th innings at Galle:
Instances-12
Wins-0
Losses-9
Draws-3#SLvsIND #INDvsSL

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 14, 2015

Sri Lanka all-out 367 (Chandimal 162*): A target of 176 is in the “well-this-could-get-interesting” category but Sri Lanka will and must be proud of that effort. Brilliant knock by Dinesh Chandimal – that innings was all about him as Sangakkara takes the back-seat for a while.

A word of praise for Ajinkya Rahane who set a new world record for 8 catches by a non-wicket keeper.

After 81 overs Sri Lanka 360-8 (Chandimal 158, Kaushal 7)

The last over with the old ball was bowled by Mishra, it goes for just 1. Aaron gets the new ball and Chandimal continues his rampage – pulls a well-directed bouncer to fine leg and dumps an over-pitched ball over long-off for brilliant boundaries.

Ishant from the other end – no spinners with the new ball..

I like Chandimal's redemption. He had lost his way after that superb start in Australia in 2011-12. But now getting crucial runs regularly.

— Narayanan S (@narayanantweaks) August 14, 2015

After 79 overs Sri Lanka 351-8 (Chandimal 149, Kaushal 7)

Ishant Sharma is struggling with no-balls again. Two in that over. Ashwin gets a shot at Kaushal but the tail-ender shows his mettle pulling a short ball for four over mid-wicket. Chandimal one short of a magical 150.

Meanwhile, India A win the triangular series which seemed unlikely given the form Australia A were in

What an innings from young Gurkeerat Mann (87 from 85balls in a run chase) for India'A'.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 14, 2015

Personall yes, but the Thirimanne catch comes a close second.

Was this the best of Rahane's 8 catches so far? #Sangakkara #SLvsIND pic.twitter.com/7t3Lmz8qdm

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) August 14, 2015

After 77 overs Sri Lanka 337-8 (Chandimal 142, Kaushal 2)

Ishant’s over goes for 6 runs despite Chandimal’s reluctance to take a single. A good bouncer is followed by a poor short ball as Ishant gets pulled to the fine leg for four. On the downside, Kaushal gets to face Ashwin for 6 balls (yes Ashwin from the other end, another bowling change). A maiden over ensues as Kaushal reads his fellow off-spinner quite well, leaving well outside off stump. 

Ishant to continue..

Yes, yes and a thousand times yes. If the technology can’t be trusted at least have plain old video replays for referral. Ridiculous!

Herath gets the umpteenth rough decision of the game. Lost count of which team has been more screwed over. There’s an easy solution people..

— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) August 14, 2015

After 75 overs Sri Lanka 331-8 (Chandimal 136, Kaushal 2)

Ashwin is taken to the cleaners by Chandimal. Errs on the shorter side on a couple of occasions brings about two big pulls from Chandimal – first one sails over midwicket for a six and the second one falls just shot. Mishra gets a shot Kaushal and he tries a few variations, tempting the tail-ender with slow – really slow – turners. Kaushal survives. 

More chopping and changing from Kohli as Ishant comes back..

After 73 overs Sri Lanka 319-8 (Chandimal 126, Kaushal 0)

Ishant and Mishra came back into the attack and the double change worked for Kohli. Ishant was hit for a brilliant cut by Chandimal. Mishra has three wickets in the innings but that was a lucky break. The bat hit pitch and the ball missed the gloves by a whisker.

Just one over for Ishant as Ashwin is back…

Well done, Jinks. Well done.

Most catches in a Test: 8* by Ajinkya Rahane in 2015
Most dismissals in a Test: 11 Jack Russell in 1995 & 11 AB de Villiers in 2013#IndvSL

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 14, 2015

Greg Chappell, Matthew Hayden in that list..

7 catches for Ajinkya Rahane, equals Test record with five others!#IndvSL

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 14, 2015

Comfortably India’s best catcher right now.

Ajinkya 'Buckets' Rehane is simply brilliant close-in catcher today in world Crkt..am glad he's in Indn dressing room/ranks..!!

— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) August 14, 2015

After 71 overs SL 312/7 (Chandimal 120, Herath 1)

Herath plays out a maiden over to Ashwin but Chandimal has decided to take the attacking route again. Hits an incredible reverse-sweep six off Harbhajan as he flgihred one on the middle stump. Follows that up with a chip reverse-sweep to for a couple towards third man. India pushing the field back for Chandimal to have a go at Herath.

OUT! Harbhajan’s patience pays off – gets his first wicket of the match with a brilliant off-break that spins away from off-stump, gets the outside edge as Mubarak went driving. Simple catch for Rahane at first slip – his 7th of the match. Mubarak falls for a fighting 49.

After 68 overs SL 303/7 (Chandimal 111, Herath 1)

After 67 overs SL 292/6 (Chandimal 105, Mubarak 45)

Ashwin lost his length a little bit in his over as he went too short, enabling Mubarak to steal a couple of couples. Harbhajan keeps him quieter as he bowls 5 dot balls, from over the wicket.

After 65 overs SL 287/6 (Chandimal 103, Mubarak 41)

Ashwin looks his usual threatening self in his first over back. Goes over the stumps for both the batsmen. Three runs of his over. Mubarak tries to unsettle Bhajji’s rhythm by dancing down the track and getting the maximum result out of it. Still gets a couple past outside edge.

After 63 overs SL 278/6 (Chandimal 102, Mubarak 34)

Chandimal steadying himself a bit after the 100. Three singles of Mishra’s over. Harbhajan continues from the other end and he is in the midst of his best spell of the match. Mubarak gets a lofted sweep away for a boundary but Bhajji varies his angle from over and around the wicket – beating Mubarak with two classic off-breaks. The last ball was a peach as it kicked up from off-stump line and beat Mubarak. Saha collected it hip-high.

Ashwin back into the attack, can he get another breakthrouhh?

After 61 overs SL 269/6 (Chandimal 100, Mubarak 27)

Chandimal plays out rare maiden off Amit Mishra – who starts from the other end and not Ashwin. Mubarak takes three runs from Bhajji’s over where the Turbanator looked threatening. A skidder almost trapped Mubarak on the backfoot and got a couple to bounce from outside off.