SL vs IND 3rd Test, Day 2: Sri Lanka finish at 19/1, trail by 333 runs

Pallekelle: Virat Kohli’s Team India continued its dominance in the Test series against Sri Lanka as they bowled out the hosts for 135 in their first innings on Day two of the third Test here on Sunday. Having started the day at 329/6, the Men in Blue set up a huge total of 487, thanks to Hardik Pandya’s maiden Test century (108).

In reply, Sri Lanka started losing wickets right from the start, after good contributions from pacer Mohammed Shami ( 2/17) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/22). While captain Dinesh Chandimal (48) was the only batsman who gave some hope for the Islanders, the rest of the batting unit eventually tumbled, and were all out for 135. India took no time in enforcing the hosts for a follow-on.

During the Lankan first innings, Kuldeep Yadav was the star with the ball as he finished with a brilliant spell of 4/40.

In the follow on, Sri Lanka started on a slow and cautious note, as the openers looked to build a strong, consisten partnership. However, Upul Tharnga continued his poor forms as he departed for just seven runs.

It will be upto the entire Lankan team if they are to get back into the game, and they have a huge task at hand.

]Sri Lanka 135 all out

India once again bowled out hosts Sri Lanka for a ow score of 135 as the Men in Blue enforced follow on. It was a sensational spell from Kuldeep Yadav (4/40) and important contributions from Mohammed Shami (2/17) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2/22) which helped the visitors seal the innings.

Hardik Pandya, too, came up with a good show as he finished with a spell of 1/28.

Sri Lanka 135/9 from 36.5 overs

WICKET! Malinda Pushpakumara departs for a duck as the hosts are nine down.

Kuldeep Yadav gets his fourth wicket in the innings as Pushpakumara is clean bowled by the chinaman bowler.

Sri Lanka 125/8 from 31.3 overs:

WICKET! This collapse is never-ending. Pushpakumara is the latest to get out. Yorked himself. Kuldeep has his 3rd.

Sri Lanka 125/7 from 31.3 overs:

WICKET! R Ashwin removes Dinesh Chandimal for 48. Spin and bounce and the Sri Lankan skipper is caught at backward short-leg.

Sri Lanka 107/6 from 22.1 overs:

WICKET! Can someone from Sri Lanka stand up and bat alongside Chandimal for a long time? Dilruwan Perera finds Hardik Pandya in the deep. Sri Lanka 6 down, Kuldeep has his second. This is poor stuff from the hosts.

Sri Lanka 101/5 from 20.3 overs:

WICKET! Stumped and gone, Dickwella departs! The 63-run stand between Niroshan Dickwella and Dinesh Chandimal comes to an end as Kuldeep Yadav removes the left-hander. Stumped. Sri Lanka 5 down.

Tea break: Sri Lanka 61/4 from 14 overs

Sri Lanka struggled their way to 61/4 at tea in a session which once again belonged to Virat Kohli and co. In response to India's 487, the Lankan top-order once again slumped as both Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga were sent off by Shami, before the hosts even collapsed as they further lost Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews.

Sri Lanka 38/4 from 9.3 overs:

WICKET! Hardik Pandya traps Angelo Mathews before the stumps. He is all over Sri Lanka today. Mathews does not bother reviewing umpire's call. Sri Lanka in disarray.

Sri Lanka 38/3 from 8.5 overs:

WICKET! And now a run-out! Oh, Sri Lanka, how can you! Kusal Mendis was done in by the tag-team work of R Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav. Chandimal hits one through the leg-side, takes off for a run, then contemplates as Ashwin dives at mid-on, Mendis, meanwhile looks keen for a run, he is half-way through the pitch as Ashwin throws the ball at bowler's end, Shami fails to collect the ball. Mendis has a hope. Oh, no he does not. Kuldeep was smart enough to pick up Ashwin's throw and shatter the stumps. Mendis gone.

Sri Lanka 23/2 from 4.3 overs:

WICKET! This is fine swing bowling from Mohammed Shami and excellent work behind the wickets from Wriddhiman Saha. Dimuth Karunaratne departs. Shami on fire, India on a roll, Sri Lanka in trouble.

Sri Lanka 14/1 from 2.3 overs:

WICKET! Mohammed Shami strikes as Saha takes a fine catch. Upul Tharanga's horrible series continues as he gets out for 5. India have struck early.

India 487 all out:

WICKET! The Hardik Pandya show is over and so is the Indian innings shortly after lunch. Lakshan Sandakan has five as Dilruwan Perera holds on to an easy catch in the deep. India all out for 487 in the first innings of the third Test.

India 485/9 from 120 overs:

HUNDRED FOR HARDIK PANDYA! Sensational knock from him. Big hitting, clean strikes and he has tormented Sri Lanka and dashed their hopes of wrapping up the Indian innings quickly on Day 2. He has brought up his first ton in international cricket in a grand manner. Well played, son!

India 456/9 from 116 overs:

26 might runs in an over! Oh Hardik Pandya! 4, 4, 6, 6, 6. Hardik Pandya has moved from 57 to 83 in space of 5 balls with Pushpakumara hammering and with that he now holds the record for most runs in an over for an Indian batsman in Test cricket. He has bulldozed the Sri Lankan bowling and has done a remarkable job anchoring the lower order.

India 421/9 from 114.2 overs:

WICKET! Lakshan Sandakan strikes again. 4th wicket for him as he holds onto a catch off his own bowling. Mohammed Shami departs shortly after Hardik Pandya brought up his 2nd Test fifty. India 9 down as Umesh Yadav walks out to bat.

India 401/8 from 111 overs:

WICKET! Lakshan Sandakan has given Sri Lanka their second wicket of the morning as he breaks Hardik-Kuldeep partnership. The ball turns away from Kuldeep, kisses the outside edge of the bat and lands in Dickwella's gloves. Kuldeep reviews the on-field umpire's call but there is a clear edge. India 8 down.

India 390/7 from 107 overs:

FIFTY-RUN STAND! Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav bring up fifty-run stand as the two continue to frustrate Sri Lanka as India move closer to 400-run mark.

India 339/7 from 91.3 overs:

WICKET! Early strike from Vishwa Fernando as Wriddhiman Saha departs early. A fine catch from Dilruwan Perera in gully. Sri Lanka off to a bright start on Day 2.

Pallekele: The Indian lower order will once again look to contribute with the bat as India resume play on Day 2 at 329/6 on Sunday. While Sri Lankan spinners managed to reduce India’s advantage by scalping six wickets in the last two sessions on Day 1 of the Test, the Virat Kohli-led side once again managed to score 300 plus runs in a day after electing to bat.

While Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane failed to score many runs and Virat Kohli got out for 42 in the middle order stumble, a 188-run opening stand between Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul helped India to score 329 on the opening day of the third and final Test.

Wriddhiman Saha and Hardik Pandya will begin the proceedings on the second day as Sri Lanka will bank on their spinners – Lakshan Sandakan and Malinda Pushpakumara – to restrict India’s total below 400. With the pitch offering some help to spinners, it will be an interesting battle between bat and ball.