IND vs SL 3rd Test Day 2: Sri Lanka rebuild post smog drama, Virat Kohli show

New Delhi: While pollution and smog in New Delhi made their presence on Day 2 of the third India versus Sri Lanka Test, it could not stop Vrat Kohli to break a few records on his way to his sixth double ton as India declared at 536/7 before scalping three Sri Lankan wickets (3/131) at stumps here at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday.

After Kohli notched up his second double ton in a row, Delhi weather forced Sri Lankan players wear masks and be on the field. Such was the weather that around 8 Lankan players wore masks and pacers Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage had to leave the field.

After India scored 129 runs losing only Rohit Sharma in the first session on Day 2, the second session witnessed multiple smog interruptions as the play was halted for over 20 minutes and witnessed India and Sri Lanka coaches walking out on the field as Sri Lanka at a point had a player short on the field. Such was the turn of events that Kohli announced declaration.

While Sri Lanka lost two wickets before tea interval and one in the final session, the experienced duo of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal joined hands to stitch an unbeaten 56-run stand as Sri Lanka ended Day 2 at 131/3, with Mathews batting on 57 and Chandimal batting on 25. Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma scalped a wicket each as Sri Lanka lost the wickets of Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dilruwan Perera.

Earlier, India put up yet another mammoth total on the board as the overnight batsmen Kohli and Rohit did not allow Sri Lanka any respite and scored at brisk pace. While Kohli added 87 runs more to his overnight score of 156, Rohit got out after scoring 65. For Sri Lanka, left-arm tweaker Lakshan Sandakan scalped four wickets.

Sri Lanka 75/3 after 19 overs:

WICKET! LBW. Dilruwan Perera dances down the track and the ball has hit the pads. Nigel Llong turns it down, India opt for a review. Hitting middle, pitched in line and three reds. Perera has to go.

Sri Lanka 18/2 after 6 overs:

WICKET! Dhananjaya departs after Ishant Sharma traps him for an LBW dismissal. A good lenght delivery nips back in an hits the batsman on the knee role. There is a doubt of height but the umpire raises his finger.

Sri Lanka 10/1 from 3 overs:

WICKET! First ball in the innings and Sri Lanka have lost Dimuth Karunaratne straightway as Mohammed Shami strikes. The Sri Lankan opener edges one straight to Wriddhiman Saha.

Indian innings:

After multiple smog interruptions in play, which saw two Sri Lankan pacers walk off the field, over eight players wearing masks, Sri Lankan manager, team physio, Indian head coach Ravi Shastri and Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas walk out on the field, India have declared their innings for 536/7 on Day 2 of the third Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.

Sri Lanka managed to dismiss R Ashwin and Virat Kohli as the New Delhi smog troubles the visitors on Day 2 of the the third Test. The play was stopped fro around 20 minutes as both the umpires were involved in a lengthy chat with Dinesh Chandimal and Virat Kohli while the match-referee David Boon was informed about the issue.

India 523/7 from 125.3 overs:

WICKET! Virat Kohli's fine innings come to an end. Lakshan Sandakan has his fourth wicket as he traps the Indian skipper before the wickets. Kohli opts for a review but the ball is hitting the stumps.

India 519/6 from 123 overs:

WICKET! R Ashwin departs on the first ball as play resumes after smog interruption. Gamage strikes.

Sri Lanka may find some solace as they managed to see the back of Rohit Sharma on the stroke of lunch on Day 2 of the third Test here on Sunday but India would be all smiles as Virat Kohli’s unbeaten record-braking sixth double hundreds have taken the hometeam’s total to 500.

India 500/5 from 117.5 overs

WICKET AND LUNCH! Rohit Sharma will be gutted to miss out on a hundred and Sri Lanka will have something to be happy about as teams head back to the dressing room for lunch. Lakshan Sandakan has his 3^rd wicket as the ball kisses the lower end of Rohit’s bat before Niroshan Dickwella took a fine catch. Virat, meanwhile, is doing his usual stuff. Not out on 225. Talk about daddy hundreds.

India 451/4 in 108 overs:

DOUBLE HUNDRED! SIXTH DOUBLE TON! Most by any captain in Test cricket. Second in the series, second in a row. The Virat Kohli juggernaut continues roll on.

India 405/4 from 97 overs:

400 up for India! A six, some lovely fours and Kohli and Rohit are scoring some quick runs with utmost ease as Sri Lanka fail to threaten the Indian duo. Kohli has moved into 170s.

371 runs on the board, Virat Kohi and Rohit Sharma still in the middle and India still have six wickets in hand. The signs are ominous for Sri Lanka as the Day 2 of the third and final Test of the series kicks off here at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday.

It was a same old story all over again for Sri Lanka. They managed to dismiss one of the Indian openers early but could not stop Murali Vijay and Kohli as India scored more than four runs per over on Day 1 of the third Test on Satuday.

While Vijay got out close to the stumps on the opening day, Kohli stayed put as India once again dominated the visitors on a wicket that had a tinge of grass but did not offer a South Africa-like feeling.

Although Sri Lanka managed to dismiss Ajinkya Rahane and Vijay before stumps on Day 1, India clearly had an upperhand over Dinesh Chandimal and co.