Highlights, India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 2, Pallekele: Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav shine as IND on top

The Indian cricket team will look to extend their lead against Sri Lanka on Day 2 of the third and final Test at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul struck a 188-run partnership for the opening wicket with the former scoring his sixth century in Tests. Catch live cricket score of India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 2 at Pallekele here

17:40 hrs IST: That’s it from our side, thank you so much for joining us! Do join us again for our live coverage of Day 3.

17:32 hrs IST: And that’s stumps. What a day it’s been for India’s younger players. After Hardik Pandya starred with the bat, Kuldeep Yadav shone with the ball. Sri Lanka’s final session fightback from yesterday is all but a distant memory at this point.

17:23 hrs IST: WICKET! Umesh gets Tharanga to drag one back onto the stumps. Sri Lanka are 15/1 after 10.4 overs.

17:17 hrs IST: Sri Lanka have scored two run in six overs. They are 12/0 after 9 overs.

17:07 hrs IST: No joke, India have bowled three maiden overs on the trot. Sri Lanka are 10/0 after 6 overs.

16:59 hrs IST: Sri Lanka are 10/0 after 3 overs.

16:48 hrs IST: FOUR! Third ball of the second innings gets sent to the boundary. Can Sri Lanka fight back this time around.

16:41 hrs IST: This is the shortest innings Sri Lanka have ever played against India. No wonder Virat Kohli had no hesitation enforcing the follow-on.

16:34 hrs IST: THAT’S OUT! Ashwin gets the final wicket of the day. Sri Lanka are all out for 135. But will India enforce the follow-on? The answer is yes!

16:30 hrs IST: WICKET! Kuldeep with a beautiful ball to bowl Fernando. That’s his 4th wicket of the game.

16:26 hrs IST: FOUR! Sandakan plays one ball to the boundary over the in-field.

16:25 hrs IST: With 35 overs gone, Sri Lanka 127/8.

16:16 hrs IST: WICKET! Kuldeep gets Pushpakumara now, and Sri Lanka are in real trouble.

16:11 hrs IST: WICKET! Ashwin strikes and removes Chandimal. That’s the last of their recognised batsmen gone. Follow on imminent, maybe?

16:04 hrs IST: This track is becoming more unplayable now, as the spinners are getting more turn and bounce. Sri Lanka are 120/6 after 30 overs.

15:57 hrs IST: Sri Lanka are 114/6 after 27 overs. Kuldeep and Ashwin spinning webs around the batsmen right now.

15:52 hrs IST: It has been an excellent day for India so far. Only a matter of time before they get the remaining four wickets.

15:46 hrs IST: With 24 overs gone, Sri Lanka are 110/6. They’re in tatters, alright.
15:39 hrs IST: WICKET! That has to be one of the worst ways to go. Kuldeep bowls a half tracker to Perera, who pulls hard but only manages to hole out to Hardik Pandya at deep mid-wicket. Sri Lanka are 107/6 after 22.1 overs.

15:34 hrs IST: Bad news for India as Umesh Yadav bowls one ball, then goes off in some discomfort for treatment. Shami will bowl the remaining five balls in the over. Looked like a hamstring problem for Umesh.

15:27 hrs IST: WICKET! Kuldeep gets Dickwella. Bowls the wrong un and Dickwella, who charged down like a bull in a china shop, was caught completely off guard and duly stumped by Saha. India are 101/5 after 20.3 overs.

15:25 hrs IST: FOUR! Chandimal hammers Pandya through the off-side. The real concern for India would be Umesh Yadav landing awkwardly on his right elbow trying to prevent the boundary.

15:22 hrs IS: FOUR! Dickwella lifts Pandya over mid-on and it races to the boundary. Dickwella and Chandimal have shared a partnership worth 57 runs now.

15:17 hrs IST: THREE FOURS IN 4 BALLS! Kuldeep getting slammed through the off-side by Chandimal. Counter attack by Sri Lanka?

15:15 hrs IST: With 18 overs gone, Sri Lanka are 74/4.

15:09 hrs IST: FOUR! Dickwella sweeps Kuldeep now. High risk shot?

15:03 hrs IST: Sri Lanka are now 62/4 in 15 overs.

15:00 hrs IST: And the final session is now underway!

14:42 hrs IST: And that’s tea. India’s session yet again. 4 quick wickets and India are definitely in cruise control mode at this point. Join us again for the final session!

14:38 hrs IST: FOUR! This time its Dickwella who sweeps Ashwin, who is also in his first over.

14:34 hrs IST: FOUR! The sweep shot is back, as Chandimal unleashes it and hits Kuldeep for a boundary.

14:31 hrs IST: Sri Lanka are 48/4 after 12 overs. And it is time for some spin, it would seem. Yes, Kuldeep into the attack.

14:22 hrs IST: FOUR! It’s all happening here. Dickwella pummels Pandya for a boundary.

14:19 hrs IST: ANOTHER WICKET! This time Hardik Pandya gets the dangerous Angelo Mathews LBW. Sri Lanka are struggling here at 38/4 in 9.3 overs.

14:15 hrs IST: Sri Lanka in deep trouble here! Mendis falls for 18 as he fails to reach his crease on time.

14:09 hrs IST: Five runs off Hardik Pandya’s first over. Sri Lanka 33/2; Mendis 17*, Chandimal 0*

14:04 hrs IST: Has been an excellent spell from Shami so far. Simply unplayable!

13:59 hrs IST: Sri Lanka are 28/2 after 6 overs; Mendis 12*, Chandimal 0*

13:49 hrs IST: WICKET! And it’s Shami again! Another beautiful ball just outside off, forcing the batsmen to play the shot. Karunaratne had a poke, and the resulting edge goes to Saha who did well to take a low catch. At least Sri Lanka didn’t review it this time. Sri Lanka are 23/2 after 4.3 overs.

13:44 hrs IST: BACK-TO-BACK FOURS! Mendis gets two balls on the pads and flicks them away to the boundary. Umesh Yadav needs to check his line. Sri Lanka are 23/1 after 4 overs.

13:27 hrs IST: WICKET! Shami with a beautiful delivery outside off, forcing Tharanga to drive at it. He gets an edge and Saha makes no mistake. No clue why Tharanga reviewed it though; thick edge, review wasted. Sri Lanka are 14/1 after 2.3 overs.

13:32 hrs IST: BACK-TO-BACK FOURS! Second one was a byes too. Not a good start for Umesh Yadav. Sri Lanka are 13/0 after 2 overs.

13:25 hrs IST: Sri Lanka’s turn to bat now. They have a task at hand for sure, especially when Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin get a chance to roll their arms.

13:13 hrs IST: And that’s that! Sandakan gets Pandya, who holes out in the deep. The Chinaman gets a 5-wicket haul, but India will be very happy with that score.

13:10 hrs IST: Welcome back to live coverage of the final Test between India and Sri Lanka. The second session is underway.

12:31 hrs IST: And that’s lunch. What. A. Session. India started the day at 326/6, and are now 487/9 at lunch. A lot of credit for that must go to Hardik Pandya, who played an absolute madcap innings to bring up his maiden Test hundred. India, who were tottering a bit yesterday, are now in control again. Join us again in around 40 minutes for the second session of Day 2!

12:26 hrs IST: Fun fact: this is the fastest century by an Indian batting at number 8.

12:21 hrs IST: FOUR! Pandya gets his maiden Test century with a four down the ground. What a knock it has been.

12:19 hrs IST: Here’s some fun observations from a colleague: In their 55-run partnership, Umesh Yadav has scored just 2 runs. Even better: In his knock of 99 runs, Pandya has only scored 3 singles so far!

12:15 hrs IST: SIX! Pandya now clears the deep mid-wicket boundary. On 97 now.

12:09 hrs IST: SIX! Pandya reaches 90 with yet another maximum.

12:08 hrs IST: Session has been extended. If India lose a wicket, lunch will be called immediately. Otherwise, lunch will be taken at 12:30.

12:00 hrs IST: THREE CONSECUTIVE SIXES NOW! My word, this is fun to watch from Hardik Pandya.

11:57 hrs IST: BACK-TO-BACK FOURS! Pandya throwing his bat at everything now.

12:31 hrs IST: And that’s lunch. What. A. Session. India started the day at 326/6, and are now 487/9 at lunch. A lot of credit for that must go to Hardik Pandya, who played an absolute madcap innings to bring up his maiden Test hundred. India, who were tottering a bit yesterday, are now in control again. Join us again in around 40 minutes for the second session of Day 2!

12:26 hrs IST: Fun fact: this is the fastest century by an Indian batting at number 8.

12:21 hrs IST: FOUR! Pandya gets his maiden Test century with a four down the ground. What a knock it has been.

12:19 hrs IST: Here’s some fun observations from a colleague: In their 55-run partnership, Umesh Yadav has scored just 2 runs. Even better: In his knock of 99 runs, Pandya has only scored 3 singles so far!

12:15 hrs IST: SIX! Pandya now clears the deep mid-wicket boundary. On 97 now.

12:09 hrs IST: SIX! Pandya reaches 90 with yet another maximum.

12:08 hrs IST: Session has been extended. If India lose a wicket, lunch will be called immediately. Otherwise, lunch will be taken at 12:30.

12:00 hrs IST: THREE CONSECUTIVE SIXES NOW! My word, this is fun to watch from Hardik Pandya.

11:57 hrs IST: BACK-TO-BACK FOURS! Pandya throwing his bat at everything now.

12:09 hrs IST: SIX! Pandya reaches 90 with yet another maximum.

12:08 hrs IST: Session has been extended. If India lose a wicket, lunch will be called immediately. Otherwise, lunch will be taken at 12:30.

12:00 hrs IST: THREE CONSECUTIVE SIXES NOW! My word, this is fun to watch from Hardik Pandya.

11:57 hrs IST: BACK-TO-BACK FOURS! Pandya throwing his bat at everything now.

11:55 hrs IST: SIX! Once again it’s Pandya, this time he slogs one over long off after giving the bowler the charge.

11:52 hrs IST: WICKET! Shami gets a flighted delivery which he duly smashes… straight back to Sandakan, who literally grabs his 4th wicket of the game. India are 421/9 after 114.2 overs.

11:48 hrs IST: Fifty for Pandya! This is his second half century in Test cricket. India are 421/8 after 114 overs.

11:46 hrs IST: SIX! Pandya now joins in and hits the game’s first six, over long on. Told you there’d be a fireworks display.

11:44 hrs IST: FOUR! Width on offer and Shami does not miss the chance, duly dispatching the ball to the boundary.

11:43 hrs IST: With Shami and Pandya at the crease and only two wickets in hand, we might be in for a bit of a fireworks display before lunch.

11:38 hrs IST: WICKET! One Chinaman gets the other as Kuldeep edges a Sandakan delivery to Dickwella. For some reason he decided to review that. Bad call. India are 401/8 after 111 overs.

11:30 hrs IST: India are 397/7 after 108 overs.
11:28 hrs IST: FOUR! Pandya heaves one over the long on boundary.

11:17 hrs IST: With 105 overs gone, India are 382/7.

11:14 hrs IST: Kuldeep Yadav might seem a bit uncomfortable out in the middle, but he has a first-class batting average of over 28 and a highest score of 117. He can certainly bat.

11:05 hrs IST: We get our first glimpse of spin after the drinks break as Lakshan Sandakan gets a chance to try his luck on what is a good wicket for spinners.

10:59 hrs IST: India’s lower order – which has been a difference-maker for India in this series – is chipping in with valuable runs again. India are 374/7 after 102 overs.

10:52 hrs IST: FOUR! Kuldeep gets his first boundary of the day with a nice shot on the off side.

10:24 hrs IST: FOUR! Kumara bowls it short and wide, Pandya duly frees his arms and sends the ball racing to the boundary.

10:21 hrs IST: 4 overs of the have been played and India are 348/7.

10:15 hrs IST: FOUR! Pandya plays a shot behind the wicket after beautifully anticipating a bouncer.

10:08 hrs IST: WICKET! Saha plays at a ball that is short, wide and there to be hit. But he only manages to send it straight to Dilruwan Perera at gully. India are 339/7 after 91.3 overs.

10:02 hrs IST: FOUR! Oh dear, that is a bad way to concede a boundary. Kumara’s ball swings a bit and Dickwella misreads it, giving India four byes. These are valuable extras being given away.

10:00 hrs IST: Lahiru Kumara will bowl the first over of the day. Play is now officially underway!

09:45 hrs IST: Sri Lanka’s bowling on Day 1 was impressive enough to gain some praise from bowling coach Chaminda Vaas. Can they continue to bowl well consistently? We’ll find out in 15 minutes.

08:47 hrs IST: Sri Lanka’s fightback in the second and third innings means for the first time in the series, a Test actually looks competitive. Sadly for Sri Lanka fans, it comes when the series has already been decided.

08:35 hrs IST: Good morning and welcome to live coverage of Day 2 of the final Test between India and Sri Lanka.

Rahul may have missed out on a century but his innings of 85 meant the right-handed opener joined an exclusive club of batsmen to score the most consecutive half-centuries in Test cricket history. Rahul scored his seventh half-century on Saturday, which came off 135 balls and included eight boundaries.

However, Sri Lanka fought back, taking three wickets each in the post lunch and post tea session.

Left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara scalped three crucial Indian wickets while Chinaman Lakshan Sandakan took two.