Highlights – India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Day 3: Kusal Mendis, Karunaratne keep IND at bay
600+ runs scored for the second time on Sri Lankan soil
Team India has scored more than 600 runs in two consecutive Tests on Sri Lankan soil. Since December 2016, the Indian team has scored 600 or more runs in total 6 times. India scored 622 runs in the first innings thanks to the superb innings of the off-spinner Ajinkya Rahane (132) and Cheteshwar Pujara (133).
Ravindra Jadeja (70 *), Riddhiman Saha (67), Lokesh Rahul (57) and R. Ashwin played an innings of 54. Pujara and Rahane have partnership of 217 runs for the fourth wicket in India. At the same time, the second largest partnership took place between Jadeja and Saha for the eighth wicket (72 runs). Rangana Herath was the most successful bowler, who took 4/154 wickets from Sri Lanka. On the other hand, Melinda Pushpakumar took 2/156 wickets. Karunaratne and Dilruwan got 1-1 wickets. Get live updates and live cricket score of India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Day 3, Colombo here (LIVE SCORECARD)
17:17 hrs IST: Both teams had their heroes – Ravichandran Ashwin for India and Kushal Mendis for Sri Lanka. But, tomorrow will be the decider when it comes to the result of this match.
17:12 hrs IST: Dimuth Karunaratne was unbeaten on 92 and he will surely want to reach his century as fast as possible on Day 4.
17:07 hrs IST: That’s stumps on Day 3. A mixed day for Sri Lanka as they finish on 209/2.
17:02 hrs IST: It will still be a tough ask for Sri Lanka to win this game tomorrow, but nothing can be said with certainty in cricket. SL 205/2
16:55 hrs IST: Dimuth Karunaratne continues to play his natural game as he sweeps it for another boundary. SL 202/2
16:51 hrs IST: OUT! Finally the much needed wicket for India as Kusal Mendis is caught behind for 110. SL 198/2
16:48 hrs IST: Pandya strayed in line and Kusal Mendis guides it to the cover boundary. SL 198/1
16:42 hrs IST: Pacy stuff from Hardik Pandya. The ball hits the thigh pad after Karunaratne missed the shot
16:38 hrs IST: This is currently the second highest 2nd wicket partnership for Sri Lanka against India. SL 189/1
16:30 hrs IST: Dimuth Karunaratne is also in the 80s. Will we see his 6th Test hundred? SL 187/1
16:24 hrs IST: The day started woefully for Sri Lanka, but they will be quite happy with their show in the last one and a half sessions. SL 185/1
16:20 hrs IST: No wicket for Ravichandran Ashwin till now. He must be quite disappointed after brilliant show in the 1st innings. SL 177/1
16:14 hrs IST: Kusal Mendis, take a bow! He brings up his century with a brilliant boundary. SL 176/1
16:12 hrs IST: This is the kind of performance that was expected from the Sri Lanka batsmen and after the first innings debacle, this will be a huge confidence booster. SL 172/1
16:06 hrs IST: 45 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 168 for the loss of one wicket.
16:02 hrs IST: Finally, a boundary for Kusal Mendis as he marches towards a well-deserved hundred. SL 166/1
15:57 hrs IST: Kusal Mendis is in the nervous 90s. Can he reach his 3rd Test century? SL 161/1
15:52 hrs IST: The 150-run partnership comes up for Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis. SL 160/1
14:44 hrs IST: Solid batting by Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis as India are 118/1 at tea.
14:37 hrs IST: 28 overs gone. Sri Lanka are 118 for the loss of just one wicket.
14:32 hrs IST: It has been a sensible display by both the batsman and these two will be key if Sri Lanka wants to save this Test.SL 114/1
14:27 hrs IST: Umesh Yadav reintroduced into the attack.SL 108/1
14:25 hrs IST: It’s Dimuth Karunaratne’s turn as he reaches his half century. SL 108/1
14:19 hrs IST: A lucky boundary and thanks to those four runs, kusal Mendis reached his 5th Test half century. SL 101/1
14:15 hrs IST: kusal Mendis (49) slams his 10 boundary of the innings. SL 95/1
14:11 hrs IST: Dimuth Karunaratne and kusal Mendis are both nearing their respective half centuries. SL 89/1
14:06 hrs IST: Three consecutive boundaries as Sri Lanka are 84/1 after 20 overs.
14:02 hrs IST: Short and wide from Jadeja and it was punished as kusal Mendis gets another boundary. SL 76/1
13:57 hrs IST: A strong appeal for caught behind from the Indian players, but the DRS gives it not-out. SL 68/1
13:52 hrs IST: A good looking sweep takes Kusal Mendis into the 30s. SL 66/1
13:47 hrs IST: Drinks break! Good start for Sri Lanka as they are 56/1 after 16 overs.
13:44 hrs IST: Ashwin is generating some serious spin on this track. Karunaratne misses two straight attempts to play the ball. SL are 52/1.
13:35 hrs IST: Ravindra Jadeja’s first over of the innings goes for 9 runs. SL 52/1.
13:26 hrs IST: Three boundaries off Ashwin’s over. That will give the Lankans some confidence. They are 39/1.
13:22 hrs IST: Mohammed Shami is introduced to the attack. Karunaratne hits him for a boundary through the leg side. SL 26/1.
13:17 hrs IST: The dust puffs are quite evident when the ball lands on one of the cracks and the pitch will only get worse from here. SL 22/1
13:13 hrs IST: Karunaratne gets another boundary. SL 20/1
13:11 hrs IST: In other news, Tennis player Rohan Bopanna is angry at the All India Tennis Association for not nominating him for this year’s Arjuna Awards.
13:09 hrs IST: A miscue from Dimuth Karunaratne and the ball runs away to the boundary. SL 15/1
13:06 hrs IST: The conditions are quite cloudy and the ground staff are getting ready near the boundary line. SL 11/1
13:02 hrs IST: First boundary of the second innings as Karunaratne slams it through mid-wicket. SL 11/1
12:59 hrs IST: Umesh Yadav strikes early for India as Upal Tharanga is castled for 2. SL 7/1
12:54 hrs IST: Turn for Ashwin from the very first ball. Looks like he will be the key for India once again. SL 4/0
12:51 hrs IST: Umesh Yadav started with the new ball and 4 runs came off the first over after lunch. SL 4/0
12:48 hrs IST: Dimuth Karunaratne and Upul Tharanga to open the batting for Sri Lanka. SL 0/0
12:46 hrs IST: The players are out for the second session of play.
12:39 hrs IST: This is also the highest first-innings lead conceded by Sri Lanka ever!
12:27 hrs IST: It was a brilliant show by the Indian bowlers and if this continues, the match can be decided by the end of the day.
12:13 hrs IST: This was the 26th five-wicket haul for Ravichandran Ashwin!
12:09 hrs IST: India have enforced the follow-on with a lead of 439 runs.
12:07 hrs IST: Nuwan Pradeep was Ashwin’s last victim as he was castled for a duck. SL 183 all out
12:06 hrs IST: OUT! That’s all as Ravichandran Ashwin claims his 5th wicket! SL 183 all out!
12:03 hrs IST: A six and a four for Malinda Pushpakumara. Umesh Yadav almost reached the ball, but he just missed out on the catch. SL 182/9
11:59 hrs IST: 9 down! Ravichandran Ashwin weaves his magic once more and Dilruwan is clean bowled. SL 171/9
11:57 hrs IST: Sri Lanka still trail by 451 runs and it seems quite unlikely that they will be able to save the follow-on. SL 171/8
11:52 hrs IST: End of the 46th over. Sri Lanka are 171 for the loss of 8 wickets.
11:50 hrs IST: 10 minutes to go for lunch and it can safely be said that India were the clear winners in this session of play. SL 168/8
11:46 hrs IST: A short one from Mohammed Shami and the debutant Malinda Pushpakumara experiencing some chin music. SL 162/8
11:42 hrs IST: Couple of boundaries for Dilruhan. SL 160/8
11:41 hrs IST: Sri Lanka have batted woefully till now. Will Virat Kohli ask them to bat again if they fall short of the follow-on score? SL 156/8
11:37 hrs IST: Another one for Mohammed Shami! He castles Rangana Herath as Sri Lanka lose their eighth wicket. SL 152/8
11:31 hrs IST: Mohammed Shami strikes with the first ball of his spell and Niroshan Dickwella’s resilient knock comes to an end. SL 150/7
11:29 hrs IST: 150 comes up for Sri Lanka for the loss of 6 wickets.
11:25 hrs IST: 5th Test fifty for Niroshan Dickwella! SL 147/6
11:24 hrs IST: The Indian bowlers have dominated this session but Niroshan Dickwella’s batting has been quite impressive. SL 146/6
11:21 hrs IST: Dilruwan Perera ends the over with a huge six! SL 143/6
11:19 hrs IST: An interesting stat from Mohandas Menon –
Fastest to 150 Test wickets by spinners
28 – C Grimmett
29 – H Tayfield/S Ajmal/R Ashwin
31 – S McGill/S Warne
32 – Ravindra Jadeja
11:15 hrs IST: A slog sweep and that boundary takes Dickwella to 41 off just 35 balls. SL 131/6
11:15 hrs IST: Niroshan Dickwella is the one-man army for Sri Lanka right now as he hoists the ball for a boundary. SL 127/6
11:13 hrs IST: Ravindra Jadeja has 150 wickets in Test cricket and it has taken him 32 matches to reach the milestone. SL 123/6
11:11 hrs IST: Niroshan Dickwella is the only batsman who has looked comfortable against India, but it seems that he will soon run out of partners. SL 122/6
11:08 hrs IST: This is brilliance from the Indian bowlers. Dhananjaya de Silva had no clue about the ball and he was dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja! SL 121/6
11:03 hrs IST: Angelo Matthews tried to place the ball, but a sharp catch by Cheteshwar Pujara ended his innings. SL 117/5
11:01 hrs IST: OUT! The two batsmen were looking quite good but a brilliant catch at leg slip means that Angelo Matthews will have to depart. SL 117/5
11:00 hrs IST: The 50-run partnership comes up for Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Matthews.
10:57 hrs IST: It’s too easy for Dickwella as he gets the fourth boundary of his innings. SL 114/4
10:55 hrs IST: Angelo Matthews and Niroshan Dickwella have played brilliantly till now as they get another couple of boundaries. SL 110/4
10:52 hrs IST: MASSIVE! Niroshan Dickwella dances down the ground and slams it for a huge six! SL 96/4
10:51 hrs IST: Ashwin is bowling round the wicket to utlise the cracks outside the batsman’s leg stump. SL 90/4
10:47 hrs IST: India have not introduced Ravichandran Ashwin till now. What will be Virat Kohli’s strategy regarding his star spinner? SL 88/4
10:42 hrs IST: A big LBW shout from Umesh Yadav, but the ball was going down the leg side. SL 85/4
10:40 hrs IST: The forward short-leg position is quite dangerous for any fielder and the proof was there when KL Rahul got hit on his helmet. SL 84/4
10:37 hrs IST: Dickwella is using his feet to reach the length of the ball. This can be effective considering the cracks on the pitch. SL 78/4
10:33 hrs IST: Another boundary for Dickwella. This is some confident batting! SL 76/4
10:31 hrs IST: Niroshan Dickwella finally breaks the shackles with a boundary through mid-wicket. SL 72/4
10:30 hrs IST: It has been a dream start for India as they have dismissed both the overnight batsmen within the first hour. SL 68/4
10:26 hrs IST: Another mindless shot from a set batsman and Sri Lanka is in trouble. SL 64/4
10:24 hrs IST: Another wicket! Umesh Yadav is the bowler this time as Kusal Mendis departs for 24. SL 64/4
10:21 hrs IST: Angelo Matthews is looking quite uncomfortable against Ravindra Jadeja. SL 64/3
10:18 hrs IST: The batsman went for a wild sweep shot and it was an easy catch for Hardik Pandya. SL 60/3
10:16 hrs IST: Big wicket for India as Ravindra Jadeja has removed Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal. SL 60/3
10:15 hrs IST: Both the bowlers are getting bounce off the pitch and there are signs of odd movement from the cracks. SL 59/2
10:08 hrs IST: A solid over from Umesh Yadav to start proceedings for the visitors. SL 57/2
10:03 hrs IST: Kushal Mendis had no clue about how to play that ball and it took the edge and went for a boundary. IND 57/2
10:00 hrs IST: Ravindra Jadeja to bowl the first over of the day. SL 50/2
09:59 hrs IST: Ravichandran Ashwin got a lot of assistance from the pitch yesterday and he will surely be the key for India.
09:57 hrs IST: We are minutes away from the start of the match. This will be a crucial day in determining the course of the game with both teams looking to establish their dominance.
09:32 hrs IST: The pitch looks quite solid, but some cracks will form over time and that can be really good news for the Indian spinners.
09:22 hrs IST: Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal negotiated the Indian bowlers well and the onus will be on them to stabilize the Sri Lanka innings.
09:12 hrs IST: Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Pradeep picked up an injury during the match and it will be interesting to see how big a part he plays in his team’s efforts of getting a positive result from this Test match.
09:07 hrs IST: Ravichandran Ashwin also made history as he took the fewest Tests to the double of 2000 runs & 200 wickets. He surpassed Ian Botham to claim this distinction.
08:55 hrs IST: Ravichandran Ashwin was the star of Day 2 for India. A brilliant half century followed by two important wickets have placed the visitors in the driver’s seat.
08:20 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to HT’s live coverage of Day 3 of the second Test between India – Sri Lanka at Colombo.
Earlier, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had both scored centuries, before fifties from Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja helped India cross the 600-run mark.
On Day 3, India will look to grab some quick wickets and end the hosts’ first innings, having already carried a lead of 572 runs from Day 2. It will be interesting to see if skipper Virat Kohli decides to enforce follow-on in case Sri Lanka fail to reach the score of 423.
