| 0.0 : They are at it again. They love playing against each other, don't they? It's India vs Sri Lanka. One team is going through a purple patch while the other is going through a lean phase which they call their transition phase. Seems never ending. On that note, let me welcome you all for the first Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Thanks for being patient with all the rains around. |
| Stats say that the Islanders have never beaten India in a Test match in India. Imagine the kind of legends they had in the past - Murali, Sanga, Mahela, Aravinda, Vaas; still they failed to push the home team. Now bring your attention to the current Sri Lankan squad. Only Mathews and Herath have played Test matches in India before. They are short on experience, form and quality. The result seems a no-brainer and it will be more of a learning curve for their upcoming cricketers. That too will be |
| Only thing the Indian team has to guard against is complacency. They are a potent unit and their current form speaks volume about their class. The word invincible describes them the best, at home that is, and they will take this series as a preparation for the real test in South Africa. India have so many options at the moment that they have the problem of abundance. It will be very interesting to find out their playing XI. Stay with us for all the updates... |
| Pitch report - This is that kind of track where the ball is going to do a lot. There isn't much difference between the outfield and the pitch. It's all green and if the overhead conditions remain the same, the pace bowlers will have a ball. Sunil Gavaskar simplifies it by saying - This is the type of pitch where you wish you were a fast bowler! Win the toss and field first, reckons Simon Doull. |
| Up goes the coin, Dinesh Chandimal calls it correctly and SRI LANKA WILL BOWL! |
| Sri Lanka skipper, Dinesh Chandimal says there will be a lot of moisture on the pitch and that will be helpful today and tomorrow. Adds that they played some good cricket in UAE and they are confident heading into this match. Informs that they are going in with 6 batters, 4 bowlers and a fast bowling all-rounder. |
| India captain, Virat Kohli says he would have bowled as well, as it's overcast and the pitch has a good covering of grass. He is taking it as a challenge to bat in these conditions. Feels that there isn't any demon in the pitch and spinners should come into play from day 3 onward. On the team combination, Kohli replies that they are playing 5 batsmen, Saha as the wicketkeeper, of course, two all-rounders in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja along with three pacers in Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshw |
| India XI - Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami. |
| Sri Lanka XI - Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dasun Shanaka, Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage. |
| National anthem time. The players from both sides are in the middle. Sri Lanka's first, followed by India's. |
| VVS Laxman rings the bell to mark the beginning of this Test match. Out come the Indian openers, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. The floodlights are switched on. Hang on, IT'S DRIZZLING! The players are given the marching orders and they are heading back to the pavilion. The covers are coming on. They have covered the playing area. The ground is not entirely covered yet as the groundsmen probably are stopped midway by the umpires. Maybe, the drizzle has stopped. Not sure. |
| Some cheer from the crowd! The covers are going off now. Seems we will get underway sooner rather than later. Fingers crossed. |
| The Sri Lankan players are in a huddle, again. The Indian openers walk to the centre. Suranga Lakmal has the new cherry as he will kickoff the proceedings. Three slips and a gully in place. KL Rahul on strike. Here we go, finally.... |
| 0.1 : S Lakmal to Rahul, OUT! What a nasty one to get first up! Brilliant from Lakmal. He bowls it right on the money. A length delivery angling into the batsman, nipping away a shade after pitching. Rahul has to play the trajectory, tries to get behind the line but the movement and some extra bounce bring his downfall. It takes a tiny edge off the shoulder of the bat and goes behind to the keeper. Dickwella catches it, appeals and up goes the finger. A golden duck for KL. What a start for Sri La |
| Cheteshwar Pujara is the number 3 batsman. |
| 0.2 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Lands it on a full length but it's outside off. Some away movement again but Pujara knows where his off stump is. He covers it and then allows it through to the keeper. |
| 0.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, That's a jaffa! Unplayable. Che is cut into half. Big movement for Lakmal again. From a good length this time. It lands around off and swerves back to beat Pujara completely. Misses the inside edge and goes over the stumps to the keeper. |
| 0.4 : S Lakmal to C Pujara, Nearly chops it on! Extra bounce again from a shortish length around off. Pujara goes back in defense but it takes the inside edge and bounces over the stumps. The bowler takes a tumble after delivering that. |
| 0.5 : S Lakmal to Pujara, In the channel of uncertainty, Pujara makes a watchful leave. |
| 0.6 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Full swinging delivery outside off, Pujara once again allows it through. Excellent first over by Suranga! |
| Lahiru Gamage to share the new cherry from the other end. Three slips and a gully for Dhawan. |
| 1.1 : L Gamage to Dhawan, A touch short in length, too straight in line, Dhawan moves back and taps it down in front of square leg for a single. First run of the Test match. |
| 1.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, Good length delivery in the zone outside off, Pujara lets it through to the keeper. |
| 1.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, Sprays it way wide outside off, on a fuller length, an easy leave for Pujara. It's important that they don't waste the new ball. The line has to be in and around the off stump. |
| 1.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Harmless delivery again. On a length and wide outside off, Che shoulders arms. |
| 1.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, An inswinger this time. From a good length outside off, Pujara presents a straight bat and defends it back. |
| 1.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Too wide outside off, Pujara has nothing to do with it. A disappointing first over by Gamage, hardly troubled the batsman. |
| 2.1 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, This would have been a brilliant delivery to a right-handed batsman. But it's on the pads of Dhawan. Full and swinging down, he fails to flick and it goes off his pads behind square leg. They cross for a leg bye. |
| 2.2 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Back of a length delivery angling into the batsman and holding its line a bit after pitching, Pujara gets behind the line and taps it down in front of gully. |
| 2.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 2.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Good length delivery just around off, Pujara sticks back inside the crease and keeps it out on the off side. |
| 2.5 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Pitches it up but the line is outside off, Pujara watches it closely before making the leave. The temptation to play a cover drive was there. |
| 2.6 : S Lakmal to Pujara, That's the line. Once again Suranga angles it in, around middle and off and getting it to shape away a shade, Pujara is tight in his defense as he keeps it out safely towards mid-wicket. |
| 3.1 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Gamage runs in from round the wicket and angles in a full ball on middle, Dhawan defends it back. |
| 3.2 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Once again the line is too straight from Gamage, Dhawan stays back and turns it through square leg for a couple of runs. |
| 3.3 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Good length delivery just outside off, shaping back in a bit, Dhawan covers his stumps and shoulders arms. |
| 3.4 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Stifled appeal for an lbw! An ambitious one. Full and drifting down the leg side, Dhawan tries to flick but misses. He is rapped on the pads, the Sri Lankan fielders get excited but nothing doing. Missing the leg stump easily. |
| 3.5 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Gamage hits the right note for once. Bowls it on a length just outside off, getting it to angle in, Dhawan tries to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 3.6 : L Gamage to Dhawan, FOUR! First of the innings. Gamage goes short outside off, Dhawan leans back a bit and packs a punch through point. Finds the gap and gets a boundary to his name. Lahiru continues to struggle. |
| 4.1 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Oohhh... terrific delivery. On a driving length outside off, Pujara feels for it but the away movement beats the outside edge. |
| 4.2 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Too wide on this occasion. There is plenty of movement on offer but the line was very wide outside off to pose any threat to Che. An easy leave. |
| 4.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 4.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, This one holds its line after landing on a length outside off, Pujara leaves it alone. |
| 4.5 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Angling into the batsman, it jags away off the seam after hitting the deck, Pujara judges it perfectly and shoulders arms. |
| 4.6 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Length delivery angling into the batsman again, around off and shaping away a bit, Pujara plays it with soft hands and defends it to the off side. Looks for a single but then decides not to risk it after seeing the fielder attack the ball. |
| 5.1 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Works it off his pads behind square leg and picks up a single. |
| 5.2 : L Gamage to C Pujara, FOUR! Good length delivery outside off, Pujara has a tame push inside the line, not much footwork and it races away off the outside edge past the diving third slip fielder. Pujara is off the mark after 21 balls in an edgy manner. |
| 5.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 5.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Another watchful leave made by Pujara. Not bowling close to the stumps, Gamage. |
| 5.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, Length ball on off, Pujara remains on the back foot in defense. |
| 5.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Lands it full and just outside off, Pujara takes a stride forward and defends it to the off side. |
| Change of shoes for Pujara. |
| 6.1 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Fullish and down the leg side, swinging further down, Dhawan tries to flick but misses. |
| 6.2 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, OUT! Dhawan has chopped it on! He goes for an expansive drive to a length ball nipping back into him. Gets a big inside edge as his bottom hand comes off and he has his middle stump pegged back. Shikhar won't be too happy with that shot selection. Lakmal, in the meantime, is all smiles. He has provided Sri Lanka a brilliant start. India at the moment are a little stunned. |
| Skipper Virat Kohli walks in next. The ball is nipping around and it's a bit like English conditions where he struggled. How will he counter? |
| 6.3 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Beauty to greet the Indian skipper. Serves it full and just around off, Kohli gets forward to defend but it moves away a bit to beat the bat. |
| 6.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, In the channel outside off, a watchful leave by Kohli. |
| 6.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, On a length and outside off, Kohli shoulders arms. |
| Four slips and two gullies in place now. |
| 6.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Short in length angled into the batsman, Kohli goes on his toes as he defends it. Fourth maiden in a row from Lakmal! |
| 7.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 7.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, Back of a length delivery on off, shaping away a bit, Pujara pushes at it and misses. |
| 7.3 : L Gamage to C Pujara, FOUR! Quality shot! The bowler overpitches it outside off and Pujara unfurls a beautiful off drive to gain a boundary. This will give ample confidence to the batsman. |
| 7.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Beaten! Good reply from the bowler. Hurls it on a length just outside off and it curls away, Pujara pokes at it without moving his feet and gets beaten. |
| 7.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 7.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Angling into the batsman, Pujara covers the line and blocks it solidly. |
| Cheteshwar Pujara is complaining about something. Maybe, some movement near the sightscreen. |
| 8.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Full and wide outside off, swinging away, Kohli leaves it alone. |
| 8.2 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Nearly a catch to mid-wicket! Kohli would have had his heart in mouth. Lakmal serves a full length ball on middle and leg, it stops a bit off the pitch. Virat is early into the flick shot and as a result it pops out towards mid-wicket. Herath moves forward but it falls safely in front of him. Lakmal has a wry smile on his face. |
| Oh no! The umpires get together. It has gone really dark out there. They have decided that the light is not conducive enough to carry on. The players are going back to the hut. Suranga Lakmal is greeted by his players. In fact, it has started to drizzle now as the covers come on. Doesn't look too promising, folks. Let's see how many more overs we will get today. Stay tuned for further updates. |
| Update 1500 IST - Tea has been taken. The conditions have improved a bit with the covers no longer in place, although some dark clouds are still hovering around. Also, not sure whether the light has improved much or not. We will let you know as soon as we get any update. |
| ...DAY 1, 3RD SESSION... |
| Good news, folks. It's a lot brighter at the moment and the players are taking the field. Floodlights are on as well. Suranga Lakmal to complete his over. Virat Kohli on strike. Four slips, a gully in place. Also there is an extra cover, hmm... |
| 8.3 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Angles in a length ball on off, Kohli covers the line and defends it solidly. |
| 8.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Good length delivery in the zone outside off, Kohli allows it through. |
| 8.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Fine delivery, on a length around off, nipping away a touch, Kohli pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 8.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, This time the Indian skipper firmly gets behind the line and defends it safely to the off side. Another tidy over by Lakmal, he is yet to concede a run. |
| 9.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Gamage serves a length ball outside off, Pujara allows it through comfortably. |
| 9.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, A little short on this occasion but the line remains wide, Pujara makes another leave. |
| 9.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 9.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Gamage is on the shorter side outside off, it moves away after landing, Pujara initially tries to play at it but then withdraws his bat. |
| 9.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 9.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Bowls it full and outside off, shaping back in a bit, Pujara takes his front leg forward to cover the line and then shoulders arms. First maiden from Lahiru! |
| Shout for an lbw against Virat Kohli! Up goes the finger. Virat Kohli has a chat with his partner and takes the referral. Is it missing leg? |
| 10.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, OUT! It's clipping the leg stump and hence the umpire's call will stay. The Indian skipper bags a rare duck. Massive breakthrough for Sri Lanka and they are absolutely delighted. Lakmal is on fire today. He has not conceded a single run so far and has hunted down his third wicket now. He dishes out a full length delivery on middle and it jags back in rather than going away. Kohli tries to work it away on the leg side but misses. He is thudded on the pads, they appeal voc |
| 0.0 : Ajinkya Rahane in next. |
| 10.2 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Good length ball on off, defended off the back foot. |
| 10.3 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 10.4 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Bowls it in the corridor of uncertainly, Rahane shoulders arms. |
| 10.5 : Lakmal to Rahane, Another one nips back in big time and pings Rahane on the front pad. They appeal but it seems too high. The replays show that it was hitting the top of stumps. |
| 10.6 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Full in length outside off, Rahane leaves it. Lakmal has an exceptional bowling figures at the moment, 6-6-0-3! |
| 11.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Good length delivery outside off, left alone. |
| 11.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, On a length outside off, some movement there, Che shoulders arms. |
| 11.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, Gamage once again is not making the batsman play enough. Another delivery wide outside off is left alone with ease. |
| 11.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| 11.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, Oohhhh...that beat the outside edge by a whisker. First real great delivery by Gamage. He angles in a full length ball just around off, Pujara tries playing it with a straight bat but without any footwork. It curves away after pitching to miss the bat. That wasn't too far away from the off stump either. The ball swung quite a lot after going past the wickets. Really testing conditions for batting. |
| The umpires are together again. The light is deteriorating, it seems. They are taking the reading. It's quite dark to be honest. The batsmen walk off. Now, the Lankan players are going off, reluctantly. Bad light has stopped play. Don't think light will improve much during this part of the day. Stay tuned, we will keep you posted. |
| Update 1605 IST - The covers are coming on, although it's not raining. The light has not improved and it looks unlikely that we will get any more play today. |
| That's it for the day, then! Today's play gave a feeling as if the long commercials robbed us of a wonderful blockbuster. Right from the toss to almost having India on the mats, everything went right for the tourists. Suranga Lakmal, by appearance, doesn't even come close to the pace bowling greats that the sport has witnessed yet he has done something that nobody imagined. |
| In helpful conditions, Lakmal began on the right note by snapping KL Rahul right off the first delivery of the game. With his confidence sky high, he, literally and figuratively, made the ball talk and had the Indian batsmen hopping and shoving. Apart from Shikhar Dhawan, who perished to a shot that he could have done without, the other two wickets were a result of persistent lines and lengths. India would be shell-shocked with what has transpired till now. |
| Owing to rains, that ate away most of the day, we could only have 11.5 overs of play. The hosts would like to come with greater resolve and intent tomorrow and look to put up a respectable total on the board. The forecast for Day 2 doesn't look too promising as well. Do join us tomorrow at 0915 local time (0345 GMT) for what promises to be another wet yet exciting day of cricket. Till then, take care! |
| ... Day 2, Session 1 ... |
| Yesterday was all about being left wanting more. Today it seems that the unquenched thirst of the cricket enthusiasts would be satiated. Hello and welcome to Day 2 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens. For starters, the weather seems clear enough to have the scheduled early start on time. Although there is rain forecast later on, nothing's a given until it really happens. |
| With India rocked back in the limited period of play on Day 1, it is up to Pujara and Rahane to bail India out of troubled waters and get to a respectable total. The former is at the crease with a typical Pujara-esque innings so far and the latter is yet to get going. The Lankans would ensure regular fuel supply to Lakmal's ammunition, which is menacingly firing. Stay with us for what promises to be an intriguing day's play. |
| Pitch Report - Simon Doull doing the pitch report says that the track is still grassy albeit a bit of it is trimmed and it will be tough batting conditions. With sun expected to come later on, batting could be easier then. The moisture on the surface will play its role, given it is an early start, opines Sunil Gavaskar. He goes on to add that it is important for the Sri Lankan bowlers to get the batsmen committed on the front foot as that's where more chances of getting the edge lie. Thus, pitch |
| We are all set to get underway. Matthew Hayden rings the bell at the Eden Gardens today. Sri Lanka are in a final huddle to discuss their final plans - much of which could be pace related. They run out to the centre to take their respective places on the ground. The Indian batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane walk out to bat. They have their tasks cut out. Remember, 98 OVERS have to be bowled today. Lahiru Gamage will run in to bowl a delivery that'll complete the over. Three slips and a |
| 11.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Starts off with a 136 kmph straight delivery, outside off on a fuller length. Pujara watches that closely and lets it go. |
| The star of Day 1, Suranga Lakmal to steam in from the other end. He has bowled 6 overs so far and all have been maidens. They have three slips for him, coming down from the four slips that they had yesterday, apart from a gully. |
| 12.1 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Begins with a full away swinging ball outside off, Rahane strides forward and looks to drive it initially. Withdraws his bat later to let it go. |
| 12.2 : S Lakmal to Rahane, This ball is wide outside off, an easy leave for Rahane this time. |
| 12.3 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Hurls it full outside off, Ajinkya watches it closely and lets it go. |
| 12.4 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Another harmless delivery outside off, left alone by Rahane. He's watching it closely now. |
| 12.5 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Lakmal bowls this outswinger closer to the batsman. Rahane this time reads it early and points his bat skywards and lets the keeper do the rest. Lakmal is really working him over here. |
| 12.6 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Wonderful bowling by Lakmal once again. Hurls a fuller delivery outside off, Rahane looks to leave it. But the ball doesn't swing away and hence he looks to play at that but ends up missing the ball completely. |
| Change of bowling early in the day! Dasun Shanaka is brought in to bowl. Similar field for him as well. |
| 13.1 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Shanaka's first delivery is on a fuller length outside off. Pujara doesn't bother playing that and leaves it alone. |
| 13.2 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Fuller around off, Cheteshwar gets forward and blocks it. |
| 13.3 : D Shanaka to Pujara, This ball is kept out from within the crease. |
| 13.4 : D Shanaka to C Pujara, FOUR! First runs of the day, in the form of a boundary. Shanaka delivers a half volley around off, Pujara drives it towards covers. Chandimal there dives to his right and gets some hand to it but only parries it to the long off boundary. |
| 13.5 : D Shanaka to Pujara, This is bowled outside off, Che lets it go. |
| 13.6 : D Shanaka to Pujara, FOUR! One brings two! Is this end jixed? Yesterday Gamage struggled from this end and today Shanaka. Bowls a full delivery outside off, Pujara drives it through mid off a la yesterday and helps himself to another boundary. He's on 16 now and all runs have been due to boundaries - unlike Che. |
| 14.1 : S Lakmal to Rahane, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 14.2 : S Lakmal to A Rahane, Nervy moments for Rahane! On a length outside off, Ajinkya pokes at it and ends up getting an inside edge. The ball lodges into his back pad. |
| 14.3 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Bowled outside off, left alone by the batsman. |
| 14.4 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Another harmless delivery outside off, left unharmed by Rahane. |
| 14.5 : S Lakmal to Rahane, FOUR! First runs off Lakmal's bowling! And it's a boundary that gets it. Though Rahane wasn't in control of that. This is bowled outside off, Ajinkya plays it away from the body and gets it through point. The ball has enough legs to go to the fence. Rahane gets off the mark with this. |
| 14.6 : S Lakmal to Rahane, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 15.1 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Bowled around off, pushed to the cover region. |
| 15.2 : D Shanaka to Pujara, This is bowled outside off, left alone by Che. |
| 15.3 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Pujara goes on the back foot and punches it to the off side. |
| 15.4 : D Shanaka to Pujara, The batsman works it down the leg side. The batsmen have run through for a single. This is the first non-boundary run for Pujara in this innings. |
| 15.5 : D Shanaka to Rahane, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 15.6 : D Shanaka to Rahane, Hurled outside off, Pujara covers his stumps and leaves it alone. |
| Another slip added. Four slips in place now. |
| 16.1 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Lakmal lands it outside off, Pujara continues the leaving-alone game. |
| 16.2 : S Lakmal to C Pujara, Cheteshwar gets an inside edge onto his front pad, as he looks to play it from the crease. |
| 16.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 16.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Bowled on the stumps, Pujara goes back and pushes it back. |
| 16.5 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Fuller down the leg side, Che looks to flick it away but misses. |
| Pujara has some disturbance with the sightscreen. Hence Lakmal had to abort his run-up. |
| 16.6 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Pujara gets on the front foot and defends it solidly. |
| 17.1 : D Shanaka to Rahane, Landed around off, Rahane pushes it towards mid on. |
| 17.2 : D Shanaka to Rahane, OUT! Shanaka strikes to end Rahane's misery. All through this morning, Rahane didn't look comfortable against the moving ball. So much so that he was troubled even by the ones that didn't move. This was a fuller delivery swinging away just a bit. Rahane looks to drive it away from the body. The extra bounce on that means that all he manages to do is get a thin edge to that which is happily gobbled by Dickwella. The Lankans are ecstatic and why not! India in deep troub |
| Ravichandran Ashwin walks in at number 6. If there was any better time to show his batting prowess, now's it. India are in trouble and really need him to bail them out. Will he be able to do so? |
| 17.3 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Straight delivery outside off, Ashwin plays inside the line of that. Dickwella behind gets an awkward bounce and the ball hits him on his left arm. He straightaway writhes in pain. |
| 17.4 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 17.5 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Ashwin gets forward and blocks it with a straight bat. |
| 17.6 : D Shanaka to R Ashwin, FOUR! That's a lollypop, says Sanjay Manjrekar on-air about this ball! Shanaka delivers a low full toss in a bid to bowl fuller for the swing. Ashwin just times it sweetly through covers to get going with a boundary. |
| 18.1 : S Lakmal to Pujara, On a length around off, moving away from the batsman. Pujara watches it keenly and refuses to play at that. |
| 18.2 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Landed around middle and leg, Pujara flicks it away to fine leg and crosses over to the other end. |
| 18.3 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Fuller around off, Ashwin pushes it defensively towards mid off. |
| 18.4 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Lakmal is bowling really good lines here. He lands this on a fuller length around off, Ashwin presents a full face of the bat as he plays it towards point. |
| 18.5 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Similar delivery, this time Ashwin hangs back and defends it towards point. |
| 18.6 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Fuller on off, Ashwin plays it late and blocks it next to the stumps on the off side. |
| 19.1 : D Shanaka to Pujara, FOUR! Aah! Glorious! It seems Pujara is batting in altogether different conditions than the other Indian batsmen. Shanaka serves a full delivery around off, Pujara drives it through mid off for a boundary. Replays show that he got it off the inner half as he looked to go a bit more towards covers. |
| 19.2 : D Shanaka to Pujara, That ball has struck the batsman on the thigh pad after gathering an inside edge. |
| 19.3 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Landed outside off, Pujara bunts it off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 19.4 : D Shanaka to Pujara, This is bowled outside off, an easy leave for Cheteshwar. |
| 19.5 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Full delivery outside off, Pujara drives it yet again. Gets it straight to the man at mid off this time. There was nobody there earlier, which made it simpler for Che to pick boundaries through that region. |
| 19.6 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Another front foot defense to a delivery around off. |
| 20.1 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Lakmal spears this outside off. The ball moves away after pitching but it is far away to make Ashwin play at it. It would be nice to refresh our mind to the fact that recently even Ashwin played in the English county. So the experience gained there may well be used by him to counter the conditions here. |
| 20.2 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Another length ball well outside off, left alone by the batter. |
| 20.3 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Jaffa! On and off you will be getting such deliveries on this surface. The key is to just get it off your mind and move on. Lakmal angled it into the batsman around off. Ashwin had to play at it looking at the initial angle. However, the ball moves away after pitching and beats the outer edge of his bat. |
| 20.4 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Straighter on the stumps, Ashwin gets behind that and plays it back solidly. |
| 20.5 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Ashwin strides out gently and blocks it with a straight bat face. |
| 20.6 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, No Ashwin, that's not how you play in such a situation! He has a wild slash at a length ball well outside off. The ball just misses the edge of the bat. Another good over by Suranga. |
| 21.1 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Wow! Both of them aren't really known to be quick between the wickets yet they risk a quick single and complete it. Length delivery around off and middle, Pujara taps it in front of square next to the pitch and sets off. Shanaka himself gets to the ball and throws it at the striker's end but Ashwin has made it in easily. |
| 21.2 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, This ball is defended solidly off the front foot. |
| 21.3 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Full ball outside off, Ashwin nicely drives it to mid off. |
| 21.4 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Here's another lovely delivery! Shanaka bowls it with a scrambled seam on a length around middle. The ball straightens after pitching. Ashwin looks to block it from the crease but gets squared up and ends up missing it. The ball wasn't too far from the outer edge of the bat there. Ashwin knows he has had a close shave there. |
| 21.5 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 21.6 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Ashwin gets behind the line solidly and keeps it out watchfully. |
| Bad news on the way... There's a light drizzle there and that's enough to set the groundstaff up and running to get to their positions, just in case. |
| Bowling change. Lahiru Gamage is brought back on. Can he maintain the intensity that Lakmal did from this end? |
| 22.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Gamage bowls it wide outside off, Pujara is happy to let the keeper do the rest. |
| 22.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, Landed on a length outside off, Cheteshwar doesn't bother to make contact and leaves it alone. |
| 22.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, Another length ball outside off, some extra bounce on that. Pujara wants nothing of that and just lets it be. |
| 22.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, This is much better from Gamage. He angles it into the batsman even as the ball swings in. Pujara hurriedly clips it to fine leg for one run. |
| 22.5 : L Gamage to Ashwin, Hurled outside off, Ashwin shoulders arms to that. |
| 22.6 : L Gamage to Ashwin, There's certainly something in this end. Gamage bowls it on a length outside off, the ball nips away after pitching. Ashwin plays inside the line to end the over. |
| 23.1 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Shanaka runs in and bowls it outside off. Pujara covers his stumps and lets that go. |
| 23.2 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Dasun's aim is clear - bowl full and get the ball to do something. It is in line of what Mr. Gavaskar said at the pitch report. He bowls it full outside off, Pujara drives it straight to the cover fielder. |
| 23.3 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Similar length around off, Pujara strides forward and defends it to the off side. |
| 23.4 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Shanaka's wobbly seam deliveries are certainly troubling the batsmen, even the set Pujara. This is landed just around off, drawing Pujara forward in defense. It moves away just a touch to teasingly beat the outside edge of his bat. |
| 23.5 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Four byes! Look at the amount of inswing on that. Shanaka delivers it around middle and leg and the ball goes down the leg. It moves more and beats the dive from the keeper after beating Pujara who looks to flick it. Runs away to the fine leg fence. |
| 23.6 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Pujara gets behind it and defends it solidly towards covers. |
| Ashwin is getting the sightscreen adjusted. In such conditions, even the slightest of disturbances seem to cause discomfort to the batters. |
| 24.1 : L Gamage to Ashwin, Bowled outside off, left alone by Ashwin. |
| 24.2 : L Gamage to Ashwin, Ouch! That's nasty and Ashwin looks to be in some pain here. Gamage bangs it short around off, Ashwin looks to hop and punch it away. Finds that the bounce is too steep to do so and looks to withdraw his bat but is late in doing so. Cops a blow on his right thumb. The ball looks to roll over to the stumps but Ash is alert to the situation and kicks it away with his right foot. Clean strike, just like Fernando Torres (remember the joke?). |
| The physio is out there. He uses the magic spray on the injured part and Ashwin looks good to go now. |
| 24.3 : L Gamage to Ashwin, This is bowled outside off, left alone by R Ashwin. |
| 24.4 : L Gamage to Ashwin, Length delivery outside off, Ashwin looks to drive it through covers but misses the ball completely. |
| 24.5 : L Gamage to Ashwin, Bowled closer to the stumps, Ashwin covers the stumps and plays inside the line and lets the ball pass through to the keeper. |
| 24.6 : L Gamage to Ashwin, Lahiru angles this into the batsman, Ashwin pushes it to mid on. |
| 25.1 : D Shanaka to Pujara, FOUR! Beautifully played that! Fuller delivery outside off, Pujara gets a small stride forward and just caresses it through covers. There's no stopping that. |
| 25.2 : D Shanaka to Pujara, This ball is played to the point region off the front foot. |
| 25.3 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Length ball outside off, Pujara goes back to cover the stumps and shoulders arms to that. |
| 25.4 : D Shanaka to Pujara, 50 UP FOR INDIA! Angled in to the batsman, Pujara tucks it through backward square leg and takes a run. Herath runs there from mid-wicket and keeps it down to just one. |
| 25.5 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Shanaka bangs in a short one in line of the stumps, Ashwin sways back and lets it go. |
| 25.6 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, OUT! Mind games are a thing in the sport and it shows. Shanaka created some doubts by banging an odd delivery short and also copped a blow to Ashwin. Here Ashwin was hanging on the back foot and sensing that Dasun hurls in a fuller delivery around off. Ashwin looks to drive it and gets it off the outer half straight to Karunaratne at backward point who makes no mistake. The umpires check for the front foot no ball but the bowler is just fine there. So, his persistence |
| Drinks are on the field now. India continue to slip further and barring Pujara nobody seems to be up there for a fight. The Lankan bowlers' consistent lines and lengths have reaped rewards and have helped in rocking India back. Wriddhiman Saha walks out to bat now. These are home conditions for him as he is the local player. |
| 26.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Hurled on a length outside off, Pujara leaves it alone. |
| 26.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, Another delivery outside off, Cheteshwar doesn't bother putting bat to that. |
| 26.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, Some chin music for Pujara now. He ducks in response and lets that one go. |
| 26.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Another harmless delivery outside off, Che covers his stumps and shoulders arms to that. |
| 26.5 : L Gamage to C Pujara, FOUR! Learn it from Cheteshwar Pujara! Of all the batsmen who have played so far, he has really looked solid out there. Perhaps the county experience helping him more in India! Whatever is the case, he's countering it well. Full length ball outside off, he leans into the shot and drives it through wide mid off for a boundary. |
| 26.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Pujara points his bat skywards as he lets this one go. |
| 27.1 : D Shanaka to Saha, Very full delivery outside off, Saha jams it out to gully. |
| 27.2 : D Shanaka to Saha, Shanaka spears it full around off, Saha looks to drive it but gets an inside edge onto his front boot. Ideally, he should look to play himself in before looking to play his shots. |
| 27.3 : D Shanaka to Saha, Length ball around middle angling in to the batsman. Saha looks to defend but misses and gets struck high on his pads. |
| 27.4 : D Shanaka to Saha, Fuller around off and middle, turned towards mid on. |
| 27.5 : D Shanaka to Saha, Very full ball around off, hit back towards the bowler. |
| 27.6 : D Shanaka to Saha, Full outside off, Saha crouches low to cover his stumps and then shoulders arms to let that go. |
| 28.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Landed outside off, Pujara covers his stumps and lets the keeper do the rest. |
| 28.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, Length delivery outside off, Pujara hangs back and points his bat skywards to let that go. |
| 28.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, Fuller delivery angling in to the batsman. Pujara flicks it through mid-wicket and sets off for a run. Wants a second but is rightly denied by Saha. |
| 28.4 : L Gamage to Saha, Hurled well outside off, Saha doesn't play at that and lets it be. The ball swings in a touch as it flies to the keeper. |
| 28.5 : L Gamage to Saha, Shanaka bends his back and bowls it on a back of a length. The pitch aids him with some extra bounce. Saha looks to block it but it strikes him on his fingers before dying down. That must have hurt. |
| 28.6 : L Gamage to Saha, Wriddhiman covers the stumps and shoulders arms to this ball outside off. |
| Dimuth Karunaratne comes on to bowl. A medium pace bowler, will he be able to generate the assistance that the others have generated? His only Test wicket is Pujara! Now this should be interesting to see... A couple of slips, a gully and a short mid-wicket in place. |
| 29.1 : D Karunaratne to Pujara, FOUR! After countering all the better bowlers early on, this is a gift for Pujara. Short and wide outside off, Pujara goes back and slaps it powerfully through covers for a boundary. |
| 29.2 : D Karunaratne to Pujara, Shortish ball again, Pujara cuts it towards cover-point and takes a quick run. |
| 29.3 : D Karunaratne to Saha, Short ball outside off, Saha awkwardly looks to play at that. The ball just passes the outside edge of the bat. Why does he seem a bit nervous out there? |
| 29.4 : D Karunaratne to Saha, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 29.5 : D Karunaratne to Saha, Saha gets behind that and blocks it with a straight bat. |
| 29.6 : D Karunaratne to Saha, This ball is punched off the back foot towards covers. |
| 30.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Fuller delivery in line of the stumps, Pujara straight-drives it beautifully. But it is intercepted by the bowler himself in his followthrough. |
| 30.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, Pujara clips it towards mid-wicket and ambles across for a run. |
| 30.3 : L Gamage to Saha, A yorker outside off, Saha stays in his crease and jams it towards the slip region. |
| 30.4 : L Gamage to Saha, Gamage bangs in a short one outside off, Saha picks it up early and sways away from the line and lets the keeper do the rest. |
| 30.5 : L Gamage to Saha, Landed around off, Wriddhiman punches it back towards the bowler. |
| Slight drizzle... Hopefully not heavy enough to force the players off. But the umbrellas in the stands open up, cautioning the groundsmen who might have dozed off, maybe. |
| 30.6 : L Gamage to Saha, A leg cutter outside off, Saha pokes his bat at that but misses. |
| 31.1 : D Karunaratne to Pujara, FOUR! Tripe! Pujara isn't someone who will let a freebie pass by especially when he is set. Karunaratne, at his pace, cannot imagine himself to be a Steyn. He does so and bangs it short. Pujara has ample time to go back and pull it through deep mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 31.2 : D Karunaratne to Pujara, Bowled outside off, left alone by Che. |
| 31.3 : D Karunaratne to Pujara, A misfield gets them a run. Bowled outside off, Pujara punches it towards covers. A slight misfield there allows them a run. |
| 31.4 : D Karunaratne to Saha, FOUR! Now Saha gets into the act. Gets off the mark with a boundary. Karunaratne bowls it on a shorter length around off, Saha goes back and punches it through point. The ball speeds away to the fence. |
| 31.5 : D Karunaratne to Saha, Bowled on the pads, Saha flicks it to fine leg for a run. |
| 31.6 : D Karunaratne to Pujara, That's a good effort by Gamage, considering the fact that he's bowling from the other end. Dimuth strays on the pads yet again and Pujara clips it fine. Lahiru rushes to his right, puts in the dive and keeps the batters down to two. 12 off this over, an expensive one given the conditions. |
| 32.1 : L Gamage to Saha, Hurled outside off, left alone by Wriddhiman. |
| 32.2 : L Gamage to Saha, A touch fuller outside off, push-driven towards mid off. |
| 32.3 : L Gamage to Saha, On a length around off, Saha gets an inside edge through his pads. The batsmen realise that there's a single on offer and scurry across. There is a wild throw at the bowler's end. |
| 32.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, This ball is outside off, left alone by Pujara. |
| 32.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, Bowled around off, Pujara drives it back towards the bowler. Gamage gets some hand to it and parries it towards mid off. |
| Sunil Gavaskar observes that the couple of wickets that have fallen today are as a result of the batsmen going at the ball. He opines that on such a track, the batsmen should let the ball come to them rather than rushing towards the ball. |
| Oh dear... it's here... the thing that we didn't really want... the rain! It isn't too heavy at the moment but enough to force the players off. The covers are called on the field and the pitch and the central area are covered long before we realise. Such swift work, I say. |
| So that's LUNCH, DAY 2! It has been Sri Lanka all the way. They have been successful in inflicting misery on the hosts. Rahane was the first to depart after looking fidgety for a while. Ashwin too failed to spend considerable time at the crease before departing to a very loose shot, something that he could have done away without. Pujara is the only one standing between the tourists and an Indian batting collapse. He has largely looked untroubled which bodes well for India, who are in a mush. |
| Lakmal found good support today from Gamage and Shanaka. All the three bowled nagging lines and lengths. Shanaka, especially, was consciously trying to bowl fuller lengths in a bid to exert whatever aid the track is providing. That he banged a couple of deliveries short took the batsmen by surprise. The visitors will want to come back with the same vigor and deal some more crucial blows. For India, this break should give them time to do some soul-searching. They'll want to keep the Sri Lankans a |
| ... Day 2, Session 2 ... |
| We're back... but not with great news. The rain continues at the Eden Gardens and I'm afraid it threatens to eat away most of today's play as well. Not sure if Sri Lanka would be really happy with this considering their position in the game. Knowing Kohli though, he wouldn't have minded India continuing the fight as he isn't someone who likes to let go without a fight. The weather forecast is as dark as the climate in Kolkata. Stay with us for further updates. |
| Update 1310 local time - There's no great improvement in the weather as such. The super soppers are moping the water accumulated on the covers. It is pretty gloomy out there. Unless the light improves drastically, I don't see play resuming. |
| This is the scheduled time for Tea, Day 2! The whole of Sri Lanka may be saying 'rain, rain, go away...' but the Kolkata rain just refuses to relent. It's continuing to shower heavily and believe me, it's very dark out there. Without looking at the watch, you wouldn't be defaulted for believing it to be night there. |
| In fact, that's it for the day today. It's STUMPS, DAY 2! Something, that the farmers look forward to but not the cricket stakeholders, has ensured that there is no further play in the day today after the tourists had the hosts on the mat. India would count themselves fortunate to have got away with this. In fact, close to two days getting washed out could mean that the game could head towards a draw. |
| In the limited time for which play was possible, Sri Lanka's seam bowlers continued to make life tough for the Indian batters. If Day 1 belonged to Lakmal, today it was Shanaka who snaffled the two wickets to fall in the day. Like yesterday, Pujara is still unbeaten, holding one end up. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day with respect to the weather. Do join us then at 0915 local time (0345 GMT) for what could be a longer day. Till then, adios, take care! |
| ...Day 3, first session... |
| We're here again. And to our delight, there are no covers on the field. However, it's still overcast. Nothing serious at the moment to stop the resumption. So far, this Test match has seen only 32.5 overs. Sri Lanka remain on top after running through the star-studded Indian batting line-up. It's Cheteshwar Pujara who has stood tall amidst the storm and has shown that with traditional approach you can survive on any pitch. That's how Test cricket should be played. It's not always about stroke pl |
| Not always nowadays do Sri Lanka find themselves on top of a Test match for two straight days, of course that's mainly due to the loss of overs. But let's not take anything away from the Lankan pace bowlers. Many times you get carried away on a juicy pitch but Suranga Lakmal and to an extent his other bowling partners did reasonably well to exploit the conditions on offer. Sri Lanka would want to restrict India to as low a total as possible. Batting won't be easy for them also, given the quality |
| Pitch Report - Simon Doull says that the weather is much better today but the pitch hasn't changed greatly. He reckons that there is plenty on the surface for the bowlers to exploit. Goes on to state that the ideal length on this track should be a fuller one, else the swing would be negated. Sunil Gavaskar observes that yesterday the Sri Lankans bowled variable lengths and had they been more consistent they could have got more wickets. He echoes the former's views and says that a fuller length w |
| Ashish Nehra rings the bell, that's a lot of workout for his fragile body. Out come the Sri Lankan players. Now, Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha take the centre stage. Like yesterday, once again Lahiru Gamage to complete his over. Meanwhile, it's Joel Wilson who has come out with Nigel Llong as Richard Kettleborough is ill. Anil Chaudhary is the third umpire today. Here we go... |
| 32.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Some movement straight away, an inward one Pujara works it across off the inner half of the bat. Finds the gap at mid-wicket and takes a single. |
| Interesting move! It's a little overcast, it's green and what you do? Bring a spinner. Very interesting choice by Dinesh Chandimal. Rangana Herath to bowl with a slip and short leg... |
| 33.1 : R Herath to Pujara, Flighted and full on off, Pujara gets on the front foot and defends it back. |
| 33.2 : R Herath to Pujara, Extra flight this time, full and on off, Pujara uses his feet and pushes it towards mid off. |
| 33.3 : R Herath to Pujara, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 33.4 : R Herath to Pujara, Loopy and full on off, Che is on the front foot in defense. |
| 33.5 : R Herath to Pujara, FOUR! A tossed up ball on leg, Pujara goes down on one knee and sweeps it fine down the leg side for a boundary. What a knock by India's number 3, his 16th Test fifty! Wickets were tumbling at the other end but he kept his composure and has played an exemplary innings so far. |
| Sun is out... |
| 33.6 : R Herath to Pujara, Jumps out of the crease and brings his bat and pad together in defense. The Lankans appeal but nothing from the umpire. Understandably so. Two noises there. But the replays confirm that there was no bat but it was going down the leg side. Also the noise was because of the bat hitting the pad. |
| Suranga Lakmal to bowl from the other end. |
| 34.1 : S Lakmal to Saha, Lands it on a length outside off, Saha allows it through. |
| 34.2 : S Lakmal to Saha, On a length again, nipping away, Saha leaves. |
| 34.3 : S Lakmal to Saha, Saha chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 34.4 : S Lakmal to Saha, Back of a length ball on off, Saha goes on the back foot, covers the line and defends it with an angled bat to point. |
| 34.5 : S Lakmal to Saha, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 34.6 : S Lakmal to Saha, Serves a good length delivery wide outside off, Saha has nothing to do with it. |
| Change of ends for Lahiru Gamage. It's 'that' end from where he struggled on day 1. But he is the junior pacer and the end which is giving more assistance to the pacers is given to Suranga. Three slips in place. |
| 35.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Wow! A full ball landing outside off is left alone by Pujara and it shoots off from there. Good carry and bounce to the keeper. |
| 35.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 35.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, There is certainly some extra zip in the pitch, again. A length ball outside off, Pujara allows it through and the keeper collects it near his face. Plenty of bounce from that length. |
| 35.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Drops it full this time and closer to off stump, Pujara comes up with a solid front foot defense. |
| 35.5 : L Gamage to C Pujara, Spears it full and on off, Pujara leans forward for a drive but his bat's face opens a bit more and he ends up pushing it without much timing towards the cover region. |
| 35.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Back to bowling in the corridor outside off, on a length, Che lets it through. |
| 36.1 : S Lakmal to Saha, Excellent line, serving it on a length on off and getting it to seam back in, Saha stays back and defends it close to his pads. |
| 36.2 : S Lakmal to Saha, Bouncer this time to the little man, Saha does well to duck underneath it. |
| 36.3 : S Lakmal to Saha, Angling in a full ball on off, Saha strides forward and defends it watchfully. |
| 36.4 : S Lakmal to Saha, Slightly short in length and outside off, holding its line, Saha shoulders arms. |
| 36.5 : S Lakmal to Saha, Identical line and length, only difference is that there was some inward movement, however it's not enough to bother the batsman. Saha covers the line and easily leaves it. |
| 36.6 : S Lakmal to Saha, Beautifully bowled. Lakmal runs in and angles it on a full length around off, Saha is forced to play the line but the away movement beats his bat. Lakmal continues to test the Indian batsmen. |
| 37.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Puts it very full and around off, Pujara jams it out to the off side. |
| 37.2 : Gamage to C Pujara, OUT! Gamage has gone through the defense of Cheteshwar Pujara and that in itself is a big achievement. He jumps in joy and is all pumped up. It's a full length ball outside off, Pujara decides to drive it through the line by leaving a small gap between his bat and pad. That's enough for the bowler. He gets his delivery to swerve back in enough to sneak through that gap. The off stump goes cartwheeling. End of a stoic knock by India's number 3. He seems a bit stunned by |
| Ravindra Jadeja walks in next. |
| 37.3 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Angles it away from the new batsman, wide outside off and Jadeja makes an easy leave. |
| 37.4 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Too full and on middle, Jadeja digs it back towards the bowler. |
| 37.5 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Changes his angle and comes from round the wicket. Bowls it around off and Ravindra defends it right back. |
| 37.6 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Wide outside off, Jadeja leaves it alone to end a good over from Sri Lanka. |
| 38.1 : S Lakmal to Saha, Slants it in, on a fuller length around off, Saha defends it by getting forward. |
| 38.2 : S Lakmal to Saha, Pitches it full and outside off, Saha nicely leans forward and drives it through covers for a couple of runs. Dasun Shanaka chases it down in the deep. |
| 38.3 : S Lakmal to Saha, Lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 38.4 : S Lakmal to Saha, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 38.5 : S Lakmal to Saha, Another delivery left alone outside off by Wriddhiman. |
| 38.6 : S Lakmal to Saha, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 39.1 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Gentle hands by Jadeja. He just taps it down in the gap at covers for a single. Sir gets off the mark! |
| 39.2 : L Gamage to Saha, FOUR! Shot! Gamage pitches it full and outside off, it straightens a touch after landing, Saha does well to take his front leg to the pitch of the delivery and plays an exquisite square drive for a boundary. Lakmal tried to stop it with a dive but failed in his attempt. I'm not bothered about that, only question - What is Lakmal doing at point? |
| 39.3 : L Gamage to Saha, Gets on the front foot to a full ball and pushes it towards mid off. |
| 39.4 : L Gamage to Saha, Extra lift! Gamage bends his back and sends across a length ball outside off. Saha drops his wrists and lets it through. The ball once again shoots off the surface and Dickwella collects it over his head. |
| 39.5 : L Gamage to Saha, FOUR! A bit uppish but safe. Full and angling into the batsman, Saha gets forward and across and flicks it aerially. It's a bit wide of the mid-wicket fielder and speeds away through the fence. |
| Appeal for an lbw! Not given and Dinesh Chandimal takes the referral. Looks a bit high, let's see... |
| 39.6 : L Gamage to Saha, NOT OUT! Going over the stumps. Gamage once again gets a length ball to nip back into the batsman. Saha (on his toes) fails to defend it from the crease and is hit on the back leg. They appeal as the batsmen cross. It's given as a leg bye and now Chandimal opts for the review. Hawk Eye confirms that it's missing the stumps. |
| 40.1 : S Lakmal to Saha, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 40.2 : S Lakmal to Saha, Lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 40.3 : S Lakmal to Saha, Hangs on the back foot and defends it down safely. |
| 40.4 : S Lakmal to Saha, Gets behind the line of the delivery in defense. |
| 40.5 : S Lakmal to Saha, In the zone outside off, another left alone by the Indian keeper. |
| 40.6 : S Lakmal to Saha, One more leave outside off to end the over. |
| 41.1 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Good length delivery outside off, from round the wicket, Jadeja gets on the back foot and plays it down to point. |
| 41.2 : L Gamage to Jadeja, FOUR! That's a poor delivery and gets the deserved treatment. Short and outside off, Jadeja stands tall and slaps it through cover-point for a boundary. |
| A man drops back in the deep on the off side. |
| 41.3 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Once again width on offer outside off, Jadeja holds his balance inside the crease and punches it through covers for a couple of runs. |
| 41.4 : L Gamage to Jadeja, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 41.5 : L Gamage to R Jadeja, Uppish but safe! Gamage offers room outside off, Jadeja once again attacks the short of a length delivery and flays at it. Not in control as it flies from the outer half of the bat and races through backward point. There is a fielder in the deep and hence only a run. |
| 41.6 : L Gamage to Saha, Peach! Really unplayable for any batsman. Gamage gets one to angle into the batsman, around off and Saha walks across the stumps to cover the line. But it moves away after hitting the deck and beats him all ends up. |
| 42.1 : S Lakmal to R Jadeja, FOUR! Lakmal slants across a short of a length delivery outside off, Jadeja stands tall inside the crease and whacks it to point. Sadeera Samarawickrama at point gets down low to stop the ball but it sneaks through his hands. Shanaka then chases it from covers and slides near the fence to pull it back. The umpire however wants to get it checked. The third umpire watches a few angles and feels that Dasun was in contact with the ball and the rope at the same time. Touch |
| 42.2 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 42.3 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Good length delivery on off, Jadeja goes on his back foot in defense. |
| 42.4 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Digs in a short ball outside off, Jadeja keeps his weight on the back foot and taps it down to point. |
| 42.5 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Good leave by Jadeja. A length delivery landing outside off, shaping back in a bit. Jadeja judges it correctly and makes the leave. |
| 42.6 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Played to the point region by the batsman. No run. |
| Dilruwan Perera, the off spinner, is into the attack. |
| 43.1 : D Perera to Saha, A touch flat around off, Saha defends it from the crease to the off side. |
| 43.2 : D Perera to Saha, Floated full ball on off, Saha gets on the front foot and defends it back. |
| 43.3 : D Perera to Saha, This one turns back into the batsman a bit, Saha plays it with soft hands towards short leg. |
| 43.4 : D Perera to Saha, Saha has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 43.5 : D Perera to Saha, FOUR! Perera loses his radar and bowls a quicker and flatter one wide outside off. It's short as well and Saha just uses the pace on the delivery to run it fine down to third man for a boundary. |
| 43.6 : D Perera to Saha, Going down the leg side, Saha looks to play at it initially but then leaves it. |
| 44.1 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, A touch shortish and outside off, Jadeja remains back and steers it through cover-point for a couple of runs. |
| 0.0 : A leg gully in place. |
| 44.2 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Sliding down the leg side, Jadeja fails to flick it and it goes off his pads towards square leg. A leg bye stolen. |
| Another slip comes in. Three in total now, along with a gully. |
| 44.3 : S Lakmal to Saha, Good length delivery in the channel outside off, Saha makes a watchful leave. |
| 44.4 : S Lakmal to Saha, EDGY FOUR! Lakmal drops it on a length outside off, Saha commits himself on the front foot as he tries to defend. He realizes immediately that the ball has straightened a touch and takes his bottom hand off the handle. As a result, the outside edge doesn't carry to the gully fielder (Dilruwan Perera) who dives but fails to make the stop. It sneaks past him and reaches the fence in no time. |
| 44.5 : S Lakmal to Saha, Saha has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 44.6 : S Lakmal to Saha, Some movement and bounce into the batsman, Saha fails to keep it out and it goes off his thigh pads to backward square leg. A leg bye taken. |
| 45.1 : D Perera to Saha, Spinning down the leg side, Saha goes back and nudges it to fine leg for a run. |
| 45.2 : D Perera to Jadeja, Flighted and on off, Jadeja has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 45.3 : D Perera to Jadeja, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 45.4 : D Perera to Jadeja, SIX! Enough of blocking. Here comes the big shot. A flighted ball angling into the batsman from around the wicket, Jadeja clears his front leg and powers it over long on for a biggie. |
| Mid on drops back. |
| 45.5 : D Perera to Jadeja, Tossed up ball on off, defended watchfully. |
| 45.6 : D Perera to Jadeja, Goes on the back foot and pushes it back towards the bowler. |
| Dasun Shanaka comes into the attack for the first time this morning. Two slips and a gully. |
| 46.1 : D Shanaka to Saha, A gentle loosener. Full and way down the leg side, Saha leaves and poor Dickwella has to dive to make the stop. |
| 46.2 : D Shanaka to Saha, Length ball angling into the batsman, Saha plays it close to his body and drops it with soft hands towards square leg. |
| 46.3 : D Shanaka to Saha, Pitches it full and outside off, Saha drives it square of the wicket on the off side and steps out of his crease. The point fielder has a shy but misses. Anyway, Saha had his bat firmly planted inside the crease. |
| 46.4 : D Shanaka to Saha, Saha has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 46.5 : D Shanaka to Saha, Lands it on a full length outside off, a little extra bounce there, Saha lunges with an angled bat and pushes it with a loose bottom hand to gully. |
| 46.6 : D Shanaka to Saha, Big movement this time but harmless. It lands on a good length outside off, Saha allows it through. After going past him, the ball curls back in massively and Dickwella collects the ball by stretching to his left side. |
| 47.1 : D Perera to Jadeja, Flatter and outside off, Jadeja tries to cut but misses. |
| 47.2 : D Perera to Jadeja, Flighted and on off, fuller in length, Jadeja draws forward in defense. |
| 47.3 : D Perera to Jadeja, Another front foot defense offered by Jadeja. |
| 47.4 : D Perera to Jadeja, Goes short and around off, Jadeja punches it back to the bowler. |
| 47.5 : D Perera to Jadeja, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 47.6 : D Perera to Jadeja, Leans forward to a full ball and defends it back to end the over. Maiden. |
| Drinks time. The magic delivery by Gamage to breach Pujara's defense was the highlight of the first hour. Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha have joined forces since the fall of that wicket and are amidst a 42-run stand, the best stand of the innings. Sri Lanka need to be wary of this partnership. |
| 48.1 : D Shanaka to Saha, On a good length outside off, Saha is squared up and the ball goes off the outside edge towards point. |
| 48.2 : D Shanaka to Saha, Landed wide outside off, left alone. |
| 48.3 : D Shanaka to Saha, Fuller in length this time, outside off, left alone. |
| 48.4 : D Shanaka to Saha, Landed on a fuller length again, outside off, making the batsman play, Wriddhiman pushes it to point. |
| 48.5 : D Shanaka to Saha, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 48.6 : D Shanaka to Saha, Outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| 49.1 : D Perera to Jadeja, Shortish in length outside off, Jadeja goes back and punches it through point. A quick single taken. Sri Lanka do not seem interested in making the Indians work for their runs. Very easy out there currently. |
| 49.2 : D Perera to Saha, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 49.3 : D Perera to Saha, STUMPING CHANCE MISSED! Dear o dear, Dickwella. The opportunities were barely coming and when one did come, Dickwella has fluffed it. |
| 49.4 : D Perera to Saha, No run. |
| 49.5 : D Perera to Saha, No run. |
| 49.6 : D Perera to Saha, No run. |
| 50.1 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, No run. |
| 50.2 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 50.3 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Outside off, left alone. |
| 50.4 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 50.5 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Outside off, tapped through point for a single. |
| 50.6 : D Shanaka to Saha, FOUR! ELEGANT! Half volley outside off, Saha leans and drives it through the covers for a boundary! |
| 51.1 : D Perera to Jadeja, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 0.0 : Review time again! Dilruwan reckons that he has Jadeja trapped in front and has coaxed his skipper to take the only review remaining. |
| Still waiting. Not getting the Ball Tracker. |
| 51.2 : Perera to Jadeja, OUT! LBW it is and that is a fantastic review by Sri Lanka! It might have taken ages but eventually the right decision has been made. The arm ball from Dilruwan, landed around middle and off, skidding on, Jadeja gets his bat down to defend but he does not cover the line. The ball hits the bat and pad at the same time, at least that is what we feel. Dilruwan is confident and appeals. Dickwella anyways appeals for anything and everything and backs his bowler. The umpire sta |
| BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR walks in at number 9, replacing Jadeja. He can hold the bat as well. Sri Lanka would be remembering him. He bailed India out of a precarious situation in an ODI along with MS Dhoni when Akila Dananjaya was going bonkers. |
| 51.3 : D Perera to Kumar, Outside off, turning in, pushed past slip to point for a single. |
| 51.4 : D Perera to Saha, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| A wicket down! But Saha is not going anywhere. He has been given out but he has taken the review. |
| 51.5 : D Perera to Saha, OUT! Technology aids Sri Lanka again. Full and around off, spinning in a touch, Saha gets down to sweep but misses. The ball lobs off something in the air and Angelo Mathews takes it comfortably going to his left from slip. The umpire rules Saha out but he is not even looking at Mr. Wilson. He is busy walking towards square leg, just taking a breather. Then, he is shocked. |
| MOHAMMED SHAMI is in now, at number 10, replacing Saha. He too can bat, if you can remember his partnership along with Bhuvi in England in 2015... |
| 51.6 : D Perera to Shami, No run. |
| 52.1 : D Shanaka to Kumar, 2 runs. |
| 52.2 : D Shanaka to Kumar, Outside off, defended watchfully. |
| 52.3 : D Shanaka to Kumar, FOUR! Controlled edge or was it? |
| 52.4 : D Shanaka to Kumar, 2 runs. |
| 52.5 : D Shanaka to Kumar, No run. |
| 52.6 : D Shanaka to Kumar, No run. |
| 53.1 : D Perera to Shami, No run. |
| 53.2 : D Perera to Shami, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 53.3 : D Perera to Shami, No run. |
| 53.4 : D Perera to Shami, No run. |
| 53.5 : D Perera to Shami, 1 run. |
| 53.6 : D Perera to Kumar, 1 run. |
| Spin from both ends. RANGANA HERATH is back on. |
| 54.1 : R Herath to Kumar, 2 Byes. |
| 54.2 : R Herath to Kumar, Full and outside off, driven straight to cover. |
| 54.3 : R Herath to Kumar, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 54.4 : R Herath to Kumar, Another forward defense, smothering any spin on offer. |
| 54.5 : R Herath to Kumar, Pushes this through mid on and takes a quick run. |
| 54.6 : R Herath to Shami, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 55.1 : D Perera to Kumar, 1 run. |
| 55.2 : D Perera to Shami, Outside off, Shami swishes, going for a big one but misses. |
| 55.3 : D Perera to Shami, Full and outside off, pushed through mid off for one more. |
| 55.4 : D Perera to Kumar, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 55.5 : D Perera to B Kumar, Short and outside off, cut through point for a single. |
| 55.6 : D Perera to Shami, IN THE AIR... SAFE! Not totally unexpected. India looking for quick runs. Full and around off, Shami goes for the slog sweep but only hits this miles in the air. Probably extra bounce was the trick. There is a bit of a sniff but a difficult one. Sadeera Samarawickrama runs back from mid-wicket while there is a man in the deep who comes running in. But the ball makes a perfect bisection and lands in the middle of the two! A single taken. |
| Pace is back on. SURANGA LAKMAL gets a chance to take a fifer. |
| 56.1 : S Lakmal to Shami, Works this down the leg side for a single. |
| 56.2 : S Lakmal to Kumar, OUT! Caught behind! Brilliant bowling and Lakmal has 4 now. On a length outside off, Bhuvi does what he does best. Defend with the bat close to the ball. But the cherry just nips away and that defeats him. The outside edge is taken and Dickwella does not miss this one. |
| UMESH YADAV is the last man in. We still have 23 minutes left for Lunch. If India get bowled out inside 10 minutes, Sri Lanka could come out to bat before the break. |
| 56.3 : S Lakmal to Yadav, Well done. Comes forward, pushes this towards covers and takes a run. |
| 56.4 : S Lakmal to Shami, Outside off, fuller in length, Shami backs away a touch and then swings wildly. The ball swings away and beats the outside edge. |
| 56.5 : S Lakmal to Shami, Excellent yorker outside off, dug out back to the bowler. |
| 56.6 : S Lakmal to M Shami, OVERTHROW! Full on middle, Mohammed swings it towards mid on who for reasons known best to Chandimal, is very deep. Neither is he there for the catch, nor is he saving the single. He waits for the ball to come to him, then has a strong shy at the bowler's end. He gets full marks for hitting the target if that was the competition. But as far this game is concerned, it is a penalty for his side as the ball deflects away. Umesh says, 'AAJA! AAJA!' to Shami and the second |
| LAHIRU GAMAGE to bowl now too. |
| 57.1 : L Gamage to Yadav, Outside off, pushed to point for a single. |
| 57.2 : L Gamage to Shami, 'DO LE, DO LE!' shouts Kohli as he is up on his feet in the dressing room, applauding his players. A short ball, Shami swings it wide of long on. Sadeera Samarawickrama runs to his right and keeps the batsmen to a couple. |
| 57.3 : L Gamage to Shami, FOUR! Slash and slashed hard! Mr. Ravi Shastri would say that. A length ball outside off, Shami swings hard and gets a thick outside edge. But it is over the slips and races to the third man fence. |
| 57.4 : L Gamage to Shami, FOUR! A top edge now! Banged in short, Shami goes for the pull now and gets a top edge which goes to the fine leg fence. |
| Third man goes back. Slip disappears too. |
| 57.5 : L Gamage to Shami, Pushes this towards deepish mid off and crosses over. |
| Third man and mid on come in now. There is a deep point in place for a batsman who likes to swing on the leg side... |
| 57.6 : L Gamage to Yadav, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 58.1 : S Lakmal to M Shami, Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single. |
| 58.2 : S Lakmal to Yadav, FOUR! BELLIGERENT! The tail is enjoying itself. Wagging along. A length ball, in line of the stumps, Umesh gives it respect which is worth the number 0 and swings it over mid on. Hang on, there is no mid on at all. Plenty of open spaces down the ground. Help yourself. Boundary. |
| Howzzat? No says the umpire. Dickwella wants the review and his captain takes one for the catch. |
| 58.3 : S Lakmal to Yadav, NOT OUT. Sri Lanka exhaust their reviews. A short ball, down the leg side, Yadav looks to pull but misses. The ball goes off something to the keeper behind who dives to his left. There is an appeal to which the umpire shakes his head. Then there is a deafening scream, 'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!' mostly from the keeper, one guesses because no one else is even remotely interested. Chandimal, being a skipper who loves his players, takes the review out of respect for Dic |
| 58.4 : S Lakmal to Yadav, Outside off, defended watchfully. |
| 58.5 : S Lakmal to Yadav, Another short ball, UY swings but is beaten by the extra bounce. |
| 58.6 : S Lakmal to Yadav, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 59.1 : L Gamage to Shami, FOUR! BLAST! Powerfully struck. Full and outside off, Shami backs away and slaps it through mid off. There is a long off in place, he gets across to his right, slides but misses the ball. |
| 59.2 : L Gamage to Shami, TOP EDGE, SAFE AGAIN! Toying with Lady Luck. Banged in short, around middle, Mohammed goes for the hook but gets a top edge which lands in no man's land between fine leg and third man. Two runs taken. |
| 59.3 : L Gamage to M Shami, OUT! Caught! The fun ends and Lakmal does not get a fifer. India do not reach 200. But this is a fighting total on a pitch which is doing a lot. Another short ball, Shami swings but does not make clear contact, or say a contact which would have made him stay in the middle. He miscues it in the air and Dasun Shanaka comes in a touch from deep mid-wicket. Pouches the catch safely and that ends the innings. INDIA BOWLED OUT FOR 172! |
| Lunch has been taken. With less than 10 minutes to go for the break, makes sense. Sri Lanka have managed to bowl India out in the first session. |
| They began the day well, with Gamage producing a beauty to get rid of Pujara. However, from there, the Lankans let themselves down. India were 79/6 but the last 4 wickets have added 93 runs. Priceless on a green deck, brown deck, colourless deck or a flat deck. That is way too many if the bowling side is on top. |
| First Jadeja stuck with Saha, for a momentum-changing 48-run stand for the 7th wicket but Dilruwan's double-wicket over turned the tides back in Sri Lanka's favour. However, like we used to see fighting scenes in the films during the 70s or the 80s, wherein it was free for all to punch anyone whom they see, the Indian tail just smashed its way to adding 44 runs in 46 balls for the loss of 2 wickets. |
| Sri Lanka bowled in two parts today. The first was about keeping pressure on India but they seemed to get carried away after Pujara's dismissal. Perhaps the ecstasy of breaching the wall, which is like iron, got the better of them. Their lines went awry and what should have been a total under 100, or maximum 120, ended up being 50 extra. |
| Suranga Lakmal was the star of the show, with a 4-fer but Gamage and Shanaka provided good support with 2 each. Dilruwan justified his skipper's choice to give him the ball on a green track with the scalps of Jadeja and Saha in the space of 4 balls. |
| 172? Good enough if the pitch is offering so much for the bowlers. India should bowl better than their counterparts but with the sun beating down, the Lankans might get some hope. It is a scorecard which shows only one man from the top order fighting hard but the last few runs also indicated that the pitch might just be easing out. Join us back in a while for the second session... |
| 0.1 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, FOUR! Sri Lanka are away! Bhuvneshwar operates with three slips and a short leg. Serves a full length ball on off, swinging back in after landing, Sadeera flicks it from the inner half of the bat through mid-wicket. Ashwin gives it the chase, a slow chase and then tries to slide to pull it back. A bit lazy in this and the ball meets the fence. |
| 0.2 : B Kumar to S Samarawickrama, Fullish and outside off, a confident drive this time by Samarawickrama. Through the gap it goes and Umesh Yadav gives the chase from covers. He pulls it back just before the rope and saves a run for his side. The third umpire confirms that it was cleanly done. |
| 0.3 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Angling across the batsman, on a length, Karunaratne lets it through to the keeper. |
| 0.4 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Movement back into the batsman from a length around off, Karunaratne tries to defend from the crease but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 0.5 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 0.6 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Sliding down the leg side with the swing, Dimuth fails to flick and it goes off his pads. They collect a leg bye. 8 from the first over, a good one for Sri Lanka. |
| Mohammed Shami to share the new cherry from the other end. |
| 1.1 : M Shami to Karunaratne, FOUR! Karunaratne is away! Shami initiates from around the wicket and angles in a back of a length delivery on middle and leg, Dimuth gets back and glances it off his hips through backward square leg. Too quick to stop for the fine leg fielder. |
| 1.2 : M Shami to Karunaratne, Straighter in line again, Karunaratne works it towards mid-wicket for one. |
| 1.3 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Samarawickrama has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 1.4 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Play and a miss! Shami gets the outswinger going this time, lands it outside off, Samarawickrama attempts a loose drive and gets beaten. |
| 1.5 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Too full and on middle, pushed down towards mid on. |
| 1.6 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Beauty to beat the bat! Shami angles in a length ball around off, Sadeera tries to defend by covering the line but is beaten by the away movement. Almost edged it. |
| 2.1 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Taps a length ball to short cover and pinches a single. |
| 2.2 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, FOUR! This young man is timing his shots brilliantly. Kumar errs in his line and bowls a length ball around middle and leg. Samarawickrama flicks it beautifully through backward square leg for a boundary. Maybe, Bhuvi was attempting the magic delivery, the outswinger from middle and leg. Didn't happen. |
| 2.3 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, On a length around off, Sadeera confidently gets behind the line and blocks. |
| 2.4 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 2.5 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Pitches it full and just outside off, Sadeera presses forward and defends it to the off side. |
| 2.6 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Another full pitched delivery outside off has been driven by Samarawickrama. A good stop by the mid off fielder. |
| 3.1 : M Shami to Karunaratne, Lands it on a length outside off, Dimuth gets across the stumps and works it off the inner half of the bat to short mid-wicket for a quick single. |
| 3.2 : M Shami to S Samarawickrama, Five runs! Sadeera plays it with soft hands towards mid on and sets off for a sharp single. Ashwin attacks the ball, collects it and has a shy at the bowler's end. He misses and it gets deflected off Samarawickrama's pads. Beats Jadeja backing up and races away to the fence. |
| Appeal for an lbw. Up goes the finger and the crowd roar. Dimuth Karunaratne takes the referral... |
| 3.3 : Shami to Karunaratne, Not out! Excellent review by Dimuth. Shami manages to get a length ball to nip back into the batsman from a length outside off. Karunaratne tries working it on the leg side but misses. He is hit high on the pads, they appeal and the finger goes up. DK opts for the DRS and the Hawk Eye finds the ball going over the stumps. Extra bounce saved him there. |
| 3.4 : M Shami to Karunaratne, Turns it on the leg side, finds the gap at mid-wicket and collects a single. |
| 3.5 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Angles in a length ball on off, Samarawickrama gets behind the line in defense. |
| 3.6 : M Shami to S Samarawickrama, FOUR! Quality! An overpitched delivery outside off, Samarawickrama plays a delightful extra cover drive. Ashwin dives over the ball while moving across to his left from mid off and lets it through to the long off fence. Very poor. |
| 4.1 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Length ball on off, defended off the back foot. |
| 4.2 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Another back foot defense by Karunaratne. |
| 4.3 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Length ball angling down the leg side, DK tries to flick but misses. |
| 4.4 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| Dimuth Karunaratne once again has been adjudged out lbw. He has a chat with his partner before taking the DRS. Not offering the shot there, it looks close... |
| 4.5 : B Kumar to Karunaratne, OUT! Hitting the off stump, Dimuth has to go this time. The round the wicket angle has worked for the bowler. He steams in and angles in a length ball outside off. It jags back in off the seam, Dimuth misjudges it and offers no shot. Takes it on his front pad, the Indians appeal and the umpire once again raises his finger. Karunaratne takes the referral after consulting his partner. The replays roll in. Impact cannot be an issue here as no shot was offered. But is it |
| Lahiru Thirimanne is the number 3 batsman for Sri Lanka. |
| 4.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, played to covers for one. Successful over. |
| 5.1 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Short ball banged into the batsman, Thirimanne ducked. |
| 5.2 : M Shami to Thirimanne, A length ball shaping back into the batsman, Thirimanne is lucky to get his bat down in time. It takes the inside edge before rolling towards short mid-wicket. A single taken. |
| 5.3 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment. |
| 5.4 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Excellent cover drive by Sadeera but straight to the fielder. He is looking in superb touch. |
| 5.5 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Samarawickrama has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 5.6 : M Shami to Samarawickrama, Short in length outside off, Sadeera punches it square of the wicket on the off side. Kumar dives to make a partial stop at backward point but cannot prevent the single. |
| 6.1 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Short and wide outside off, an easy leave. |
| 6.2 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Big movement on this delivery. It lands wide outside off, Sadeera tries playing inside the line but misses. |
| 6.3 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Extra bounce from a length outside off, Sadeera moves back and hits it through backward point for a couple. |
| 6.4 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, OUT! One shot too many! Sadeera Samarawickrama once again looked promising in his little knock, just like his debut game. Plenty of talent but he needs to get smart with his shot selection. He tried too many things too early in his innings. Kumar persists with his line outside off, getting it to move away a shade, Samarawickrama jumps back to punch away from his body but it takes the outside edge. Saha makes no mistake and Sri Lanka have now lost both their opener |
| Angelo Mathews arrives. |
| 6.5 : B Kumar to Mathews, Good length delivery outside off, left alone first up by Angelo Mathews. |
| 6.6 : B Kumar to Mathews, Angles this one into the ex-skipper, around off, he plays for the line and gets beaten by the away swing. Another successful over for India. |
| 7.1 : M Shami to Thirimanne, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 7.2 : M Shami to L Thirimanne, Superb delivery! Shami angles in a length ball outside off, just straightening a touch, Thirimanne tries to defend but there is some extra bounce. It hits him on the gloves and would have carried to Saha had Lahiru's biceps not come in the way. |
| 7.3 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Thirimanne has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 7.4 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Big inward movement into the left hander, Thirimanne gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 7.5 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Short in length and outside off, left alone. |
| 7.6 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Another leave outside the off stump to end the over. |
| Mohammed Shami is leaving the field. |
| 8.1 : B Kumar to Mathews, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment. |
| 8.2 : B Kumar to Mathews, Beaten! Length ball angling into the batsman from outside off, Mathews without much footwork pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 8.3 : B Kumar to Mathews, Excellent inswinger, landing outside off and curling back into the batsman, Mathews does well to keep it out. |
| 8.4 : B Kumar to Mathews, Outswinger this time. From wide of the crease Bhuvi delivers this one. It's a touch short and too wide to bother the batsman. The idea was right but not the execution. |
| Huge shout for an lbw. Not given. The batsmen cross, Nigel Llong signals a leg bye and Kohli takes the DRS after talking with his bowler. |
| 8.5 : Kumar to Mathews, Not out! Clipping the top of off stump. India retain their review. Kumar dishes out a sharp inswinger, Mathews is caught napping inside the crease. Tries to defend but is squared up due to the movement. Takes it on his back pad, they appeal but the umpire is not interested. They cross and it's given as a leg bye. Kohli has a chat with his bowler and goes for the DRS. Ball Tracker shows that the impact is in line but it's clipping the stumps. |
| 8.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, This is a superb exhibition of swing bowling by Bhuvi. Switches to round the wicket and hurls across a length delivery. An outswinger this time and Thirimanne is caught pushing and missing inside the line. Probing over! |
| 9.1 : M Shami to Mathews, Gets back and gently dabs it wide of point for a single. The right hand, left hand combination will frustrate the bowler if the strike keeps rotating. |
| 9.2 : M Shami to Thirimanne, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 9.3 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 9.4 : M Shami to L Thirimanne, FOUR! Shami overpitches outside off, Thirimanne leans forward and drives it crisply through covers. It races through and speeds past the practice wickets to the fence. |
| 9.5 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Tries to tempt the batsman by bowling it on a driving length. But it's too wide outside off to trouble the batsman. |
| 9.6 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. Once again Shami is heading off the field, visibly unwell. Rohit Sharma is on as the substitute. |
| 10.1 : B Kumar to Mathews, Shortish and outside off, Angelo walks forward and across the stumps before blocking it. |
| 10.2 : B Kumar to Mathews, The ball is way outside the off stump, easy leave for the batsman. |
| 10.3 : B Kumar to Mathews, Harmless delivery, wide outside off again, another leave by Mathews. |
| 10.4 : B Kumar to Mathews, An inswinger around middle, Mathews tickles it through square leg and takes a single. |
| 10.5 : B Kumar to Mathews, Angling into the batsman, the line is too straight and this time Mathews plays it with the inside half of the bat. It races through and Rohit makes a diving stop at fine leg to save a couple of runs. |
| 10.6 : B Kumar to Mathews, Full and outside off, Mathews defends it to the off side. |
| Umesh Yadav comes into the attack. |
| 11.1 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, A gentle loosener by Yadav. Short and way down the leg side, Thirimanne is not at all bothered. |
| 11.2 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Good length delivery around leg, Thirimanne helps it down to fine leg for one. |
| 11.3 : U Yadav to Mathews, Wide outside off on a length, Mathews leaves it alone. |
| 11.4 : U Yadav to Mathews, Full and angling in around off, a little bit of away movement after pitching, Mathews defends it watchfully. |
| 11.5 : U Yadav to Mathews, Short and wide outside off, Mathews goes on his toes and plays at it. Not timed and placed well. Straight to point. |
| 11.6 : U Yadav to Mathews, Outswinger in the zone outside off, an easy leave for Angelo Mathews. An ordinary first over by Umesh. |
| 12.1 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Good length delivery on off, Thirimanne defends it from the crease. |
| 12.2 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full this time, around off and angling in, Lahiru plays it with soft hands to covers and scampers across to the other end. |
| 12.3 : B Kumar to Mathews, Switches to over the wicket for the right hander and bowls a full ball on off. Mathews defends it by covering the line and movement. |
| 12.4 : B Kumar to Mathews, Beaten! Away movement off the deck. From a length outside off. Mathews with unsure footwork pushes at it tamely and gets beaten. |
| 12.5 : B Kumar to Mathews, Beaten again! Even better delivery as the line was closer to the off stump. Mathews has to play at it. It's coming into him, Angelo walks down the track with a little shimmy but is in no position to meet the ball as it nips away off the seam. Smart bowling. |
| 12.6 : B Kumar to Mathews, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. Testing over again by Kumar. |
| Mohammed Shami is back on the field. |
| 13.1 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Full and in the line of the stumps, Thirimanne sticks back and defends it to the off side. |
| 13.2 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Wrong line. Slips a length ball down the leg side, Thirimanne tries flicking but misses. |
| 13.3 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Length ball around off, shaping back in a bit, Thirimanne remains back in defense. |
| 13.4 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, FOUR! Not in any control! Sharp delivery, a touch short and around leg, Thirimanne gets back to play at it but it takes his gloves and runs wide of the diving keeper for a boundary at fine leg. 50 up for Sri Lanka! |
| 13.5 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Yadav runs in from round the wicket this time to Thirimanne. Bowls it on a length on middle, Lahiru taps it down to mid-wicket and crosses for a run. |
| 13.6 : U Yadav to Mathews, Angles in a good length ball on off, Mathews pushes himself on the back foot before defending it down. |
| Really wonder from where players come up with interesting hair-bands. Right now, Umesh Yadav has worn one, obviously to cover the hair from going into his eyes or obscuring his vision. But if you actually take a closer look, it gives a distraction. The silver lining seems to indicate that the band has flickering lights. Won't be surprised if the batsmen complain. |
| 14.1 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, A touch short and on off, defended off the back foot. |
| 0.0 : It's turning quite dark now with clouds slowly building up. The artificial lights aren't switched on yet. |
| 14.2 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, On a length and outside off, Lahiru goes on the back foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 14.3 : B Kumar to L Thirimanne, FOUR! A classic cover drive to an overpitched delivery outside off. Thirimanne didn't try to hit it hard. Just leaned into his shot and pierced the gap. Beautiful stroke for a boundary. |
| 14.4 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Kumar changes his angle and bowls a length delivery from over the wicket. It's around off and shaping away, Thirimanne pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 14.5 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 14.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Straighter in line, calmly worked in the gap at mid-wicket for a single. |
| Drinks break. Breezy innings by Sadeera and exceptional display of swing bowling by the Indian bowlers, especially Bhuvneshwar were the highlights of the first hour. The experienced pair of Thirimanne and Mathews are trying to rebuild the innings after a couple of quick blows. Let's see how the second half pans out. |
| 15.1 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Not a bad line to start after the break, full and just outside off, Thirimanne trusts the line and lets it through. |
| 15.2 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Around off and middle, watchfully defended. |
| 15.3 : U Yadav to L Thirimanne, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Thirimanne intentionally throws his bat at it. Does not get the desired region, which might have been point but it flies over the slips to third man. |
| 15.4 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, FOUR! Another poor ball. Down the leg side, Thirimanne clips it away for consecutive boundaries. |
| 15.5 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 15.6 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, A bouncer now, Lahiru ducks. |
| Predicto Praky - Welcome back, Umesh Yadav. You could be the difference between the two sides. Leaking runs from both sides of the wicket. @Predicto - True. He is a momentum bowler and right now, he is gifting that to the Lankans who seem all at sea against Shami and Bhuvi. |
| Finally Bhuvi gets a break and a better-looking Shami earns the ball back. He was off the field complaining about health issues but now he seems fine. |
| 16.1 : M Shami to Mathews, A bouncer outside off, predictable from Shami. He usually starts a spell in that fashion. This is the second time today. Mathews ducks. |
| 16.2 : M Shami to Mathews, Outside off, left alone. |
| 16.3 : M Shami to Mathews, Full and straight, pushed to mid on for a quick single. |
| 16.4 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Outside off, pushed to mid off for a run now. |
| 16.5 : M Shami to A Mathews, EDGED, FOUR! Kohli applauds. Shami nearly gets a breakthrough. On a length outside off, Mathews stays back to defend but is squared up. The ball kicks off the surface, deviates a touch and goes off the outside edge past second slip through the vacant third slip region. Would not have carried anyway. |
| 16.6 : M Shami to Mathews, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 17.1 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Full on middle, Thirimanne drives it uppishly but wide of the bowler towards mid on. |
| 17.2 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, On middle, worked straight to square leg. |
| 17.3 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, DROPPED! Finally Umesh gets one right but his teammate does not support him. A length ball again, in the avenue of apprehension, Thirimanne stays in his crease and pushes at it. The ball takes the outside edge and goes straight to Shikhar Dhawan at first slip. He reacts probably a touch late because his right foot does not move at all. He then tries to take the catch but the ball does not stick. Umesh is frustrated. |
| 17.4 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a brace. Key for Umesh not to let his frustration get the better of him. |
| 17.5 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 17.6 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Down the leg side, clipped through the leg side for a couple. THE DEFICIT GETS UNDER 100. |
| 18.1 : M Shami to Mathews, No run. |
| 18.2 : M Shami to Mathews, On a length around off, pushed straight to mid on. |
| 18.3 : M Shami to Mathews, Outside off, left alone. |
| 18.4 : M Shami to Mathews, Stays back in his crease and defends. |
| 18.5 : M Shami to Mathews, Full and wide outside off, driven straight to point. |
| 18.6 : M Shami to Mathews, Outside off, should have been left alone, but Mathews has a poke. Luckily for him, the ball goes past the edge. |
| The groundstaff is getting ready. Murali Kartik feels the rain is still a few minutes away. |
| 19.1 : U Yadav to L Thirimanne, Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 19.2 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, The batsman has punched that ball through the off side. |
| 19.3 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Outside off again, defended watchfully. |
| 19.4 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Outside off, played straight to point. |
| 19.5 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Hits the back of a length this time, Lahiru blocks watchfully. |
| 19.6 : U Yadav to L Thirimanne, Fullish and outside off, LT looks to drive but gets a bit of an outside edge. The ball sneaks past gully and the batsmen return for the second. |
| Normally when a partnership is brewing, Kohli goes to his spinners. However, Murali Kartik on air reckons that it is not safe to go a spinner in these conditions. At least till 30 overs are bowled. Sri Lanka used their first, the young Herath, in the 34th over. |
| 20.1 : M Shami to Mathews, Outside off, left alone. |
| 20.2 : M Shami to Mathews, A back foot defense on offer this time. |
| 20.3 : M Shami to Mathews, Outside off, Mathews attempts a back foot cover drive but the ball hits the toe end of the bat and rolls to cover. |
| 20.4 : M Shami to Mathews, FOUR! A rare loosener, half volley on the pads, flicked through square leg for a boundary. Perhaps Kohli might be better off with the man at mid-wicket moving to square leg. This is the second time Mathews has played that shot today, aerially. |
| 20.5 : M Shami to Mathews, EDGED, FOUR! Shami is bowling his heart out. A length ball outside off, Mathews tries to defend but the ball squirts off the outside edge past second slip to the third man fence. The deficit is now 88. 50-RUN STAND IS UP. The first of the match! |
| Gully moves finer. |
| 20.6 : M Shami to Mathews, That is a beauty. Pitched on a fuller length, outside off, Angelo looks to defend but the ball just zips away past the outside edge. Terrific bowling. Mathews smiles. Lucky to survive. |
| 21.1 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single. |
| 21.2 : U Yadav to Mathews, Full on middle, Mathews looks to defend but gets a bit of a leading edge towards cover. |
| 21.3 : U Yadav to Mathews, Outside off, left alone. |
| 21.4 : U Yadav to A Mathews, FOUR! Excellent placement. Perhaps short of a fuller length, outside off, Mathews plays it behind point and gets a boundary! |
| Point goes out. |
| 21.5 : U Yadav to Mathews, Outside off, chooses to let Saha make contact with that. |
| 21.6 : U Yadav to Mathews, Drives it straight back to the bowler. It was almost in the blockhole. Umesh teases a throw without the ball in his hand. So, going by the new rules, if Sri Lanka were to be penalized for Karunaratne faking a throw, then both teams are even now. |
| BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR is back on. |
| 22.1 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Down the leg side, clipped towards backward square leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : Please sit down! Spectators just don't seem to realize the importance of concentration. Especially the ones near the sightscreen, who seem to wander around, like people do during window shopping. Mathews halts the game, asking one such spectator to sit down as he is right above the sightscreen. He sits down, only to stand up again. Eventually, play resumes. |
| 22.2 : B Kumar to Mathews, That break nearly produces a wicket! So many times have we seen a batsman getting out when his concentration is broken! A length ball outside off, Mathews pushes at it but the ball jags back, takes the inside edge and rolls over to the leg side. A run taken. |
| 22.3 : B Kumar to L Thirimanne, Full and outside off, Thirimanne pushes at it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball lands short of the gully fielder who dives to his left to stop the ball. |
| 22.4 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 22.5 : Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, jags back in sharply, Lahiru gets hit on the pads. Bhuvi starts to appeal but then bails out. Inside edge. |
| 22.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| First over of spin. RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN comes on to bowl. |
| 23.1 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Landed around off, defended from the crease. |
| 23.2 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Fuller in length, but Mathews still stays back to block. |
| 23.3 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Gets across his stumps and clips it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| Short leg comes into play now. |
| 23.4 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Fuller and outside off, Thirimanne smothers the spin. |
| 23.5 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Another ball inviting the drive, Lahiru blocks. |
| 23.6 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Down the leg side, clipped through square leg or rather behind square, for a run. The deficit is now 79. |
| 24.1 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Good length ball to start the over, defended from the crease. |
| 24.2 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, FOUR! Full and on the pads, easy pickings for a batsman who has faced 60 balls, clipped through mid-wicket for a boundary to take the stand to 63 from 106 balls. Good rate. Thirimanne himself is on 40 now, from just 60 deliveries. |
| 24.3 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, A bouncer now, Lahiru ducks. |
| 24.4 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, FOUR! Wrong line again. On the pads, flicked through fine leg for the second boundary of the over. 100 UP FOR SRI LANKA! |
| 24.5 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Outside off, left alone. |
| 24.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and straight, flicked uppishly towards short mid-wicket. Does not carry. |
| Suds - What can Ashwin do here? Don't think he has a great record over here. Do not remember much of his exploits at this venue. @Suds - Have to give it to you for memory. You are correct. For a minimum of 3 Test matches at any venue in the world, he has the worst bowling average at Eden - Clearly not his den. His average is 34.16 here with the ball with his best being 3/46 against the Windies in 2013. |
| 25.1 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Outside off, punched down to long on for a single. Absolutely no turn for Ashwin here. So far. |
| 25.2 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 25.3 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 25.4 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, FOUR! BOOM! That came out of the blue. Ashwin gave this just a little bit of air and for a man batting with positive intent, that was enough. Got down and slog swept it over mid-wicket for a boundary. The stand moves to 72 now. The Lankans are 66 runs adrift. |
| 25.5 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 25.6 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| 26.1 : B Kumar to Mathews, Landed outside off, left alone. |
| 26.2 : B Kumar to Mathews, Outside off, punched through the covers for a couple. |
| 26.3 : B Kumar to Mathews, Outside off, Mathews is squared up for the umpteenth time this afternoon, gets lucky for the umpteenth time as well, with the ball going off the outside edge towards point. The batsmen go for a quick single, the fielder from cover (Jadeja, I think) comes charging in but fails to pick the ball up. |
| 26.4 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Where did that hit? A jaffa. Correction. Another jaffa. Bhuvi hits the length in the corridor of uncertainty and Thirimanne is forced to play at that. But the ball perhaps hits a rough and then jags back in to cut him into half! |
| 26.5 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, A length ball around middle, Lahiru looks to flick but misses and is hit on the pads. A mild LBW appeal, dies down on its own. |
| 26.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| Mathews has received another warning, this time from umpire Llong, for running on the wicket. He has already got one before from Joel Wilson. Not the smartest of moves, especially with his team scheduled to bat last on this wicket. Unless they bat only once. |
| 27.1 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Full and outside off, defended watchfully. |
| 27.2 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 27.3 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Around off, kept out watchfully. |
| 27.4 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Full and on off this time, blocked out watchfully. |
| 27.5 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Pushes this towards short mid-wicket. |
| 27.6 : R Ashwin to A Mathews, Punches this down to long on for a single. |
| 28.1 : B Kumar to A Mathews, On a good length around off, Mathews pokes at it, getting squared up. The ball goes off the outside edge, does not carry but this time it is blocked. Kohli has brought the man at gully towards third slip. Ask Michael Vaughan the importance of runs through slip towards third man in Test cricket. Ask Michael Holding who never gets bored of counting the runs through third man in a Test match. |
| 28.2 : B Kumar to Mathews, A length ball again, this time it is watchfully defended. |
| 28.3 : B Kumar to Mathews, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 28.4 : B Kumar to Mathews, A bit too straight, Mathews gets across and looks to clip but misses. The ball goes off his pads through square leg and a leg bye is taken. Oohs and aahs from the fielding side but the impact was too high. |
| 28.5 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, Thirimanne looks to play at that but then keeps his bat well inside his line. Initial impression was a play and miss but replays show that Lahiru was in control. |
| 28.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, This is properly left alone outside off. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar is going off the field. He just asked Nigel Llong about the time left for Tea. Not much, probably 5-6 minutes. Just get the feeling that even Shami is not 100 percent himself. Not quite good for a fielding captain when your main strike bowlers are a bit uneasy and the third one is not making life that easy for you as a skipper. |
| 29.1 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 29.2 : R Ashwin to Mathews, Pushes this through mid on for a single. Moves to 30. |
| 29.3 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 29.4 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, a solid compact defense on offer. |
| 29.5 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 29.6 : R Ashwin to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. Economical from Ashwin. He is not getting any turn, but needs to exert some control. Sri Lanka have just come down below 4 an over but the rate is still decent. India need some quiet overs to build on pressure of any sort. |
| UMESH YADAV to bowl probably the last over before Tea. |
| 30.1 : U Yadav to Mathews, Full and on off, driven straight back to the bowler. |
| 30.2 : U Yadav to Mathews, The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. |
| 30.3 : U Yadav to Mathews, Down the leg side, nudged behind square leg for a single. The deficit is now 59. |
| 30.4 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Full and around off, well blocked out. |
| 30.5 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Bangs it on a length outside off, Thirimanne pushes but misses. |
| 30.6 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Another play and a miss to end the over and session. TEA ON DAY 3! |
| Sri Lanka's session, to say the least. The first in this match where a batting side has been on top. Batting certainly has not been easy but Thirimanne and Mathews have done well. Their stand is worth 79, which is the score at which India had lost Pujara's wicket this morning. |
| The saying goes - 'Numbers don't lie'. Let us just tweak that saying a little bit. They are not giving us the right information at the moment. India have conceded runs at 3.64 an over, with Shami going at more than 4.6. However, there have been numerous occasions where the batsmen have played and missed, got squared up and the ball going off the outside edge. There was a dropped catch of Thirimanne when he was on 27 and now he is on 48. |
| This pitch is one where a batsman is never in. So it is never too late to make a comeback as the game is more often than not, not out of hands unless it is beyond bounds. As Geoffrey Boycott says, read the score with 2 wickets added - which means if India look at this as 113/4 with a not-so-strong lower middle order to come, they can still turn the tables over. However, they need to be sure they themselves do not get frustrated with the edges not going to hand. Join us back at 1445 local (0915 G |
| ...Day 3, third session... |
| We're back for the final session. 39 overs left in the day's play and it's going to be an important phase of this Test match. If the current pair manages to survive the session, Sri Lankan will find themselves in a very good position. India will be hoping to create inroads and keep this game open. Let's see how it goes. They are beginning with the pace and swing of Mohammed Shami. Here we go... |
| 31.1 : M Shami to Mathews, Right in the blockhole, no gentle looseners, Mathews is equally up to the challenge and digs it out back to the bowler. He is not happy with the movement near the sightscreen and points that out to the umpire. |
| 31.2 : M Shami to Mathews, This one is very full and around off, Mathews rather than getting forward sticks back and keeps it out on the leg side. |
| 31.3 : M Shami to Mathews, Good length delivery on off, Mathews goes on his toes and taps it down to covers. |
| 31.4 : M Shami to Mathews, Peach of a delivery! Shami lets in a length delivery around off, angling in and nipping away after kissing the deck, Mathews cannot do much about it. Feels for it and gets beaten. |
| 31.5 : M Shami to Mathews, Not much movement on this occasion from a length around off, Angelo nicely covers the line and blocks it on the off side. |
| 31.6 : M Shami to Mathews, Serves it full and outside off, trying to tempt the batsman into a drive but Mathews is very watchful as he lets it go. |
| 32.1 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Yadav steams in from round the wicket and bowls it on a good length outside off. It holds its line after pitching and Lahiru shoulders arms. |
| 32.2 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Back of a length delivery on off, Thirimanne stays back and punches it to covers. |
| 32.3 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Once again the length is on the shorter side and Thirimanne this time eases it off his back foot through backward point. He crosses for a run, looks for the another one but is sent back by Angelo Mathews. Jadeja is the fielder in the deep and he fires in a throw at the bowler's end. Misses but it's backed up well by Ashwin. |
| 32.4 : U Yadav to Mathews, FOUR! Confidently driven. Yadav dishes out a full length delivery outside off, Angelo presses forward and drives it through the gap at covers for a boundary. |
| 32.5 : U Yadav to Mathews, Angling into the batsman from around off, Mathews defends it from the crease to the leg side. |
| 32.6 : U Yadav to Mathews, Lands it on a length outside off, Angelo remains on the back foot and keeps it out safely towards covers. |
| 33.1 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Fine delivery, clocks 140 kph and bowls it on a good length outside off. A little bit of inward movement after pitching, Thirimanne does well to cover everything before letting it go to the keeper. |
| 33.2 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Fifth Test fifty for Thirimanne! Important knock for him at this stage of his career. He was dropped on 27 by Dhawan and is making India pay for that. Short in length and outside off, Thirimanne stands tall and slams it to deep point for one. A quiet celebration from him, he knows that the job is not done yet. Sri Lanka trail by 53 runs. |
| 33.3 : M Shami to Mathews, FOUR! Boom! A cracking shot by Mathews. He fetches a short ball from outside off and plays a crunching pull shot over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 33.4 : M Shami to A Mathews, Driven towards the mid off region. They pick up a single. |
| 33.5 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 33.6 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Length ball angling into the batsman from outside off, Thirimanne defends it from the back foot. |
| 34.1 : U Yadav to L Thirimanne, Risky single! A length delivery outside off, Mathews taps it down in front of cover-point and calls his partner through for a quick single. KL Rahul attacks the ball and has a shy at the striker's end but misses. That was touch and go. Meanwhile, Mathews has been warned officially for running on the danger area. The umpire was keeping a close eye on him for quite some time and now he has run out of patience. The ex-skipper needs to be careful now. Another warning m |
| 34.2 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Bowls it in the zone outside off, Thirimanne has nothing to do with it. |
| 34.3 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Angling away from the batsman outside off, Lahiru dabs it down to third man for a single. |
| 34.4 : U Yadav to Mathews, Good piece of fielding by Shami in the deep. A length ball on middle and leg, Mathews tucks it off his pads through square leg and it races through. Shami sprints across to his left from fine leg and shows great football skills to kick it out before the rope. Saves a run for his side. |
| 34.5 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Wrong line, way down the leg side and on the shorter side, Thirimanne allows it through. |
| 34.6 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Bouncer to end the over, an easy duck for Thirimanne. |
| 35.1 : M Shami to Mathews, Wide outside off, shortish in length, Mathews shoulders arms. |
| 35.2 : M Shami to Mathews, Beaten on the drive. Shami manages to lure the batsman into a drive but the away swing on the delivery beats the outside edge. That was loose from Mathews. |
| 35.3 : M Shami to Mathews, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 35.4 : M Shami to A Mathews, Full and on middle, pushed down the ground but straight to mid on. |
| Ravindra Jadeja is warming up. |
| 35.5 : M Shami to A Mathews, EDGED, FOUR! Lucky runs for Mathews. Shami cannot believe his luck. An excellent delivery, on a good length around off, shaping back in, Mathews gets back to defend but fails to cover the line and movement entirely. It kisses the outside half of the bat and flies right through the gap between second slip and gully. Kohli needs to plug that gap. |
| 35.6 : M Shami to Mathews, A touch short and on off, defended off the back foot to end the over. |
| 36.1 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Bouncer! The batsman does well to evade it. |
| 36.2 : U Yadav to L Thirimanne, OUT! Fantastic catch by Virat Kohli! Yadav speeds in from around the wicket and hurls across a back of a length delivery around off. It straightens a hint as it reaches the batsman who tries to push inside the line. Gets a thick outside edge towards second slip where Kohli stretches down low to his left and snaps an excellent catch. He bangs the ball on the turf to let out his frustration as Yadav roars in delight. End of a fine knock and a partnership worth 99 run |
| Dinesh Chandimal is the new batsman. |
| 36.3 : U Yadav to Chandimal, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 36.4 : U Yadav to Chandimal, Shortish and angling into the batsman, Chandimal goes on his back foot and taps it on the leg side for a run. |
| 36.5 : U Yadav to Mathews, FOUR! Uppish but safe! Short in length and around off, Mathews nicely gets on top of the bounce and pulls it across the line. It's aerial but well wide of Pujara at mid-wicket. He stretched both his hands out but was never in contention of taking the catch. 28th Test fifty for Angelo Mathews and it has come at a crucial time. He was going through a lean phase and Sri Lanka will hope that this innings will break the deadlock. |
| 36.6 : U Yadav to Mathews, Gets behind the line and blocks it safely. He takes a couple of steps down the track in search of a run before returning. Doesn't go down well with the Indian skipper who complains to the umpire. Angelo Mathews is already on a warning for running on the danger area. |
| 37.1 : M Shami to Chandimal, Chandimal has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 37.2 : M Shami to Chandimal, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 37.3 : M Shami to Chandimal, Big movement back into the batsman with extra bounce, Chandimal offers no shot and wears it on his pads. A stifled appeal from the Indians dies down quickly. |
| 37.4 : M Shami to Chandimal, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 37.5 : M Shami to Chandimal, Full in length and outside off, Dinesh is on the front foot as he plays a good looking drive. Finds the cover fielder. |
| 37.6 : M Shami to Chandimal, Back of a length delivery outside off, Chandimal tries pushing at it but then withdraws his bat. |
| 38.1 : U Yadav to Mathews, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 38.2 : U Yadav to Mathews, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 38.3 : U Yadav to Mathews, Full and on off, Mathews drives it off his front foot to extra cover. |
| 38.4 : U Yadav to Mathews, Good length ball angling into the batsman, Mathews defends it from the front foot. |
| 38.5 : U Yadav to A Mathews, OUT! Poor, very poor from Mathews. He is dejected with himself as he walks back to the pavilion. Yadav with yet another wicket and both the settled batsmen for Sri Lanka are back in the pavilion, just what we were saying during the tea break. It wasn't exactly a great delivery, on a length and outside off, Mathews drives it uppishly and straight into the hands of KL Rahul at covers. He makes no mistake and India are turning it on. The replays show that Mathews' feet w |
| Niroshan Dickwella is the new batsman. Floodlights are switched on. There is certainly a spring in the stride of the Indians. The crowd is behind them as well. |
| 38.6 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Outside off, left alone. |
| 39.1 : M Shami to Chandimal, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 39.2 : M Shami to Chandimal, Swinging away from the batsman, Chandimal tries to play an expansive cover drive but is beaten. |
| 39.3 : M Shami to Chandimal, Chandimal has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 39.4 : M Shami to Chandimal, Good length delivery outside off, Chandimal allows it through. |
| 39.5 : M Shami to Chandimal, This one is too wide outside off, an easy leave for Chandimal. |
| 39.6 : M Shami to Chandimal, This is exceptional bowling. Shami is displaying his range. Cooks an inswinger this time. Lands it on a length around off, Chandimal tries to defend it by getting forward but it nips back in to cut him into half. Beats the inside edge and sneaks past the sticks to the keeper. Lovely over! |
| Huge appeal for a caught behind. The umpire has given it out but Dickwella wants to review it. |
| 40.1 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Not out! Dickwella saves himself by using the technology. Yadav digs in a well-directed short ball, around leg. Niroshan gets into a tangle as he tries to pull it across the line. Eyes not on the ball and it flies off something to the keeper. Saha catches it, they all appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Dickwella is quick to refer it and the Snicko shows that there was no bat involved. Went off Dickwella's shoulders in fact. |
| 40.2 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Gets back and pushes it through point for a single. |
| 40.3 : U Yadav to Chandimal, Wide outside off, Chandimal throws his bat at it but is beaten as the ball moves away. |
| 40.4 : U Yadav to Chandimal, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. Much better. |
| 40.5 : U Yadav to Chandimal, This one jags back into the batsman from a length around off, Chandimal keeps it out from the inner half of the bat to square leg. They cross for a run as Pujara moves across to his right from mid-wicket. Has a shy at the striker's end but misses. |
| 40.6 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Extra bounce into the batsman, Dickwella fails to work it around and it goes on the leg side off his thigh pad. A leg bye. |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar is back on. |
| 41.1 : B Kumar to Dickwella, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single. |
| 41.2 : B Kumar to Chandimal, A touch short in length and outside off, DC gets across the stumps, tries pushing at it but misses. |
| 41.3 : B Kumar to Chandimal, On a length and outside off, Chandimal feels for it and gets beaten. |
| 41.4 : B Kumar to Chandimal, This time Chandimal leaves it alone outside off. |
| 41.5 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Full and speared into the batsman, around off, Chandimal did well to keep it out on the off side towards mid off. |
| 41.6 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Plays it with an angled bat through point for one. |
| 42.1 : U Yadav to Chandimal, Angling into the batsman, on a fuller length and around off, Chandimal defends it with soft hands to the off side. |
| 42.2 : U Yadav to Chandimal, A length delivery, on middle, Chandimal turns it off his pads towards square leg. Pujara does well to stop it, although, partially. |
| 42.3 : U Yadav to Chandimal, Sliding down the leg side, nudged away to fine leg for one. |
| 42.4 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Yadav bowls a good length delivery outside off, from around the wicket, Dickwella reaches out for it and pushes it to covers. |
| 42.5 : U Yadav to Dickwella, FOUR! Back of a length delivery on middle, angling down the leg side, Dickwella gets on top of the bounce and eases it down to fine leg for a boundary. The fielder in the deep was very square and had no chance of cutting it off. |
| 42.6 : U Yadav to N Dickwella, Yadav drops it on a fuller length outside off, Dickwella tries to drive without getting forward entirely. As a result, he gets an inside edge past the stumps to deep square leg. The fielder in the deep who was squarer on the last delivery was straighter this time. He had to run across to his right to stop the ball, giving the batsmen enough time to collect the second run. |
| Drinks break. India have bounced back well after the tea break by removing both the settled batsmen in quick time. They will look to keep picking wickets in the next hour as well. Sri Lanka still trail by 22 runs and would be hoping for a fight from their lower middle order. The conditions once again are becoming conducive for the pacers and it will be a real test for the visitors. |
| 43.1 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Around off and outside, defended from the crease. |
| 43.2 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Pushes this through the covers and gets a couple. |
| 43.3 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Needless, risky, unimaginable to fathom. He has spent just 27 balls at the crease and he is walking down the track to the best bowler of this match. Or at least this innings. He is not at at all confident and to add further, sends a telegram a month in advance. Bhuvi adjusts, shortens his length and makes the birthday boy to do a tap dance, squaring him up. |
| 43.4 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 43.5 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Outside off, left alone. |
| 43.6 : B Kumar to Chandimal, The birthday boy is not getting any presents from the Indian bowlers. Outside off, comes back in from a length, Chandimal is late to pick it and just pushes at the ball in defense. Completely beaten. |
| 44.1 : M Shami to Dickwella, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 44.2 : M Shami to Dickwella, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 44.3 : M Shami to Dickwella, A length ball outside off, Dickwella steps forward a bit, then goes back a touch and then flays it through point for a couple. |
| 44.4 : M Shami to Dickwella, FOUR! ELEGANT! Full and outside off, Dickwella leans and drives it through mid off and cover. Not a soul moves. The deficit does move though, down to 14. |
| 44.5 : M Shami to Dickwella, On middle and leg, played straight to short mid-wicket. |
| Shami is going off. Hamstring? Cramps? Not sure. Don't think India will be hurt too much as of now. But if it is a serious issue, this could be a big blow. Meanwhile, the captain comes on to bowl the pending delivery. |
| 44.6 : V Kohli to Dickwella, A full toss, swinging in, a surprised Dickwella pushes it to the off side. |
| 45.1 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Down the leg side, flicked away for a couple. |
| 45.2 : B Kumar to D Chandimal, FIVE RUNS! Run out chance missed! Suicidal. Outside off, Chandimal pushes it towards cover and takes on Ravindra Jadeja who races to his left from mid off. Jaddu fires a throw at the stumps and would have had his man, in spite of the desperate dive. The ball misses the stumps and races to the boundary on the other side. The deficit is down to single digits now. |
| Now Chandimal is down. Could be because he is hurt after that dive. Could be because he just wants to waste some time with the dark clouds coming in. Could be because he is feeling thirsty and wants a drink. Finally, we can get on with the game now. |
| 45.3 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Outside off, Niroshan pushes but misses. |
| 45.4 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| Going off for the moment. The umpires get together, have a chat but the two batsmen are almost on the road to the pavillion. They do wait for the official signal while a pensive Kohli and his team are stationary. Now they walk off as well without complaining. No rocket science, the bowling team will want to bowl at this stage while the batting side will not want to face. |
| Not officially stumps as of now but we are not far off. Might as well have an early start around 9 am, considering that we are going to have light issues towards the end of the day. Lahiru Thirimanne is already giving an interview which is usually done at the end of day's play. So... but still, wait for updates. |
| Thirimanne believes that he got an unplayable delivery after reaching a half century but is disappointed that he and Mathews could not go on and score a century. Expects the conditions and the pitch to be same tomorrow. On the high run rate maintained by Sri Lanka, he says that during the team meeting, the talk has always been to SCORE RUNS as even if you play through the day but do not score, victory will not be achieved. |
| Official. STUMPS ON DAY 3. Good finish to the day for India who have been having a difficult time in this Test match. They struggled with the bat for a major part of the innings and till the second session today, seemed to be on the back foot with the ball. Umesh Yadav was the one who brought his team back into the game, with wickets of Thirimanne and Mathews. However, on the flip side, 52 runs were scored in this session in just 14.4 overs. |
| The last sentence has been a cause of concern for the Indians today. They have leaked runs at 3.6 per over and at one stage were going at more than 4. This is one problem for this side in the long run - if they depend on one or two bowlers to strike and that does not happen, the others seem to struggle. Bhuvi and Shami could not quite provide consistent breaks and the others had no answer to the counter-attack initiated by Thirimanne and Mathews. |
| Having said all of this, there is still a glimmer of hope for India that they can force a result. Draw is the most likely outcome but if Sri Lanka can get a sizeable lead tomorrow, say around 150, then they could be in with a great chance for their first Test win in India. |
| The home side has to try and bowl out the Lankans before Lunch tomorrow to keep the match even. A lead close to 50 could be very crucial on this sort of a pitch. Day 4 begins at 0915 local again (0345 GMT). No idea as to why that cannot be shifted to 0900. Anyways, the forecast is supposedly better for the remaining two days. Hope we get a full day's play. Adios! Take Care! |
| ... Day 4, Session 1 ... |
| Not often do you see a Test in India where the hosts are on the back foot for a long time. Welcome to our coverage of the fourth day of the first match between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, where the tourists and the rains have dominated most of the play so far. Sri Lanka are only 7 runs adrift of wiping off the home side's first innings total and it would be eagerly watched as to how far ahead they can get from this stage. |
| India's seamers came into their own in the latter stages of yesterday's play when the conditions started to become favourable for bowling. Although they would be hopeful of a sound start today, the bright sunshine might just make things easy for the Lankan batters. Remember, Shami had hobbled out near the end of Day 3 and he should be good to bowl today. Unless something dramatic happens, hard to see the Indians winning this game from here. Today's play might well decide the course of the game. |
| Let's talk a bit about some stats. India's pattern under Kohli points to some things which could provide assistance in reading this game. In the 28 games that he has led India before this, the side has conceded lead 5 times and hasn't gone on to win even once. In fact, they have lost thrice in such a scenario. So that makes it even more interesting to keenly watch the proceedings today. I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss the action on this moving day. Stay with us. |
| Pitch Report - Sunil Gavaskar says that the Sri Lankan batsmen showed good application as they put pressure on the Indians from the start. Lauds Thirimanne and Mathews for their innings. Feels that the first 30-45 minutes could be crucial and Chandimal will have to counter that phase. Simon Doull observes that the track looks brown in colour, a significant departure from the green tinge for the first three days. Reckons that it could be pretty good for batting. Opines that a couple of quick wick |
| Murali Kartik has a chat with Umesh Yadav before the day's play, who states that India's plan is to not give away easy runs. They will look to put pressure on Sri Lankan batsmen and then watch how they go about it. He is of the opinion that the bowlers could get some help early in the morning. |
| Sri Lanka have to owe their position in the game largely due to the 99-run stand between Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews. Both of them should have got to their centuries. While the former got a difficult delivery which he couldn't negotiate, the latter would be deemed guilty of throwing it away. Now Dickwella and the skipper Chandimal have started well and would look to extend their stand in a bid to put the game beyond the hosts. |
| David Boon rings the bell today at the Eden Gardens to signal the start of the day today. The players and the umpires stride out to the middle, with the sun beating on them. There has been a pattern in the game so far - that of bowlers beginning the day with the pending over. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will do so today. Niroshan Dickwella will be facing him first up while Dinesh Chandimal is at the other end. Three slips in position. Here we go... |
| 45.5 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Comes around the wicket and spears it on a length outside off. Dickwella covers the sticks and points his bat skywards as he lets it go. |
| 45.6 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Slight confusion but no harm done. Dickwella taps this in front of covers and wants a single initially but Chandimal knows there isn't one and sends him back. All safe in the end. |
| A fit and fine Mohammed Shami to bowl from the other end. Two slips and two gullies in place for him. |
| 46.1 : M Shami to Chandimal, Shami runs in with a good rhythm and bowls an away swinger wide outside off. Chandimal has nothing to do with that and just lets it be. |
| 46.2 : M Shami to Chandimal, Dinesh gets nicely behind that and blocks it off the front foot towards covers. |
| 46.3 : M Shami to Chandimal, Hurled outside off, the Lankan skipper offers no bat and lets the ball pass safely. |
| 46.4 : M Shami to Chandimal, First runs for the day. Around off, Chandimal gets it off the inner half of his bat towards mid-wicket and scurries over to the other end. |
| 46.5 : M Shami to Dickwella, Dickwella isn't in control of the pull shot yet gets away with that one. Shami runs in from round the wicket and bangs it short around off. Niroshan stays in his crease and gets a top edge towards deep backward square leg. A run is all he gets. |
| 46.6 : M Shami to Chandimal, This ball is tucked away off his pads to fine leg for a single. Shami has begun well, rhythm wise. |
| Now three slips and a gully in place for Chandimal. Probably this is keeping in mind his habit of slashing away from his body at times. |
| 47.1 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Landed outside off, Dinesh resists the temptation to play at that and leaves it. |
| 47.2 : B Kumar to Chandimal, This is why! Chandimal shows why it is a good ploy to have an extra man in the slip cordon. Kumar serves it just outside off, a hint of movement away from the batter there. Dinesh looks to drive it and the ball misses the edge by not much. |
| 47.3 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Kumar is making the ball talk early in the day. Bowls it just around off, the ball moves away after pitching. Chandimal is forced to play at that but the movement means that the ball almost kisses the edge of the bat. Excellent stuff. |
| 47.4 : B Kumar to Chandimal, The ball is way outside the off stump, easy leave for the batsman. |
| 47.5 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Another harmless delivery outside off, Chandimal lets it go. |
| 47.6 : B Kumar to Chandimal, This ball is blocked by Chandimal showing the full face of the bat. |
| 48.1 : M Shami to Dickwella, Shami offers this on a length outside off, Dickwella makes a leave like Steven Smith does - a circular motion of his bat. |
| 48.2 : M Shami to Dickwella, FOUR! More timing than power and placement. Shami angles it in on a length around off. Dickwella just whips it uppishly over mid-wicket. The ball has enough legs to roll to the fence. Scores level now. |
| 48.3 : M Shami to Dickwella, Howzzat? Shami himself doesn't think so. Shami comes over the wicket and bowls a length delivery outside off. Dickwella slashes at that and there's a slight noise as the ball passes the bat. The keeper and the slip cordon appeal but the bowler isn't interested. Snicko doesn't show any spike as the ball and bat are far from each other there. |
| 48.4 : M Shami to Dickwella, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 48.5 : M Shami to Dickwella, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 48.6 : M Shami to Dickwella, That takes Sri Lanka into the lead. Shortish delivery, Dickwella pulls it to the man at deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 49.1 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Kumar continues round the wicket and bowls it around off. Niroshan pushes it defensively to the off side. |
| 49.2 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Dickwella punches this through covers off the back foot. The fielder in the deep runs to his left and keeps them down to two. |
| 49.3 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Excellent running. Kumar lands it outside off, Dickwella slaps it through cover-point and hares for the first run. He wants the second as well. Yadav runs to his right and fires the throw at the bowler's end but is unable to prevent the brace. |
| 49.4 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Edged but runs. Such has been Sri Lanka's luck that the edges aren't going to hand. This one goes past the slip cordon and Niroshan gets another brace. |
| 49.5 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Dickwella stands tall and blocks it from the crease. |
| 49.6 : B Kumar to Dickwella, This one is pushed back towards the bowler for nothing. |
| 50.1 : M Shami to Chandimal, Fuller around off, defended solidly off the front foot. |
| 50.2 : M Shami to Chandimal, Length ball around off, Chandimal blocks it from the crease. The ball stopped on the surface and hence he gets it high on the bat. It was in the air for sometime and landed towards the bowler. |
| 50.3 : M Shami to Chandimal, FOUR! Sometimes, the fielder chasing the ball can reveal the result of the shot. Speared around off and middle, Chandimal flicks it through mid-wicket. Ashwin from mid on runs after it but he knows it is well timed and hence gives up the chase. |
| 50.4 : M Shami to Chandimal, Bowled outside off, shouldered arms by Dinesh. |
| 50.5 : M Shami to Chandimal, Similar delivery outside off, Chandimal repeats what he did the previous ball - leaves it alone. |
| 50.6 : M Shami to Chandimal, This delivery is too wide to make the Lankan skipper play. |
| 51.1 : B Kumar to Dickwella, FOUR! Dickwella goes aerial and connects. His plan to unsettle the Indian seamers early in the day seems to be working so far. Kumar bowls it full around middle and leg, the keeper-batsman just lifts it over wide mid on. The ball goes to the fence on a couple of bounces. |
| 51.2 : B Kumar to Dickwella, 50-run stand between Chandimal and Dickwella. These two have come out with a positive intent this morning and the run-flow shows. Dickwella taps this in front of mid-wicket to rotate the strike. |
| 51.3 : B Kumar to Chandimal, FOUR! Beautifully driven. Chandimal has been beaten by Kumar on numerous occasions yet he hasn't let that affect him. Gets to the pitch of the ball and bisects the small gap between mid off and covers. It is so well timed that the ball speeds away to the fence. |
| 51.4 : B Kumar to Chandimal, FOUR! Another one of those edgy streaky boundaries in this innings. Kumar lands it just around off, Chandimal gets squared up a bit. Gets a thick outside edge that flies past the third slip and goes to the third man fence. |
| 51.5 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Now Chandimal blocks this one from the crease. |
| 51.6 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Chandimal gets a stride forward and defends it towards the bowler. 13 runs came off this one. Lankans on a roll. |
| 52.1 : M Shami to Dickwella, Bowled around off, Niroshan shows the full face of the bat and defends it solidly. |
| 52.2 : M Shami to Dickwella, Beaten! Length ball just outside off, Niroshan feels for that but misses. |
| 52.3 : M Shami to Dickwella, FOUR! And there's that boundary that Sri Lanka are scoring almost every over. This is short, this is wide. Dickwella is too good to miss out on such opportunities. Slaps it through point for a boundary. |
| 52.4 : M Shami to Dickwella, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 52.5 : M Shami to N Dickwella, OUT! Mohammed Shami gets India the breakthrough. Dickwella gets tentative this one time and that ends his breezy knock today. Shami lands it on a length around off, from over the wicket. Dickwella plays inside the line anticipating some inward movement. But there wasn't any. The ball takes the thick outside edge and goes to Kohli at second slip who takes it reverse-cupped right in front of his face. Replays show that the batter playing it with an angled bat let him |
| All-rounder Dasun Shanaka is the next man in for Sri Lanka. This is a good time for him to get some confidence in Test match cricket. |
| 52.6 : M Shami to Shanaka, The batsman has played it to the point region. |
| 53.1 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Chandimal rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. One run added to the total. |
| 53.2 : B Kumar to Shanaka, This is bowled outside off, left alone by Dasun. |
| Is he a goner? Shanaka is pinned right in front of the sticks. The umpire upholds the appeal but he chooses to take the DRS. Only the height can save him. |
| 53.3 : B Kumar to Shanaka, OUT! Yes he is gone! Plumb as it gets. Often one brings two and here's the second! Kumar serves an inswinging length ball just outside off. Shanaka doesn't anticipate it in so much and opts to let that go by shouldering his arms. The ball comes in and he gets hit on the knee-roll. The Indians go up in unison. The umpire takes ages to raise that dreaded finger. Dasun takes the DRS straightaway. Since he wasn't offering a shot, the impact was never a question. Hawk Eye s |
| Dilruwan Perera walks to the middle at the fall of the 6th wicket. |
| 53.4 : B Kumar to Perera, It's all happening now. This ball swings in prodigiously to beat the defensive bat of Perera and hit him on the front pad. The Indians appeal even as Kohli from second slip dives forward in an attempt to catch that. Fails to do so. The umpire stays put as well. Probably sliding down leg. |
| 53.5 : B Kumar to Perera, Outside off, left alone by Perera. |
| 53.6 : B Kumar to Perera, The batsman failed to make contact and was hit low on the pads. |
| 54.1 : M Shami to Chandimal, Peach! Landed around off, the ball straightens after pitching. Chandimal pushes at that but fails to make contact. Thankfully for him. |
| 54.2 : M Shami to Chandimal, OUT! Gone this time! The ball doesn't fail to miss the edge of the bat this time and the Indians are hopping in joy as if small kids have been handed chocolates in plenty. Shami serves it full outside off and it swings away further. Chandimal looks to drive that but only manages a nick to Saha who doesn't make any mistake. Sri Lanka's batsmen are walking to the dressing room like children in a school. The lead still 29. |
| The ageless wonder Rangana Herath strides out to the centre. |
| 54.3 : M Shami to Herath, Beautiful bowling. Lands it around off, Herath feels for it but gets beaten. |
| 54.4 : M Shami to Herath, The batsman attempts to hook that one but fails to make contact. |
| 54.5 : M Shami to Herath, This one's played from within the crease. |
| 54.6 : M Shami to Herath, Herath gets a leading edge through covers as he looks to flick it away. One run taken. He's off the mark with that. |
| 55.1 : B Kumar to Herath, The batsman fails to put bat on ball. |
| 55.2 : B Kumar to Herath, FOUR! Sri Lanka's batsmen would now have realised that there are boundaries for the taking if you play it around Ashwin. Fuller delivery around middle and leg, Herath clips it through mid-wicket. Being fair to Ashwin, this was really well-timed. The ball races away to the fence. |
| 55.3 : B Kumar to Herath, Fuller outside off, Herath's feet go nowhere as he pushes at that. The ball flies close from the edge through to the keeper. |
| 55.4 : B Kumar to Herath, Confidence? Nonchalance? Cluelessness? Whatever you call it, that's something Herath can avoid. Kumar bowls it full just outside off, Herath looks to flick it away from the crease but misses. Again the ball passes close to the bat. |
| 55.5 : B Kumar to Herath, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 55.6 : B Kumar to Perera, Outside off, Perera slashes at it but misses. |
| 56.1 : M Shami to Herath, Herath has played and misses for the umpteenth time in his stay so far. Feels for this delivery outside off but misses it completely. |
| 56.2 : M Shami to Herath, Short delivery around off and middle, pulled to Pujara at square leg. |
| 56.3 : M Shami to Herath, Herath plays it through point and takes a single. |
| Umesh Yadav is seen warming up now. |
| 56.4 : M Shami to Perera, Landed outside off, Perera hangs his bat at it but misses the ball completely. |
| 56.5 : M Shami to Perera, Landed outside off, left alone. |
| Perera's a dead duck! He seems to be struck right in front of the stumps and he feels so too. Yet he opts to belatedly take the review. |
| 56.6 : M Shami to Perera, Not Out! Better late than never, goes the saying and it is apt in this scenario. |
| 57.1 : B Kumar to Herath, 1 run. |
| 57.2 : B Kumar to Perera, Perera plays it solidly from within the crease. |
| 57.3 : B Kumar to Perera, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 57.4 : B Kumar to Perera, Outside off, pushed towards covers. |
| 57.5 : B Kumar to Perera, Dilruwan has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 57.6 : B Kumar to Perera, Perera gets on the front foot and blocks it solidly. |
| 58.1 : M Shami to Herath, Herath defends it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 58.2 : M Shami to Herath, A short delivery which has been pulled away. They pick up a single. |
| 58.3 : M Shami to Perera, Sprayed down the leg side, Perera misses the flick. |
| 58.4 : M Shami to Perera, This ball is played towards point from the crease. |
| 58.5 : M Shami to Perera, Shami bowls it too wide to make Perera play. |
| 58.6 : M Shami to Perera, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| Umesh Yadav to roll his arm over now. Yesterday he seemed to lack control and so it would be interesting to see if he manages to do so, like Kumar and Shami have done so far. Now Shami is seen walking off the field for some reason. Deserving break considering he has bowled his heart out. |
| 59.1 : U Yadav to Herath, Starts with a full swinging delivery down the leg side. Herath looks to flick it away but misses. This is a good line to a right hander but not so for a leftie. |
| 59.2 : U Yadav to Herath, Outside off, left alone. |
| 59.3 : U Yadav to Herath, FOUR! Short, wide, punished. Yadav gives Herath ample room outside off, the latter doesn't think twice before freeing his arms. Gets it through cover-point for a boundary. Hard to understand why Kohli doesn't have a man to man that region considering the number of boundaries that we have seen today through there. |
| 59.4 : U Yadav to Herath, Umesh comes round the wicket and bowls it on the pads. Rangana flicks it away to fine leg for one run. |
| 59.5 : U Yadav to Perera, Good running once again. But what was the fielder at fine leg doing so long? Perera gets an inside edge on this one and the ball rolls through backward square leg. The batters take a run and go for the second. Before Rahul hurls a wild throw at the non-striker's end, a brace was easily completed. |
| 59.6 : U Yadav to Perera, Bowled outside off, Perera shoulders arms to leave it. |
| Drinks are on the field. Although India have managed to pick up three wickets in this hour, Sri Lanka have clawed ahead to a 45-run lead. India could have had Perera's scalp as well if not for a potentially controversial review. The visitors would look to swell the lead to as much as they can and the hosts would look to avoid just that. |
| Ravindra Jadeja comes into bowl. Good call, considering he does well on tracks where there is variable bounce. |
| 60.1 : R Jadeja to Herath, LBW appeal, but nothing in it. Full and straight, Herath straightaway brings out the reverse sweep but misses and is hit on the pads. Replays show that the ball hit the glove first. |
| 60.2 : R Jadeja to Herath, Stays back in his crease and blocks. |
| 60.3 : R Jadeja to Herath, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 60.4 : R Jadeja to Herath, Another forward defense. |
| 60.5 : R Jadeja to Herath, Full and outside off, Rangana comes forward and blocks. |
| 60.6 : R Jadeja to Herath, Outside off, played through point for a single. |
| 61.1 : U Yadav to Herath, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 61.2 : U Yadav to Herath, A length ball outside off, Herath goes for the pull but the ball stays low and beats him. |
| 61.3 : U Yadav to Herath, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 61.4 : U Yadav to Herath, TOP EDGE, SAFE! Luck is with Rangana. A length ball, around off, Herath goes for the pull but gets a top edge. There is a possibility of a catch but Cheteshwar Pujara cannot get to it from deep mid-wicket. Simon Doull notices an interesting thing. He observes that Pujara is wearing his shin pads beneath his trousers. Now, that will definitely affect the speed, won't it? Perhaps Pujara could have keep somewhere close by. A single taken. |
| 61.5 : U Yadav to Perera, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 61.6 : U Yadav to Perera, Full and outside off, Dilruwan looks to drive but is nowhere near the pitch of the ball. Comprehensively beaten. |
| Interesting. Virat Kohli is bowling! The crowd notices that and starts to cheer... |
| 62.1 : V Kohli to Herath, Fuller length to start, around off, watchfully defended. |
| 62.2 : V Kohli to Herath, FOUR! THE LEAD CROSSES 50! A friendly full toss on offer, on the pads, Herath just flicks it through squarish mid-wicket. Lokesh Rahul starts to give it a chase from fine leg but the timing of that shot beats him. The stand is worth 23 now. Herath is on 20! |
| 62.3 : V Kohli to Herath, On middle and leg, flicked beautifully again, but straight to Ravindra Jadeja at short mid-wicket. |
| 62.4 : V Kohli to Herath, Banged in short, pulled to short mid-wicket again. |
| 62.5 : V Kohli to Herath, Very full outside off, Rangana thinks about playing it but at the last moment, lets it go. |
| 62.6 : V Kohli to Herath, Outside off, RH plays the latest of late dabs past second slip to third man for a single. |
| 63.1 : U Yadav to Herath, Prodigious movement. On a length wide outside off, Herath shoulders arms. The ball comes back in a long way and does not miss the pad or the off stump by much. Already two batsmen have been adjudged LBW in this match offering no shot. |
| 63.2 : U Yadav to Herath, In line of the stumps, watchfully defended. |
| 63.3 : U Yadav to Herath, Wider outside off, an easier leave this time. |
| 63.4 : U Yadav to Herath, FOUR BYES! Useful runs for Sri Lanka. Actually that should have been wided. It was pitched around leg and outside from around the wicket, Herath had no interest in playing at that and then the ball deviates further down. Poor Saha has no chance even with a dive. |
| No idea as to why Kohli bowled that over. All thought it might have been a change of ends for Umesh or Jadeja. |
| 63.5 : U Yadav to Herath, A short ball, around middle, helped to fine leg for a single. |
| 63.6 : U Yadav to Perera, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| MOHAMMED SHAMI is back on. |
| 64.1 : M Shami to Herath, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 64.2 : M Shami to Herath, Outside off, left alone. |
| 64.3 : M Shami to R Herath, FOUR! That is a terrific shot. Banged in short around off, Herath, who has not been troubled much by that length today, pulls it wide of mid on for a boundary. The lead is now 61, the stand moves to 32! |
| 64.4 : M Shami to Herath, Another leave outside off. |
| 64.5 : M Shami to Herath, FOUR! Outstanding timing! A full toss, swinging in from outside off, Herath does two things in one go. First he counters the swing by getting his bat down in time and then manages to push it through the covers. Finds the gap and boundary. Herath is now 30 from 45 balls. 5 boundaries in that. |
| 64.6 : M Shami to Herath, LBW appeal, turned down. Pitched outside leg, Herath misses his flick. Shami puts in an appeal but when Kohli asks about the review, shakes his head. 8 from that over... |
| BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR gets the ball back as well. India need to wrap this up quickly. The runs are coming thick and fast. |
| 65.1 : B Kumar to Perera, A bouncer but well wide outside off, Dilruwan sways away from the line. |
| 65.2 : B Kumar to Perera, Landed outside off, Perera keeps his bat inside the line. |
| 65.3 : B Kumar to Perera, This time gets behind the line of the ball and defends. |
| 65.4 : B Kumar to Perera, Another play and a miss. A length ball outside off, DP pushes but misses. |
| 65.5 : B Kumar to Perera, Around off and middle, watchfully blocked out. |
| 65.6 : B Kumar to Perera, Outside off, left alone. |
| Monarc: Isn't Dilruwan supposed to be a better batsman than Herath? This seems like Rangana is batting with the tail! @Monarc: No guesses that Dilruwan is struggling but perhaps he is trying to survive for Herath. |
| 66.1 : M Shami to Herath, A bouncer, pitched around off, Herath ducks but then the ball swings in a long margin and Saha has a tough time collecting it to his right. |
| 66.2 : M Shami to Herath, Full and straight, watchfully kept out. |
| 66.3 : M Shami to Herath, Play and a miss! On a good length, around middle, angling away, Rangana feels for it but the ball seams away and beats him. |
| 66.4 : M Shami to Herath, And again. RH is toying with his luck. Pushes forward tentatively but the movement gets the better of him. Too good to take the edge. |
| 66.5 : M Shami to Herath, Outside off, played behind point for a single. |
| 66.6 : M Shami to Perera, Full and around off, driven back to the bowler. |
| Change of gloves for Rangana Herath. Kolkata is usually pretty humid, so there will be sweat. Add to it, the sun has been shining on the ground and the Lankans so far. |
| 67.1 : B Kumar to Herath, On a good length around off, watchfully defended. |
| 67.2 : B Kumar to Herath, Outside off, left alone. |
| 67.3 : B Kumar to Herath, Flicks this away to add another single to his kitty. |
| 67.4 : B Kumar to Perera, Outside off, Dilruwan takes his bat away from the line. Ala Steven Smith. |
| 67.5 : B Kumar to Perera, Full and just outside off, Dilruwan gets well across his stumps and defends. |
| 67.6 : B Kumar to Perera, STOP THE PRESS. Dilruwan scores. He faced 13 dots on the trot before this. Moves to 3 from 31 balls now. Dogged effort. Outside off, steered behind point for a single. |
| 68.1 : M Shami to Perera, Stop the press again. Dilruwan takes another single. Works it off the inner half of the bat through square leg for one. The stand is worth 40 now. |
| 68.2 : M Shami to Herath, A short ball, quite comfortably pulled away by Herath for a run. The lead touches 70. |
| 68.3 : M Shami to Perera, Length ball outside off, played behind point for another single. |
| 68.4 : M Shami to Herath, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 68.5 : M Shami to Herath, Flicks this away for one more. Fourth single in this over. Meandering along. |
| 68.6 : Shami to Perera, OUT! Caught behind! That is a jaffa. Could have got out any quality batsman. Shami lands this on a length in the corridor of uncertainty and that makes Dilruwan play at that. He does not do much wrong, gets behind the line of the ball to defend but then that cherry moves just that shade away - just perhaps 0.1 percent and takes the outside edge to Saha. More movement could have perhaps saved him. India appeal and the umpire raises his finger. No review from Dilruwan this t |
| SURANGA LAKMAL walks in at number 10, replacing Dilruwan. 20 minutes to go for the scheduled lunch break. 10 minutes of Lankan batting will ensure India do not bat before the break. Can the Lankans take the lead to 100? |
| 69.1 : B Kumar to Herath, A bouncer, Herath ducks. |
| 69.2 : B Kumar to R Herath, RUN OUT CHANCE MISSED! Herath continues his charmed life. A couple of events on this ball. First he gets a short ball which has not been troubling him at all this innings. Pulls it comfortably through mid-wicket and all the way through, it seems like a boundary is written all over it. However, Ravindra Jadeja chases it like a cheetah chasing its prey, from mid-wicket to his right. He sticks out his right hand and then pushes the ball away. Gets across and then recovers |
| 69.3 : B Kumar to Herath, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 69.4 : B Kumar to Herath, HERATH IS SHIELDING THE TAIL! Interesting. Now that he has faced so many balls, Herath considers himself as the senior partner. He cuts this short ball through point and there is plenty of opportunity for the second by the time Mohammed Shami can get to the ball to his left from third man. But Herath takes just the single as only two balls are left in this over. |
| 69.5 : B Kumar to Lakmal, Around off and outside, watchfully defended. |
| 69.6 : B Kumar to Lakmal, Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| 70.1 : M Shami to Herath, No run. |
| 70.2 : M Shami to Herath, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 70.3 : M Shami to Herath, WHERE IS THE BAT? Herath pulls it through fine leg and takes the single. But Lakmal drops his bat. However, instead of just running through, he goes back, bends to pick his bat and then completes the single! |
| 70.4 : M Shami to Lakmal, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 70.5 : M Shami to Lakmal, Outside off, played through point for a single. |
| 70.6 : M Shami to Herath, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 71.1 : B Kumar to Lakmal, On a good length around off, watchfully defended. |
| 0.0 : India will not bat before the Lunch break now. But there is a possibility of the break getting extended by 30 minutes should a wicket fall now. |
| 71.2 : B Kumar to Lakmal, ON THE HELMET! That could have been nasty. Not that it still isn't. A short ball, Lakmal looks to pull but misses. The ball hits him on the protection and some of it comes off. Thankfully, he is fine. |
| 71.3 : B Kumar to Lakmal, Short ball again, Suranga goes for the pull but misses. |
| 71.4 : B Kumar to Lakmal, FOUR! On the pads, flicked away through mid-wicket for a boundary! |
| 71.5 : B Kumar to Lakmal, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 71.6 : B Kumar to Lakmal, Flicked away for one more. |
| 72.1 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 72.2 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Around off, well kept out. |
| 72.3 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Down the leg side, comfortably left alone. |
| 72.4 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 72.5 : Ashwin to Lakmal, LBW appeal! Turned down. Lakmal looks to defend this flighted ball around middle but misses. Is pinged on the pads and India put in a stifled appeal but the umpire stays put. Going down leg perhaps. |
| 72.6 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 73.1 : U Yadav to R Herath, FOUR! Lucky Herath again. Short and wide outside off, Herath flashes hard but gets a top edge. Luckily for him, it flies over the slips to the third man fence. |
| 73.2 : U Yadav to Herath, The batsman has nudged the ball fine down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 73.3 : U Yadav to Lakmal, Outside off, a play and a miss. |
| 73.4 : U Yadav to Lakmal, LUCKY! A shortish ball, around off, Lakmal looks to tuck it around the corner but gets a leading edge which falls short of the bowler. |
| 73.5 : U Yadav to Lakmal, FOUR! This time he connects! Short and outside off, pulled through mid-wicket for another boundary! |
| 73.6 : U Yadav to Lakmal, The batsman defends it from within the crease. LUNCH ON DAY 4! |
| What an exciting session of play! 28.2 overs, 98/4. Sri Lanka have managed to gain some ascendancy in this match. The momentum has been swinging like a pendulum but as of now, they will be the happier side heading into the break. |
| India started off the day in tremendous fashion, taking three wickets in the space of 10 overs. Sri Lanka were reeling at 201/7 with the lead reading 29. Dilruwan was then adjudged LBW but he took a controversial review, after getting a signal from the dressing room. That hurt India as he stuck at the crease along with Herath, adding a crucial 43 which halted India's momentum. |
| How well has Herath played? Only this morning the great Sunny Gavaskar was comparing him with Ravindra Jadeja in terms of bowling and batting and boy, has he respected his words or what! He has faced 67 balls but his counter-attacking 43 has kept the Indians at bay and Kohli thinking. Not that they have not done well but plenty of edges went past the slips. Midas Herath has ridden his luck. |
| The lead is now getting close to 100 and the Lankans do not have much to lose. They are in with a realistic chance of winning this game if the pitch continues to trouble the batsmen. If they can take that lead close to 120-130, India could be in big, big trouble. The hosts first need to pick these two remaining wickets as even the 9th wicket stand has started to score, adding 19 in just 30 balls. Join us back at 1213 LOCAL (0643 GMT) to see how the second session pans out. |
| ... DAY 4, SESSION 2 ... |
| Welcome back after a fine opening session. There was aggression, some drama and then a counter-punch. All that has seen Sri Lanka take the momentum away from India and in likelihood, steered themselves to safety. Hard to see them losing from here unless they collapse very badly in the fourth innings. On the other hand, if they add another 40-50 runs, they could start dreaming about that rare Test win in India... |
| The players are back out in the middle. It will be RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN to continue after Lunch. Herath to face. |
| 74.1 : R Ashwin to Herath, Around off and middle, defended to the leg side. |
| 74.2 : R Ashwin to Herath, Fuller in length, watchfully blocked out. |
| 74.3 : R Ashwin to Herath, There comes that sweep shot, a bit aerial but wide of the man at short mid-wicket. There is a man at deep square leg and but the time he gets to the ball, two runs are taken. The stand is now worth 21 from 33 balls. |
| 74.4 : R Ashwin to Herath, An LBW appeal now but it dies down almost instantly. Full and around off, Herath comes forward to defend but gets hit on the pads. Might have been an inside edge. |
| 74.5 : R Ashwin to Herath, Outside off, wider than the previous one, now Rangana tries the reverse sweep but misses. Saha fumbles as well. |
| 74.6 : R Ashwin to Herath, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| UMESH YADAV to share the attack with Ashwin. |
| 75.1 : U Yadav to Lakmal, Outside off, pushed through the covers for a single. |
| 75.2 : U Yadav to Herath, Short and outside off, Herath punches it straight to point who fumbles but no run is taken. |
| 75.3 : U Yadav to Herath, A short ball, outside off, Rangana looks to pull but misses and is hit on the thigh pad. The ball rolls to the slip cordon. Absolutely no footwork. |
| 75.4 : U Yadav to Herath, Goes back and works it to the leg side. Umesh himself runs to his left and stops the ball. |
| 75.5 : U Yadav to Herath, Outside off, RH looks to punch and run on the off side but point comes in quickly and Herath stays where he is. |
| 75.6 : U Yadav to Herath, Outside off, fuller and inviting, Herath slashes but misses. Ashwin now has Lakmal on strike from the very first ball. |
| 76.1 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Untidy. He got what he wanted and could have had Lakmal on strike for the entire over. He has no one but himself to blame. Ashwin flights this outside off, invites Lakmal to have a go at him, the latter dances, accepts the invitation and blasts the ball. It goes straight back to the bowler but he lets it through his legs. Wrings his hand in pain. A single gets Lakmal off strike. |
| 76.2 : R Ashwin to Herath, Outside off, Herath goes back to cut but is beaten by pace. |
| 76.3 : R Ashwin to Herath, CLOSE! Lady Luck seems to have made a booking with Herath today. Whatever he is doing, it is paying off. The ball is landed outside off and Herath goes back to cut. But the ball cramps him for room, takes the inside edge. However, it misses the stumps. On another day, he would have chopped it on. A single taken. |
| 76.4 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Full and around off, watchfully defended. |
| 76.5 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Comes down the track this time, is beaten but manages to defend. |
| 76.6 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, No run. |
| 77.1 : U Yadav to Herath, Full and outside off, Herath pushes away from his body and nearly nicks it. Saha is having some issue collecting the ball in the last 10 minutes. Fumbles again. |
| 77.2 : U Yadav to Herath, Outside off, left alone. |
| 77.3 : U Yadav to Herath, FOUR! FABULOUS! Third Test Fifty for Herath! And I daresay, this could be one of his most important knocks. He has done an outstanding job again, this time with the bat. Gets a half volley and drives it through the covers for a boundary. What has been impressive is his strike rate as well. Kept India on the back foot and now the LEAD CROSSES THE 100-MARK. |
| 77.4 : U Yadav to Herath, Outside off, quietly left alone. |
| 77.5 : U Yadav to Herath, WIDE. That is banged in too short and Herath ducks. It goes miles above his head. |
| U Yadav to Herath, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 77.6 : U Yadav to Herath, Goes wider outside off, Rangana is not bothered. |
| Bhale: Can't India get Herath out? He is batting at number 9! Looks like he will score a century today. @Bhale: Not quite sure whether Rangana will score a century but yes, India do struggle to get rid of the tail. |
| 78.1 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Way down the leg side, Lakmal cannot get it away. |
| 78.2 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 78.3 : R Ashwin to S Lakmal, Looks to go big, seeing the ball being tossed up, swings hard but the slowness of the same deceives him. Gets a thick inside edge which lobs off his pads but does not carry to short leg. |
| 78.4 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, On middle, flicked straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 78.5 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Stays back this time, is not quite keen to go after the flight and blocks. |
| 78.6 : R Ashwin to Lakmal, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 79.1 : U Yadav to Herath, On a good length outside off, punched through the covers where Lokesh Rahul makes a good diving stop. |
| 79.2 : U Yadav to R Herath, FOUR! What a shot. He is just batting on another planet. Banged in short, outside off, Herath pulls it through mid-wicket and beats the fielder running to his right in the deep. The stand is worth 33 now... |
| 79.3 : U Yadav to Herath, Outside off, Rangana looks to fend the shortish type of ball but is beaten. |
| 79.4 : U Yadav to Herath, Wider outside off, Rangana slashes but misses. |
| 79.5 : U Yadav to Herath, Works it through square leg for a single. |
| 79.6 : U Yadav to Lakmal, Stays back in his crease and works it towards short mid-wicket. |
| The second new ball is available... will it be taken? Yup it is. BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR to make the first use of it. |
| 80.1 : B Kumar to Herath, Right on the money. Full and straight, Herath pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 80.2 : B Kumar to Herath, That is a beauty. On a length, around middle, Rangana pushes at it, but is comprehensively beaten with the ball moving away. From one angle, it seems like he kept his bat inside the line. He can do nothing wrong today. |
| 80.3 : B Kumar to Herath, There comes the flamingo now. We have seen cheetahs, hares and now it is time for a bird. Well, not in reality but this is the name of the shot. The left leg goes in the air and the batsman plays a flick shot, making it look like a beautiful picture or an image. Coming back to reality from the painting, Herath flicks this over mid-wicket. Lokesh Rahul runs after it from what is the 30-yard circle in limited overs cricket. Two runs taken. |
| 80.4 : B Kumar to Herath, Outside off, defended watchfully. |
| 80.5 : B Kumar to Herath, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. |
| 80.6 : B Kumar to Herath, Works it down the leg side for a single. |
| MOHAMMED SHAMI to bowl now. |
| 81.1 : M Shami to Herath, FOUR OVERTHROWS! Things happening. In fact, many things. A short ball, Herath, with confidence as high as the sun currently on the sky in Eden Gardens, pulls it with brute force. The timing is so good that the ball travels like a rocket but straight to another rocket - namely Jadeja. He collects it on the bounce and then quickly sees that Lakmal is in his own bus, looking for a single. Herath is smart to understand that his timing is so good that he will not get a single |
| 81.2 : M Shami to Herath, A length ball wide outside off, Rangana slashes but misses. |
| 81.3 : M Shami to Herath, Full and outside off, RH looks for a cover drive but the ball hits the toe end of his bat and rolls down to mid off. |
| 81.4 : Shami to R Herath, FOUR! Another slice of luck. A bouncer, around middle and off, Herath thinks to hook but then tries to bail out of the shot. The ball takes the top edge and flies over the keeper to the fine leg fence! |
| 81.5 : M Shami to Herath, Outside off, played through point for a single. |
| 81.6 : M Shami to S Lakmal, Full and outside off, driven through mid off. |
| 82.1 : B Kumar to Herath, Full and outside off, left alone. |
| 82.2 : B Kumar to Herath, Full and outside off again, blasted hard but straight to cover. |
| 82.3 : B Kumar to Herath, OUT! The contract is over. Herath has been dismissed and his luck has run out. A short ball outside off, Herath places it nicely over point. For once, India have fielders in positions where the ball can travel. Mohammed Shami does not have to do much and takes the catch with ease. Virat Kohli eggs the crowd on and pumps his fists. But... in reality, he will be disappointed with what has transpired in this match so far. A terrific 67 from Herath and another crucial stand |
| LAHIRU GAMAGE is the last man in. How long will this partnership last? |
| 82.4 : B Kumar to Gamage, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 82.5 : B Kumar to Gamage, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 82.6 : B Kumar to Gamage, Excellent yorker outside off, dug out back to the bowler. |
| 83.1 : M Shami to Lakmal, FOUR! More runs. Full and wide outside off, Lakmal looks to drive but gets a thick outside edge. It goes all along the ground past third slip and races to the fence. |
| 83.2 : M Shami to Lakmal, Full and outside off, driven back to the bowler. |
| 83.3 : M Shami to S Lakmal, A short ball outside off, pulled straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 83.4 : M Shami to Lakmal, OUT! Knocked him over! The Lankan innings ends at least. Not surprising as to what happened with Lakmal. He had complete freedom to try and get a century in 30 balls and he was going after everything. The ball was slightly short of full and outside off. Lakmal through his bat at it but his feet were stuck in cement. Normally the feet should move, unless you have luck like Herath's. Else, the ball generally tends to either beat the edge or take it. This time it went off t |
| Not a bad passage of play for Sri Lanka again. 31 runs since Lunch in less than 10 overs. Swelling the lead close to a quarter past 100. |
| The batting has been the story of a fighting stand between Thirimanne and Mathews and then the tremendous knock by Herath towards the end. The former partnership brought Sri Lanka within a chance to take a lead while Herath's knock took that advantage well ahead. |
| Closing innings down has always been a problem for India and they struggled again. They had the Lankans on the mat at 201/7, with the lead reading 29. But the last 3 wickets added 93. There was a controversial review regarding Dilruwan but the Herath attack was totally unexpected. |
| 4 wickets each for Bhuvi and Shami while Umesh took 2. But after the early strikes, they would have expected to knock out the Sri Lankans a lot earlier. Shami and Umesh were way too expensive but while the former was unlucky, the latter was inconsistent. |
| 0.1 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Rahul survives the first ball! Lakmal steams in from over the wicket and lands it on a length around off and middle. KL stays put in the crease and defends it with a straight bat. |
| 0.2 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Length ball outside off, Rahul doesn't bother playing at that. |
| 0.3 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Outside off, KL shoulders arms. |
| 0.4 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Rahul is off the mark and off the pair! He taps this in front of point to set off and complete a run that'll get him going. |
| 0.5 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Full delivery down the leg side, Dhawan misses the flick. |
| 0.6 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, This ball is defended from within the crease. A decent start from the seamer. |
| LAHIRU GAMAGE to share the new ball from the other end. Three slips in place. They had four in the first innings when they began. |
| 1.1 : L Gamage to Rahul, Beauty! Gamage spears this straight outside off. It moves away just a bit after pitching, beating the edge of Rahul's poked bat. |
| 1.2 : L Gamage to L Rahul, FOUR! This is what a full-flow Rahul can do. Play classical shots and get runs. Overpitched outside off, Rahul leans into it and drives it classically through covers. |
| 1.3 : L Gamage to Rahul, FOUR! And another one. Two-in-two. Gamage, in search of some swing, bowls it full again around off. Rahul just times his push past mid off perfectly. There was no one manning that area and a boundary results. |
| 1.4 : L Gamage to Rahul, Rahul stays back to this one and defends it with a straight bat. |
| 1.5 : L Gamage to Rahul, Length ball outside off, Rahul shoulders arms to let it go. |
| 1.6 : L Gamage to Rahul, FOUR! Third one in the over. Gamage had been given this end in the first innings and he largely struggled from here. Again he doesn't seem entirely at ease and is leaking runs. Hurls in another full ball outside off, Rahul gets his stride forward and drives it through covers, beating the man there to his left. The ball races away to the fence. 12 off this over. Rahul and India are off to a fluent start. |
| 2.1 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Bowled outside off, Dhawan lets the keeper do the rest. |
| 2.2 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Spirited effort by Chandimal to prevent runs for his side. Dhawan times his cover drive to perfection but the fielder doesn't let the ball pass through him. |
| 2.3 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Length ball outside off, shouldered arms to by Shikhar. |
| 2.4 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Lakmal bowls it away from the stumps, Dhawan doesn't play at that. |
| 2.5 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan gets going with a boundary now. Lakmal serves it on a fuller length outside off, the southpaw gets a stride forward and drives it through covers. The fielder there gives a valiant chase but comes second best. |
| 2.6 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Closer to the off stump, Dhawan lets it come on and defends it close to his body. |
| 3.1 : L Gamage to L Rahul, Intentional! Length delivery outside off, Rahul takes a small stride forward and guides it to the right of second slip who makes a stop with a dive. Perhaps the idea was to find the gap between second slip and gully. |
| 3.2 : L Gamage to Rahul, Rahul carves it through point, Perera gets to his right and dives over the ball. A run taken. |
| 3.3 : L Gamage to Dhawan, This ball is too wide to make Shikhar play. |
| 3.4 : L Gamage to Dhawan, This ball is hit straight to the man at backward point. This time Perera dives and prevents a run. |
| 3.5 : L Gamage to Dhawan, FOUR! Authoritative! Gamage offers a short ball just outside off at 121 kmph. Dhawan camps on his back foot and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 3.6 : L Gamage to Dhawan, This ball is played defensively from within the crease. |
| Dasun Shanaka is brought into the attack. Surprising move actually, unless a change of ends might be the idea. In fact, Lakmal is out of the field. Not sure what the issue is. |
| 4.1 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Begins with a length ball outside off, Rahul looks to play it from the crease but gets a bottom edge next to the pitch on the off side. |
| 4.2 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Thick inside edge by the batsman, ball goes down to Fine Leg. They pick up a single. |
| 4.3 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Length ball outside off, Dhawan covers the stumps and lets the keeper collect it. |
| 4.4 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Dhawan lets another one outside off go to the keeper. |
| 4.5 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, A slight misfield but no harm done. Dhawan punches this towards covers, where the fielder gets a bad bounce and lets it through. Chandimal from mid off gets across soon enough to prevent a run. |
| 4.6 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, This ball is flicked away to the leg side. |
| 5.1 : L Gamage to Rahul, Landed outside off, Rahul drives it through cover-point for a run. There is a fielder in the deep there who does the fielding work. |
| 5.2 : L Gamage to Dhawan, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 5.3 : L Gamage to Dhawan, A touch fuller around off, Dhawan gets forward and blocks with a full bat face. |
| The on-air commentators inform us that Lakmal has a niggle with his right leg. The physio is tending to him. |
| 5.4 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Dhawan defends this one with a straight bat. |
| 5.5 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Shorter length outside off, punched to the fielder at deep point for a single. |
| A short cover in place. In fact two of them. Rahul had struck three boundaries in Gamage's first over in this innings, two of them through that area. |
| 5.6 : L Gamage to Rahul, Around off, Rahul defends it solidly with a small stride forward. |
| 6.1 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Shanaka bowls it outside off, Dhawan points his bat skywards in letting that go. |
| 6.2 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, A tad fuller around middle and leg, Dhawan gets it off the inner half of his bat towards mid-wicket. |
| A short mid-wicket comes in now. Maybe plugging the areas from where the batsmen got runs... Ball following? |
| 6.3 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Shikhar charges down the track and blocks it. |
| 6.4 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, On a length just around off, Dhawan stays deep in the crease and plays it with an angled bat to guide it through backward point. Before Gamage can run to his right and retrieve the ball, a brace results. |
| 6.5 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 6.6 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Dhawan seems good with his back foot punches so far. Plays this one through covers for a brace. |
| 7.1 : L Gamage to Rahul, Length ball around off, Rahul stays back and plays it towards point. |
| 7.2 : L Gamage to Rahul, Fuller outside off, Rahul gets a half-stride forward and blocks it. |
| 7.3 : L Gamage to Rahul, On a length outside off, KL Rahul gets his stride forward to find that it's a harmless delivery which can be left alone. Does so. |
| 7.4 : L Gamage to Rahul, FOUR! Rahul looks elegant when he gets going. Gamage hurls it on a length outside off, the batsman gets nicely forward and drives it through point for a boundary. |
| 7.5 : L Gamage to Rahul, This delivery is blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 7.6 : L Gamage to Rahul, Outside off, left alone. |
| 8.1 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Beautifully cover driven but straight to Dhananjaya de Silva the substitute fielder there. It was a full delivery around off. |
| 8.2 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Shanaka lands it just outside off, Dhawan covers his stumps and lets it go. |
| Nigel Llong has just given a friendly warning to Gamage for treading on the danger area on the pitch. It's the third innings of the game and time that the umpires will start getting fidgety about these things. |
| 8.3 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Quick single taken. Dhawan charges down and hits it towards mid off and sets off for a run. The fielder there has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. One run is the result. |
| 8.4 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Rahul gets a stride forward and pushes it towards covers. |
| 8.5 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Bowled outside off, Rahul has a feel for it but misses. |
| 8.6 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Huge appeal, turned down! Shanaka bowls it on a length outside off, in fact very much outside off. KL Rahul walks across and decides to shoulder arms. The ball moves in a bit to rap him on the front pad. The Lankans put in a huge appeal but to no avail. They think for sometime about taking the review. Interesting that the bowler and the keeper didn't brush off the thought immediately. The Hawk Eye shows that the ball wouldn't have been even near the stumps. Thank goodnes |
| Suranga Lakmal is seen walking back into the field. |
| 9.1 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Dhawan defends it off the back foot. |
| 9.2 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Dhawan punches this through backward point and trudges over to the other end. |
| 9.3 : L Gamage to L Rahul, Fuller around off, driven towards mid off. |
| 9.4 : L Gamage to Rahul, Delivered outside off, Rahul punches it through cover-point for one run. |
| 9.5 : L Gamage to S Dhawan, Full ball around off, driven nicely to the man stationed at cover. |
| 9.6 : L Gamage to Dhawan, This is well outside off, Shikhar just lets it be. |
| 10.1 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Shanaka continues his gentle-paced bowling and bowls it full around off. Rahul defends it off his front foot. |
| 10.2 : D Shanaka to Rahul, On a fuller length outside off, Rahul gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball rolls towards point and the batsmen cross over for a run. The ball is staying low occasionally. |
| 10.3 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, This ball is flicked off his pads to mid-wicket. |
| 10.4 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Dhawan seems to be learning from his first innings dismissal. There he played these driveable balls away from the body and now he is consciously getting his body close to the ball. He does so again as he pushes this past the cover fielder who dives unsuccessfully, and gets a brace. |
| 10.5 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, The southpaw stays in the crease and defends it. |
| 10.6 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, FOUR! Why is there no mid off, Chandimal? The 'V' is pretty empty and the openers are making use of the opportunity to collect runs from that area. This time, Dhawan shimmies down the track and hits it down the track. The ball wastes no time in going to the fence. |
| 11.1 : L Gamage to Rahul, Served on a length outside off, Rahul lets it be. |
| 11.2 : Gamage to Rahul, Dropped! A tough one you have to admit as it was in the followthrough. Gamage bowls it full around off, Rahul drives it back aerially. Lahiru gets his right hand out but fails to catch that. Parries it towards mid off. Rahul gets a life. Remember, the last time a player got a life in this game Thirimanne), he went onto get a fifty. |
| 11.3 : L Gamage to Rahul, Rahul responds to the next ball but shouldering arms to it. |
| 11.4 : L Gamage to Rahul, On a length around off and middle, Rahul gets it off the inner half towards mid-wicket. One run taken. |
| 11.5 : L Gamage to Dhawan, This ball is driven to the fielder at mid off. |
| 11.6 : L Gamage to Dhawan, FOUR! Trashed! Gamage bowls it outside off, Dhawan bashes it through covers for a boundary. On watching the replays, my colleague opines that it looks like a punch-drive that is so well timed. |
| Lakmal cannot bowl for another 15 minutes owing to his time off the field. Will have to see how much it affects the Lankans as without him, they are just looking a bit flat. |
| 12.1 : D Shanaka to L Rahul, This ball is pushed to covers. |
| 12.2 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Now Rahul crosses over to the other end by playing it through point. |
| 12.3 : D Shanaka to S Dhawan, 50-up for India! Dhawan drives it towards covers, where the fielder dives to make a half stop. He is unable to prevent a run though. The trail is down to 72 now. |
| 12.4 : D Shanaka to Rahul, WIDE! Shanaka bangs this one short. The ball passes over the batsman's head and a wide signaled. |
| D Shanaka to Rahul, Around off, Rahul turns it through mid-wicket. Poor 'young' Herath runs all the way towards deep mid-wicket in pursuit of the ball but the guy in the deep runs to his left and restricts the runs to just two. |
| 12.5 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Dasun bowls it outside off, driven through cover-point for one run. |
| 12.6 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Dhawan covers his stumps and watches the ball go into the keeper's gloves. |
| Spin time, with 15 minutes left for Tea. DILRUWAN PERERA it will be. Remember, he got a couple of wickets in the first innings on a track that was greener then. |
| 13.1 : D Perera to Rahul, Serves it outside off, Rahul goes back and works it past slip. He gets a brace for doing so. |
| 13.2 : D Perera to Rahul, Landed outside off, Rahul doesn't play that. |
| 13.3 : D Perera to Rahul, Bowled around off, it stays a touch low. Rahul watches it well and punches it back to where it came from. |
| 13.4 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 13.5 : D Perera to Rahul, Almost played on! Perera floats it around off, Rahul goes back to block it. But the ball threatens to go back to the stumps. The batsman is alert to the occasion and kicks it away from the sticks. |
| 13.6 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul does well to tap it in front of point and cross over for a run. Don't know why the visitors aren't stopping these easy singles. |
| 14.1 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Rahul takes a couple of steps down and hits this through point for a run. |
| 14.2 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, This ball is hit straight to the man at covers. |
| 14.3 : D Shanaka to S Dhawan, Short and enough room on this for Dhawan to slap it to the man at deep point. |
| 14.4 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Shanaka delivers it much wider from the batsman this time. Rahul shows no intentions of playing this. |
| 14.5 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Another delivery outside off, which Rahul leaves alone. |
| 14.6 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Length ball around off and middle, Rahul taps it towards mid on and seeing the 39-year old, sets off for a run. Herath gets ahead and tries a back-of-the-arm throw at the non-striker's end that misses the target. The run completed. |
| 15.1 : D Perera to Rahul, Bowled around off and middle, Rahul hits it down to long on for one run. |
| 0.0 : A review taken. Wasted? Maybe. It is for a caught at short leg decision against Dhawan. Seems not out to the naked eye. |
| 15.2 : D Perera to Dhawan, Not Out! What has Chandimal done here? Don't really know whom he consulted before taking the DRS. Perera angles it on the pads, Dhawan looks to flick but the ball goes off the pad to short leg. Sri Lanka seem as excited as you should be for an obvious wicket. On seeing the umpire not agreeing, they take it upstairs. Replays show a whole country between the bat and the ball. As per the protocol, the LBW is also checked and it is seen that the impact was outside leg and t |
| 15.3 : D Perera to Dhawan, Dhawan charges down to get to the pitch of the ball and hits it through covers for a run. |
| 15.4 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul camps on the back foot and punches it down to long on for a run. |
| 15.5 : D Perera to Dhawan, Dhawan clips it through mid-wicket for one run. |
| 15.6 : D Perera to Rahul, Landed around off, played towards point for a single. |
| With two minutes to go for Tea, SURANGA LAKMAL is brought in to bowl. Will he make some difference? |
| 16.1 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Rahul plays it towards mid-wicket and rotates the strike. |
| 16.2 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Lakmal steams in from round the wicket and bowls a length ball around leg. Dhawan misses the flick and gets hit high on the thigh pad. |
| 16.3 : S Lakmal to S Dhawan, FOUR! Caressed! Dhawan is timing those sweetly. Lakmal spears it full outside off, the southpaw drives it through covers for a boundary. |
| 16.4 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Lakmal bends his back and gives some chin music for the batsman. Dhawan sways away and lets the keeper do the rest. One bouncer for the over signaled. |
| 16.5 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, This ball is outside off, Dhawan leaves it alone. |
| 16.6 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Dhawan plays inside the line and lets the ball pass safely as it's TEA, DAY 4! |
| Attritional session of Test cricket. One wouldn't be faulted for believing that this game is being played on an altogether different track suddenly. The Indian openers have largely looked untroubled and have managed to string in a yet-unbroken 50-run stand. They have done well to bring the deficit down to 52 runs. The Lankan seamers have failed to be as menacing as they were in the first innings. |
| Earlier in the session, the tourists were bowled out for 294, gaining a healthy lead of 122 over the hosts. Herath was the man who provided impetus to the lower order as he enjoyed his midas touch to get to his 3rd Test fifty. For India, Kumar and Shami both ended up picking 4 wickets apiece. |
| Coming back to the current scene, with Sri Lanka gaining that psychological advantage, one expected them to go for the kill but they were pretty happy to sit back and watch the Indian openers go about collecting those singles. Even the boundaries weren't hard to come by. One would hope that this break would do well for the visitors. Do join us at 1448 local time (0918 GMT) for another grafting session of play. |
| ... DAY 4, SESSION 3 ... |
| Welcome back! 41 overs remaining in the day's play, although I would be fibbing if I say it seems a possibility. With pacers bowling most of the overs in the game, the pace has been a touch slow for cricket in the subcontinent. |
| The men concerned make their way out to the middle. Rahul and Dhawan stride out refreshed due to the break. The former has got a life courtesy a tough caught and bowled chance that went down off Gamage's bowling. Wickets, wickets and only wickets would be in the visitors' minds. The hosts would want a wicketless hour as a stepping block to a clean session. DILRUWAN PERERA to begin proceedings in this session, with a slip and a short mid on in place. A mid-wicket is in place too. |
| 17.1 : D Perera to Rahul, FOUR! Take all the time in the world to set your field, if the bowling is not in the right areas, runs will flow freely. Perera overpitches this outside off, Rahul leans forward and drives it past covers for a boundary. |
| 17.2 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul goes back to this one and defends it with a straight bat face. |
| 17.3 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul lunges forward to this one and smothers the spin into the ground. |
| 17.4 : D Perera to Rahul, Tossed up outside off, Rahul dances down and drives it towards covers. |
| 17.5 : D Perera to Rahul, Another solid forward defense on display by KL Rahul. |
| 17.6 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul punches it towards covers and crosses over to the other end for a run. He will retain strike for the next over. |
| SURANGA LAKMAL to bowl from the other end. Looks like it is imperative for him to do well in order for Sri Lanka to look incisive. |
| 18.1 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Begins with a length ball outside off, Rahul pushes at that but misses the ball. |
| 18.2 : S Lakmal to Rahul, A touch fuller than the previous one, Rahul gets forward and defends. |
| 18.3 : S Lakmal to L Rahul, FOUR! He just looks fluid, says Harsha Bhogle on air. That is as apt as it gets. If you see this shot, you'd imagine a liquid flowing on the surface of a table. Fuller outside off, Rahul nicely leans into that and drives it through covers. Gets the result that he desires - a boundary. |
| 18.4 : S Lakmal to Rahul, FOUR! Irony! If Rahul was in absolute control of the previous shot, here he is absolutely lucky. Lakmal bowls a straighter line and lands it on a length around off. Rahul's feet go nowhere as he pushes at that from the crease. Fortunately, the inside edge on this occasion takes the ball quickly to the fine leg fence and not onto the stumps. |
| 18.5 : S Lakmal to Rahul, This is away from the off stump, Rahul shoulders arms to it. |
| 18.6 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Similar delivery and sequence of actions like that of the previous ball. 8 came off that, the trail is down to 39. |
| 19.1 : D Perera to Dhawan, Dhawan has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 19.2 : D Perera to Dhawan, Shikhar works this off his pads and gets a single. |
| 19.3 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul lunges forward to block it solidly. |
| 19.4 : D Perera to Rahul, There it is. 9th fifty for KL Rahul in his last 11 innings. Gets to his 10th Test fifty with a flick towards deep mid-wicket. He has really looked good. Controlled shots and not getting carried away is the key. |
| 19.5 : D Perera to Dhawan, Dhawan drives it to long on for a run. |
| 19.6 : D Perera to Rahul, FOUR! Now the confidence is glaringly visible. Time and again he has talked about taking a liking to the spinners and with this shot he has just walked the talk. Uses his feet to get to the pitch of the ball and drives it all along the ground through the covers for a boundary. Good to see. |
| 20.1 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Finds the mid off fielder with this drive. |
| 20.2 : S Lakmal to S Dhawan, FOUR! Now Dhawan gets into the act. Lakmal offers him width from round the wicket, Dhawan is too good to miss out. Cuts it past a diving backward point for a boundary. The trail is down to 28 now. |
| 20.3 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, This is hurled outside off, Dhawan shoulders arms to let it be. |
| 20.4 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Length ball outside off, Dhawan points his bat skywards as he lets the keeper do the collection. |
| 20.5 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Another ball outside off, Shikhar continues the left-alone game. |
| 20.6 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Angled around off and middle, Dhawan works it with the angle towards mid-wicket. Before Herath can get to his left, a run taken. |
| The batsmen using the opportunity to have some drinks. Of course, the umpires are in their ears egging them to carry on. Strange, considering we are barely back from the Tea break. Shows how hot and humid it might be out there. |
| 21.1 : D Perera to Dhawan, Dhawan lunges forward and defends it with a straight bat face. |
| 0.0 : Huge shout for LBW against Dhawan. The umpire shows no interest but the Lankans have risked using their second review so early in the innings. Looks close to the naked eye. |
| 21.2 : D Perera to Dhawan, Not Out! What's worse, Sri Lanka exhaust both their reviews so soon. Perera floats it around middle and leg, Dhawan gets down to sweep but seems to have struck on the front pad. Naturally, Sri Lanka put in a huge shout only to see the umpire as still as a stone. Chandimal consults his players and signals a 'T'. Replays show that Dhawan had gloved that onto his pads and hence he is safe. Further replays point to Mathews already signalling that the ball was sliding down t |
| 21.3 : D Perera to Dhawan, Driven through mid-on by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 21.4 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul goes back and blocks it solidly. |
| 21.5 : D Perera to Rahul, Now he gets ahead to negotiate this delivery around off. |
| 21.6 : D Perera to Rahul, This shot seems as if Rahul is a newcomer. Perera tosses this just outside off, Rahul goes back to cut. Gets his bat down hurriedly and chops it towards backward point. Gets one run but not in a greatly satisfactory manner. |
| 22.1 : S Lakmal to L Rahul, This ball is driven towards mid off. |
| 22.2 : S Lakmal to Rahul, The batsman has played it to the point region. |
| 22.3 : S Lakmal to Rahul, On a length outside off, Rahul shoulders arms and lets it fly to the keeper. |
| 22.4 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Bouncer around off, Rahul lets it through to the keeper. |
| 22.5 : S Lakmal to Rahul, What's the need to play that Rahul? It's on a length outside off, Rahul, already standing in the line of middle stump, has a feel for it. The ball wasn't too far from the outside edge. |
| 22.6 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Much better. Rahul lunges forward and drives it towards deep point for a single. |
| 23.1 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul goes back and cuts it through point for one run. |
| 23.2 : D Perera to Dhawan, Floated outside off, Dhawan charges down to hit it towards covers. Chandimal there, dives to prevent a run. |
| 23.3 : D Perera to Dhawan, The batsman has played it to the point region. |
| 23.4 : D Perera to Dhawan, Shikhar uses his feet to get down again, only to block it. |
| 23.5 : D Perera to Dhawan, On the pads, Dhawan fails to get bat to it. Wears it low on the pads. |
| 23.6 : D Perera to Dhawan, 100 up for India, deficit down to 22! Dhawan flicks it through square leg for a single to bring the 100th run. |
| 24.1 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Fuller around middle and leg, flicked away in front of square on the leg side for a single. |
| 24.2 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 24.3 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Rahul flicks it off his pads through backward point for a run. |
| Murali Kartik talks about Dilruwan Perera's bowling style. He observes that the latter is very late to get his head up and therefore have a sighter of what the batsman is doing. This makes it tough to see when the batsman is charging down at you. Often bowlers adjust their lengths when they see the batter approach but in Perera's case, it becomes difficult. |
| 24.4 : S Lakmal to Dhawan, Dhawan has punched that ball through the off side. He gets a single. |
| 24.5 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Outside off, left alone by Rahul. |
| 24.6 : S Lakmal to Rahul, This ball is blocked from within the crease by KLR. |
| 25.1 : D Perera to S Dhawan, FOUR! Dhawan seems to have ample time as he plays this shot. He could well cook himself a meal and hit that on any day. Perera serves it on a shorter length outside off, the southpaw goes back and plays the square cut to perfection. Earns him a boundary. |
| 25.2 : D Perera to Dhawan, Now Dhawan shows the full bat face as he defends it watchfully. |
| 25.3 : D Perera to Dhawan, Dhawan takes a single after hitting it down to long off. |
| 25.4 : D Perera to Rahul, Rahul goes back and works it away through mid-wicket for one run. |
| 25.5 : D Perera to Dhawan, 4th Test fifty for Shikhar Dhawan! Even he has rectified for the first innings failure and is looking good for more. He has looked assured with his footwork and has been cautious with his off side play. This ball - flicked away to deep mid-wicket for a run. The trail is now 12. |
| 25.6 : D Perera to Rahul, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| RANGANA HERATH to bowl now. He has had very little to bowl so far in the game. With the other bowlers failing to exert control, will the veteran stand up again? |
| 26.1 : R Herath to Dhawan, Shikhar lunges forward and defends this delivery on the stumps. |
| 26.2 : R Herath to S Dhawan, Floated around middle, driven firmly to long on for a single. |
| 26.3 : R Herath to Rahul, Landed around off and middle, Rahul gets an inside edge towards square leg for a run. |
| 26.4 : R Herath to Dhawan, The batsman dances down the track but decides to defend it. |
| 26.5 : R Herath to Dhawan, FOUR! This seems to be the celebratory technique from both these batsmen. Rahul did the same after getting to his fifty and now Dhawan does the same. Only difference being Rahul's shot was all along the ground. Dances down the track and decides to take the aerial route over mid off for a one-bounce boundary. The on-field umpire goes upstairs for confirmation and then signals a boundary. |
| Mid off goes back immediately after the previous shot. That's a knee-jerk reaction from the Sri Lankan skipper. |
| 26.6 : R Herath to Dhawan, Shikhar uses his feet again only to bunt it. |
| Double change. Lahiru Gamage to run in from the other end. |
| 27.1 : L Gamage to Rahul, This ball is punched through covers for a single. |
| 27.2 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Gamage comes round the wicket and bowls it outside off. Shikhar shoulders arms to that. |
| 27.3 : L Gamage to Dhawan, This ball is blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 27.4 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Dhawan stays in the crease and presents a straight bat as he blocks that. |
| 27.5 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Length ball around off, Dhawan gets it off the outer half towards covers. |
| 27.6 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Now he punches this length ball through covers for a single to retain strike. |
| 28.1 : R Herath to Dhawan, Floats this in line of the stumps, Dhawan presents a full face of the bat to block. |
| 28.2 : R Herath to Dhawan, Dhawan lunges forward and plays it defensively to the off side. |
| 28.3 : R Herath to Dhawan, Dhawan again uses his feet, gets to the pitch of the ball and drives it all along the ground to long off. One run results. |
| 28.4 : R Herath to Rahul, Tossed up ball around middle, Rahul gets to the pitch of the ball to hit it to long on. |
| 28.5 : R Herath to Dhawan, Once again Dhawan shimmies down and blocks it. |
| 28.6 : R Herath to Dhawan, SIX! What a way to erase the deficit and get into the lead! Herath tosses it around middle and leg, Dhawan, for the umpteenth time, makes use of his feet to get to the pitch of the ball and smashes it high and handsome over long on for half a dozen. The first of the innings. INDIA LEAD BY 4! |
| 29.1 : L Gamage to Rahul, Gamage bowls a bouncer around off, Rahul looks to pull it but misses. |
| 29.2 : L Gamage to Rahul, Outside off, pushes towards covers for a single. |
| 29.3 : L Gamage to Dhawan, No ball! Gamage lands it around off, Dhawan blocks it from the crease. The bowler seems to have overstepped here. Oh no... Can't really say so on the replays. The first point of landing shows some part to be behind the line. Could feel hard done by. |
| L Gamage to Dhawan, Dhawan flicks it away off his pads towards deep square leg for a single. |
| 29.4 : L Gamage to Rahul, Where has that come from? Rahul has this bad habit of wasting starts and seems intent on doing so yet again. A back of a length ball around off, Rahul sways back initially and then tries to ramp it over the keeper. Misses the ball completely. Needless to say the least. The opportunity is pretty ripe for him to score a big hundred. |
| 29.5 : L Gamage to Rahul, This ball is defended off the front foot with a straight bat. |
| 29.6 : L Gamage to Rahul, Lahiru bowls it too wide to make Rahul play. |
| 30.1 : R Herath to Dhawan, Herath continues round the wicket and bowls it in line of the leg stump. Dhawan gets down and paddles it towards fine leg for a couple. |
| 30.2 : R Herath to Dhawan, This time Shikhar gets down and sweeps it powerfully to the fine leg fielder. There is a slight fumble there but no extra run conceded. One run taken. |
| 30.3 : R Herath to Rahul, Rahul lunges forward and blocks. |
| 30.4 : R Herath to Rahul, Rahul lets the bat come onto the bat and drives it through covers for a run. |
| 30.5 : R Herath to Dhawan, SIX! Another one, dismissed from his presence. Herath floats this one around middle, Dhawan gets down and slog-sweeps it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. My colleague says that he didn't look in control but the result doesn't say so. |
| 30.6 : R Herath to Dhawan, The batsman charges down the wicket. One run added to the total. 11 runs came off this one. |
| Drinks are on the field. India's hour entirely. Both the openers have looked commanding and have been hardly troubled by whatever is thrown at them. Sri Lanka would hope for some divine intervention and hope that they have some magic potion in this break. India lead by 18 at the moment. |
| 31.1 : L Gamage to Dhawan, Landed outside off, steered behind point for a couple. The lead is now 20. Now, Sri Lanka will start feeling the pressure. Potentially we have close to 140 overs left in this game. |
| 31.2 : L Gamage to Dhawan, A bouncer, around off, Shikhar thinks to hook but then bails out. |
| 31.3 : L Gamage to Dhawan, bowled at 128.0 kph Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 31.4 : L Gamage to Rahul, Rahul follows suit and gets a run now. |
| 31.5 : L Gamage to Dhawan, FOUR! Excellent batting. A short ball again, around middle, pulled through square leg all along the ground for a boundary! Moves to 81 from 99 balls. His 9th boundary! |
| 31.6 : L Gamage to S Dhawan, FOUR! CRASH! Literally toying. Short and down the leg side, Dhawan pulls it to the fine leg fence! 12 from the over, 23 off the last 2! 150 PARTNERSHIP COMES UP. The lead is now 30. |
| DILRUWAN PERERA is back on. Sri Lanka need some control. |
| 32.1 : D Perera to Rahul, Short and outside off, punched through point for a single. |
| 32.2 : D Perera to Dhawan, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. One run added to the total. |
| 32.3 : D Perera to Rahul, Full and outside off, Rahul gets across and defends. |
| 32.4 : D Perera to Rahul, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 32.5 : D Perera to Rahul, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 32.6 : D Perera to Rahul, Gets across and works it through mid-wicket for a run more. |
| DASUN SHANAKA now. Chandimal searching for options. Reminds me of Steve Waugh during that epic Kolkata Test between India and Australia in 2001. |
| 33.1 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Full and outside off, pushed through the covers for a single. |
| 33.2 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Outside off, punched off the back foot. |
| 33.3 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Jumps down the track and pushes it towards mid off for a quick run. |
| 33.4 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Outside off, Rahul feels for it outside off which is very wide from him and is beaten. |
| 33.5 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Poorer shot. Looks like Rahul is desperate to give Sri Lanka his wicket. Shanaka bowls it wider outside off, Lokesh flashes but misses. |
| 33.6 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Some sanity prevails. Lets this one go outside off. |
| 34.1 : D Perera to Dhawan, Full and outside off, Dhawan comes down the track and defends. |
| 34.2 : D Perera to Dhawan, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 34.3 : D Perera to Dhawan, A flatter one down the leg side, Shikhar looks to flick but misses. A mild LBW appeal from first slip. No support. |
| 34.4 : D Perera to Dhawan, Around off, watchfully defended. |
| 34.5 : D Perera to Dhawan, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. |
| 34.6 : D Perera to Dhawan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| More time waste. Pretty much understandable from Sri Lanka's point of view. They do not want to bowl much today hence taking their own sweet time. More drinks coming in. Umpire Nigel Llong seems to be a patient and considerate man. |
| 35.1 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a single. |
| 35.2 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, LBW appeal, turned down. Pitched outside leg, hit in line of the stumps and beats Dhawan's flick as he gets across. Umpire Llong calmly moves away, flashes a smile and Shanaka just tries to convince him to raise his finger. Sadly for him, the rules cannot be changed. |
| 35.3 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, Outside off, punched through the covers for a single. |
| 35.4 : D Shanaka to Rahul, A bouncer now, ducked under. |
| 35.5 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Weird shot. He is not able to see the ball, yet attempts a shot without even looking where the cherry is. Short and down the leg side, Rahul plays an ungainly pull shot and misses, not surprisingly. Then removes his helmet and his bulging eyeballs seem to suggest that he is not able to see the ball clearly. Maybe the light is fading. But then, there is an option of leaving the ball alone. |
| 35.6 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Better. Gets right behind the line of this one and defends. |
| 36.1 : D Perera to Dhawan, FOUR! Into the 90s moves Dhawan! Can he get a century tonight itself? The light is fading pretty quickly and won't be surprised if the light meters are out soon. Full and outside off, Dhawan gets down and sweeps it powerfully over mid-wicket and gets a boundary. The lead is 41 now. |
| 36.2 : D Perera to Dhawan, Outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 36.3 : D Perera to Dhawan, Comes down the track and punches it down to long off for a single. |
| 36.4 : D Perera to Rahul, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 36.5 : D Perera to Rahul, Outside off, tapped to point for a run. |
| 36.6 : D Perera to Dhawan, Don't think either batsman will be unhappy with that single. Dhawan wants the strike, Rahul is ready to shut shop. Shikhar works it through fine leg for a single. |
| Dhawan caught behind! Dear O Dear! Has he missed his century? He reviews. Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock.... |
| 37.1 : D Shanaka to Dhawan, OUT! There is a nick! |
| 0.0 : CHETESHWAR PUJARA walks in at number 3, replacing Dhawan. |
| 37.2 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Outside off, left alone. |
| 37.3 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Down the leg side, fuller in length, Pujara cannot get his flick away. Dickwella dives and tumbles then fumbles. Now Pujara wants the single but Lokesh Rahul is in no mood to open the shutters of a shop which he has already closed a while back. |
| 37.4 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Wider outside off, the master of patience is not drawn into going after that. |
| 37.5 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Wider, same reaction. |
| 37.6 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Closer to the stumps, watchfully defended. |
| The light meters are out now. |
| 38.1 : S Lakmal to Rahul, A length ball outside off, left alone. |
| 38.2 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Outside off, pushed towards point where Dilruwan allows it through. A single taken. |
| 38.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Outside off, back to normalcy. LA. Left alone. |
| 38.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Around off, tucked through mid-wicket for a single. Gets off the mark slightly quickly in this innings. In the first, he took 22 balls to get off the mark. |
| 38.5 : S Lakmal to Rahul, A bouncer now, outside off, Rahul is happy to let it go. |
| 38.6 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Another bouncer but nowhere near dangerous. A short ball, let through. |
| The umpires getting together. Play continues for now. The stadium lights have been switched on. |
| 39.1 : D Shanaka to Pujara, A bouncer outside off, Pujara sways away. |
| 39.2 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Flicks this away through the leg side for a single. |
| 39.3 : D Shanaka to L Rahul, Full and outside off, driven through the covers for a couple. |
| The umpires get together again. AND THE PLAYERS WALK OFF DUE TO BAD LIGHT. Almost opposite scenes as compared to yesterday. Sri Lanka wanted to go off, while Kohli wanted to be on the field. Now, Chandimal wants more balls to be bowled to the new batsman but India are happy to be spending some time in the dressing room. |
| Official then. Chandimal was going on chatting with the umpires and both the officials are seemingly irritated. Things are heating up a bit and eventually umpire Nigel Llong signals STUMPS ON DAY 4. |
| A decent day for both sides. Excellent reply by India. They have won the major part of the day. They started off well but then Herath put them off guard. However, the 166-run opening stand has quelled any further doubts about India being in trouble. |
| Dhawan and Rahul played a perfect game. Not letting anything loose get away and then leaving the ODD good ball alone. Rahul went into a shell after getting a half century while the southpaw accelerated after getting to 50. However, he was unlucky to miss out on a ton. |
| Sri Lanka looked totally different from the side which bowled in the first innings. The track looks flat, the ball is not seaming nor is it turning. The question for India is - do they go for broke against a weak-looking bowling attack and put them under the hammer? Make a sporting declaration with a target of say 200? The Lankans will hope to keep picking wickets tomorrow. None of the bowlers were impressive today and they will hope for some assistance tomorrow. |
| SHIKHAR DHAWAN is happy that he scored runs. Is disappointed that he missed out on a century but is happy for himself and Rahul and for making a game out of the situation. Praises Sri Lanka for bowling well in the first innings but says this time the ball was coming on nicely. Adds that the batsmen just used that to their advantage. Does not want to look too much into the dismissal and says that is the way he plays. On attacking Rangana Herath, he says he knows Herath is going to pitch it up to |
| Interview done, day done, we are done too! Not many thought that this game could go into Day 5 but here we are - Rain and a competitive Sri Lanka have taken the game this far. Draw seems to be the most likely result but in India and in Test cricket, anything is possible. We could see India throw it away in pursuit of quick runs while it could so happen that Sri Lanka might need to see off a session but then get bowled out. Either ways, hopefully, we get an exciting final day's play rather than a |
| ... FINAL DAY, SESSION 1 ... |
| Bright and sunny! Not a cloud in the sky. Wow. That is something refreshing, especially after seeing overcast skies on the first three days. Sri Lanka started well, continued to be on top but then India have replied strongly. The pitch began with a difference of a needle between the outfield and the surface. Now, we can identify the pitch from the outfield as the colour has become brown. The rain has pushed this Test to a likely-looking draw. But will we see some drama today? Hello and a warm we |
| Let us take you back some 16-odd years ago at this very venue. India were looking down and out till the fourth day, then bounced back to push themselves to safety. Then, when it seemed like it will be a draw, Australia collapsed and handed India a famous win. That was the mighty Aussie team. The second version of Bradman's invincibles. Sri Lanka are not exactly of that range. Can we expect something similar? |
| With the pitch seemingly getting better to bat, India's thoughts would be clear - Bat hard and get quick runs. Perhaps half a day and set a target of 200-250. Then back its bowlers to defend that and also pick up 10 wickets. Not too long ago, they had dismissed England in just one session. That too, was heading for a draw. As they say, cricket is a game of uncertainties. That too, in India, it is even more. |
| For India, it has become a nice selection headache with both Rahul and Dhawan getting amongst the runs. The former will do well if he can convert this start into a century. Hard to see Pujara scoring quickly - Rahul might have to don that role this morning. |
| Meanwhile, a new milestone for Pujara - He becomes the THIRD INDIAN to bat on all five days of a Test match after ML Jaisimha in 1960 and Ravi Shastri in 1984! Well, the rain did play its part in this Test but still, a record is a record! Interestingly, the other two did it at this very venue! |
| BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR says that India will look to give the Sri Lankans a decent target. On the light playing a big factor towards the end of the day, he sighs and hopes that his team gets at least 40-45 overs to bowl at the Lankans. Wishes that India get a good opening hour for a start. (That sigh perhaps signals that even the Indian team is not realistically optimistic of a result. Fingers crossed). |
| PITCH REPORT - Simon Doull and Sunil Gavaskar say that the pitch looks pretty good, without any grass. Sunny says there are a couple of spots which are just opening up, around the middle and off stump (not quite sure for a right-hander or a southpaw). The pitch might move up and down, basically the odd ball might stay down or shoot, but not the entire day. In short, both commentators feel that today will be more of a batting practice for the teams. |
| Out come Lokesh Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara. The Sri Lankan team is in a huddle. The latter will hope that they do not go on a low to Nagpur after having dominated the first three days of this Test match. Aha... MURALI KARTIK rings the bell at Eden today. |
| DASUN SHANAKA to complete his pending over. Three balls left. |
| 39.4 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Sigh. First ball of the day and you are giving the batsman an easy single. So easy. Just like going for dinner in a buffet. There are plenty of gaps on the field, explore any one of your choice. Rahul prefers the one at square leg. Tucked away for a single. THE INDIAN LEAD TOUCHES 50. |
| 39.5 : D Shanaka to Pujara, Now Pujara. Gets an incoming delivery which is going down the leg side, works it towards fine leg for a run. |
| 39.6 : D Shanaka to Rahul, Another single. Is this the first over of the morning? Does not seem so. Looks like we are in the middle of the day and the fielding side is deflated. Outside off, pushed through cover-point to make it three singles off three balls today. Overall in this over, considering from yesterday, barring the first ball, every other delivery produced runs. |
| SURANGA LAKMAL to bowl from the other end. He was not 100 percent yesterday and Sri Lanka missed him. They will hope he bowls well today. The second Test is not far away. |
| 40.1 : S Lakmal to L Rahul, Full and wide outside off, Rahul reaches out to drive but mistimes it to mid off. |
| 40.2 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Outside off, driven sweetly through point. This one goes to the deep for another single. |
| 40.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Outside off, swinging away slightly, Pujara lets it go. |
| 40.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, FOUR! FABULOUS! First boundary of the day and it has taken just 7 balls. Half volley outside off, Pujara drives it straight past Lakmal's left leg. Dinesh Chandimal gives it a chase to his right from extra cover but is not in the mood to dive. Concedes a boundary. Well, that signals the state of the Lankans at the moment. |
| 40.5 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Wider outside off, let through. |
| 40.6 : S Lakmal to Pujara, LBW appeal, but the umpire stays put. That seemed a bit high and Hawk Eye confirms. The ball was a good one, pitching outside off and Pujara stayed back to defend. But he was beaten by the massive inward moment and got hit on the pads. Lakmal had a chat with the umpire as to why that was not given out. |
| 41.1 : L Gamage to Rahul, Tempting. Full and wide outside off, Rahul restrains himself. |
| 41.2 : L Gamage to Rahul, Similar line, left alone again. |
| 41.3 : L Gamage to Rahul, Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 41.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, FOUR! Fine shot. Not all that short in length, outside off, Pujara goes back and punches it through the covers for a boundary. The lead is now 62. Pujara moves to 11 from 15 balls. |
| 41.5 : L Gamage to C Pujara, FOUR! FANTASTIC! Pujara seems to be in the mood today. Gamage overcompensates by bowling this full and the batsman capitalizes. Comes forward and drives it through the covers. Result is the same! The stand is now worth 22 from 28 balls. That is quick. |
| 41.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Landed outside off, Pujara is beaten by the late inward movement again as he looks to flick and is hit on the pads. Going down leg perhaps. |
| 42.1 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Outside off, pushed towards point. |
| 42.2 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Full and outside off this time, pushed away to the off side. |
| 42.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Wider outside off, Pujara lets it through. |
| 42.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Gets the one compulsory ball on the pads, works it through the leg side and gets a single. |
| 42.5 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Easy peasy. Full outside off. Come forward. Put bat on ball. Get it away. On side, off side, any side. Then run. The scoreboard ticks. This was pushed to point. Rahul rushed through for a quick single but the fielder was the least bit interested in even rushing to the ball. |
| 42.6 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Full and wide outside off, left alone. |
| 43.1 : L Gamage to Rahul, Full and outside off, Rahul comes forward and defends. |
| 43.2 : L Gamage to Rahul, Slightly on the fuller side, but not exactly a half volley, but still pushed to cover for a single. |
| 43.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, Finally we have a mid off. This is not a conventional one, slightly wider, but still good enough to stop the ball as Pujara drives it down the ground. |
| 43.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 43.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, That is a good stop. Gamage delivers a half volley outside off and Cheteshwar drives it through the covers. Dimuth Karunaratne, who has been moved to short extra cover, stops it nicely. |
| 43.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Drags the length back a touch, CP defends it watchfully. |
| 44.1 : S Lakmal to Rahul, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 44.2 : S Lakmal to Rahul, OUT! The middle stump takes a morning walk! Lakmal delivers the early break which Sri Lanka wanted this morning. Not the best of deliveries to be honest. Fuller length, around middle and off, Rahul looks to flick but is a bit too early into the shot. Misses the line and the ball hits the pads, deflecting onto the middle stump. Rahul shakes his head. He should have taken some time before playing his shots. Was the century playing on his mind? India are effectively 70/2. |
| Massive cheers envelope the stadium as VIRAT KOHLI walks out to the middle, at number 4, replacing Rahul. |
| 44.3 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Hmmm... a bouncer to greet the skipper, outside off, Kohli ducks. |
| 44.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Outside off, left alone this time. |
| 44.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Full and outside off, Virat needlessly pushes at it and misses. |
| 44.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Pushes this straight to mid on this time. |
| 45.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Outside off, defended to the off side. |
| 45.2 : L Gamage to Pujara, A tad shorter, punched towards cover. |
| 45.3 : L Gamage to Pujara, Fuller in length outside off, too wide to be played. |
| 45.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 45.5 : L Gamage to C Pujara, Full again, driven towards mid off. |
| 45.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Outside off, left alone this time. A maiden. First for Gamage in this innings. |
| 46.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, CATCCHHHHH! FOUR! Why did not Dickwella dive? A good short ball from Lakmal, testing Kohli, landing it around middle and off. Kohli looks to tuck it but he ends up tucking it a bit too finer than his wish. The ball goes close to the wicket-keeper but for some reason Dickwella chooses not to dive. He could have out in the effort, whatever might have been the result. |
| 46.2 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Full and wide outside off, Virat leans and drives it through point but Dasun Shanaka dives to his right and stops the ball. |
| 46.3 : S Lakmal to V Kohli, Fine shot. Half volley in line of the stumps, VK just pushes it back past the bowler. Herath gives it a jog from short mid-wicket but skipper Chandimal gets to the ball from mid off. Chases it, dives near the ropes and pulls it back in. By the time Herath reaches there though, the batsmen take the third. Perhaps a more agile fielder than Herath could have kept the batsmen to two. |
| 46.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Outside off, left alone. |
| 46.5 : S Lakmal to Pujara, The ball is way outside the off stump, easy leave for the batsman. |
| 46.6 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Wider outside off, same reaction. |
| 47.1 : L Gamage to Kohli, A short ball outside off, nice bounce, Kohli rises with the same and fends it to the off side. |
| 47.2 : L Gamage to Kohli, A bouncer now, around the off stump channel, Virat ducks. |
| 47.3 : L Gamage to Kohli, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 47.4 : L Gamage to Kohli, Outside off, VK pushes at it, but the ball jags back in a touch and goes off the inside edge. He is not quite sure where the ball is but Pujara calls him through for a single. 200 UP FOR INDIA. |
| 47.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 47.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Landed outside off, left alone. |
| 48.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Full and outside off, Kohli pushes at it away from his body and is beaten. |
| 48.2 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Close call. Inside edge saves him. Full and around off, Kohli pushes hard and gets hit on the pads. Oohs and ahhs from the fielders but nothing for a prolonged period. The ball dribbles to the leg side and the batsmen take a single. |
| 48.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Outside off, left alone. |
| 48.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Full again, watchfully defended. |
| 48.5 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. One run added to the total. |
| 48.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Landed outside off, a half volley, well blocked. |
| 49.1 : L Gamage to Pujara, Outside off, Pujara taps it to point for a single. |
| 49.2 : L Gamage to Kohli, Outside off, quietly left alone. |
| 49.3 : L Gamage to Kohli, Interesting. Kohli walks to the bowler, gets across and flicks it to the leg side for a single. Moves into double figures. |
| 49.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, A bouncer, around off, Pujara initially looks to fend but then sways away from the line. |
| 49.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, Full and straight, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 49.6 : L Gamage to Kohli, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 50.1 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Full and straight, in line of the stumps, flicked straight to straightish mid on. |
| 50.2 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Full and just outside off, Pujara commits himself into the push, feels for the ball but gets beaten. |
| 50.3 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Bad bounce for Dickwella. Cheteshwar feels for the ball again, is beaten once more. Dickwella gets a bad bounce and the ball goes off his gloves to fine leg. Dasun Shanaka gets to the ball from fine leg and stops the boundary with a slide. Two runs taken. Dickwella wrings his hand in pain. He got hit during the first innings as well and his thumb is taped too. |
| 50.4 : S Lakmal to Pujara, Outside off, fuller again, CP pushes at it towards third man for a run. That is not a bad single for Sri Lanka. They are making Pujara reach out for balls. |
| 50.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Full and wide outside off, left alone. |
| 50.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 51.1 : L Gamage to Kohli, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 51.2 : L Gamage to Kohli, Landed outside off, watchfully left alone. |
| 51.3 : L Gamage to Kohli, Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 51.4 : L Gamage to Pujara, Clips this through mid-wicket and gets a brace. |
| 51.5 : L Gamage to Pujara, A testing bouncer, outside off, Cheteshwar sways away. |
| 51.6 : L Gamage to Pujara, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 52.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, A good length outside off, tapped to the off side for a single. |
| 0.0 : Got him! Has Dilruwan taken a stunner? Pujara certainly seems stunned. Referred upstairs.... the soft signal is OUT. |
| 52.2 : S Lakmal to Pujara, OUT! That is indeed a fantastic catch and Pujara has to go! Excellent delivery as well. Banged in short outside off, Pujara looks to fend but the ball keeps on rising. He tries to keep it out but the cherry hits the handle and lobs towards gully. Dilruwan Perera judges it to perfection and dives in front, taking the catches inches above the surface. Pujara does not want to go and the umpires get together. The soft signal is out and replays confirm the same. Brute of a b |
| AJINKYA RAHANE walks in at number 5, replacing Pujara. |
| 52.3 : S Lakmal to Rahane, Short and down the leg side, left alone. |
| 52.4 : S Lakmal to Rahane, A good length ball outside off, Rahane fends it down. |
| 52.5 : S Lakmal to Rahane, The ball is way outside the off stump, easy leave for the batsman. |
| Rahane is gone too! But he has taken a review. LBW is the verdict. |
| 52.6 : S Lakmal to Rahane, OUT! LBW! The decision stays as it is! Umpire's call it is. A length ball outside off, comes back in a long way, Rahane looks to work it to the leg side but misses and is hit on the pads. Lakmal appeals, it looks good enough and umpire Wilson raises his finger! Rahane walks over to Kohli and has a long chat. Eventually he decides to review and Hawk Eye shows it to be clipping the top of the stumps, which means umpire's call. India do not lose a review but they do lose R |
| This is interesting. RAVINDRA JADEJA has been promoted to number 6. |
| 53.1 : L Gamage to Kohli, Wide outside off, left alone. |
| 53.2 : L Gamage to Kohli, The batsman does well to leave that bouncer. |
| 53.3 : L Gamage to Kohli, A length ball now, watchfully blocked. |
| 53.4 : L Gamage to Kohli, Short ball, outside off, pushed towards point for a run. |
| 53.5 : L Gamage to Jadeja, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 53.6 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Where is the short leg? A short ball down the leg side, Jadeja tucks it aerially through where short leg would have been. A single taken. |
| 54.1 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, LBW shout. Turned down. No fuss. Lakmal wants a review, Angelo Mathews indicates height. But no one tells them that it does not matter as there are no reviews left. Coming to the ball, replays show that it was pitched outside leg. Game over. Alright, describing more. A short ball pitched outside leg, Jadeja hops to tuck but misses and is hit on the pads. Hawk Eye shows the ball to be going over the top as well. Lakmal was really confident about that one. |
| 54.2 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Outside off, short in length, left alone. |
| 54.3 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Action replay of the previous delivery. |
| 54.4 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Outside off, left alone again. |
| 54.5 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 54.6 : S Lakmal to Jadeja, Wider outside off to end the over, Ravindra lets it through. |
| DRINKS ARE ON THE FIELD NOW. Good passage of play for Sri Lanka. They were pretty ordinary in the first half an hour, but then adjusted pretty quickly. To give context, consider this - Rahul and Pujara added 21 in 29 balls this morning. Since then, India have scored 21 in 52 balls for the loss of 2 wickets. |
| 55.1 : L Gamage to Kohli, The instinctive puller that Kohli is, he doesn't miss out on this one. A short ball around off, he pulls it to the man at deep square leg for a single. |
| 55.2 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Gamage continues the short ball tactics, this time to Jadeja. Comes round the wicket and bangs it short down the leg side. RJ doesn't bother playing that. Dickwella behind fumbles and spills that. No harm done though. |
| 55.3 : L Gamage to Jadeja, This one is a harmless ball outside off, left alone. |
| 55.4 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Length ball outside off, punched off the back foot towards covers. |
| 55.5 : L Gamage to Jadeja, This ball is defended from within the crease. |
| Dasun Shanaka is warming up now... |
| 55.6 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Length delivery angling down leg, Jadeja helps it with the angle to fine leg for one. |
| Bowling change. |
| 56.1 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, On a shorter length, pulled to the man in front of square in the deep for a run. |
| 56.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, This ball is pushed off the front foot towards covers. |
| The over-rate is hovering around 12.3 an hour. Harsha Bhogle opines that Sri Lanka have to bowl more than that if they want to trouble India and make a match out of this. |
| 56.3 : D Shanaka to Kohli, FOUR! In the air but safe. It's the Kohli cover drive but there is a man there. So not the wisest of choices. Yet he gets the desired result. The fielder there, Samarawickrama, dives to his left but the ball is well away from him. A boundary it is. |
| 56.4 : D Shanaka to V Kohli, WIDE! Short ball outside off, Kohli lets that go. It is way over the batter's head and hence is wided. |
| D Shanaka to Kohli, Clipped through mid-wicket to rotate strike. |
| 56.5 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Ahhh, Sri Lanka! How they wish they'd buy reviews from a shop nearby, opines my colleague KI! This is on a length down the leg side, Jadeja looks to flick but misses. The keeper catches that and Sri Lanka yell in unison. To be fair to them, there seems to be some sound but nothing on Snicko. The ball is also well away from the bat. |
| 56.6 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 57.1 : L Gamage to Kohli, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 57.2 : L Gamage to Kohli, Bowled outside off, left alone. |
| 57.3 : L Gamage to Kohli, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 57.4 : L Gamage to Kohli, Short ball, pulled away in front of square for a single. |
| Rahane was set up well by Lakmal before getting rid of him. The bowler bowled a bouncer angling into him to welcome him, which Rahane ducked under. Then he served an away going delivery. Then the short one again before the incoming delivery that got him. Excellent thinking and execution as all throughout yesterday and so far we have been ranting about the track becoming spineless and not aiding the bowlers. This wicket is a perfect example of 'earning your scalp'. |
| 57.5 : L Gamage to Jadeja, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 57.6 : L Gamage to Jadeja, A yes-no call, eventually results in a run. Jadeja taps it in front of cover-point and sees the fielder from covers rushing there. Kohli though is intent on running quickly for a single. Eventually the run results as the fielder doesn't manage to collect it in one go. |
| 58.1 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, It's payback time and now it's 1-1 between Jadeja and Kohli! Jadeja tucks it towards fine leg and hares for the first run. Wants the second and has taken a couple of steps for that but is sent back by Kohli. |
| 58.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, This time both the batters think on the same lines and complete a brace running quickly. Kohli has played this through point, where Perera misfields to leak runs. |
| 58.3 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 58.4 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Virat gets a leading edge on that one. |
| 58.5 : D Shanaka to Kohli, A harmless delivery outside off, left alone by the Indian skipper. |
| 58.6 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Another delivery outside off, left alone. |
| 59.1 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Gamage continues round the wicket to the lefty and bowls it around off. Jadeja blocks from the crease. |
| 59.2 : L Gamage to Jadeja, A solid front foot defense displayed by Ravindra to this delivery. |
| 59.3 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Length ball around off, Jaddu presents a straight bat in defending it back. |
| 59.4 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Gamage bowls a short delivery on the stumps, ducked under by Jadeja. |
| 59.5 : L Gamage to Jadeja, This one is blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 59.6 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Fuller ball around off, driven crisply to the man at mid off. |
| 60.1 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Landed around off, clipped towards mid on. |
| 60.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Virat pulls this one confidently to the man stationed in the deep in front of square on the leg side to take the lead to 108. |
| 60.3 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Shanaka hurls it full outside off, left alone by RJ. |
| 60.4 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Jadeja is, strangely, playing the leave-alone game here. Hard to fathom that as if that was the job, even Ashwin is equally or in fact better quipped for it. Batting time for the southpaw might be the only intention here. This ball is shouldered arms to. |
| 60.5 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Similar delivery outside off, Jadeja lets it pass. |
| 60.6 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Another delivery outside off, RJ covers his stumps and lets it go. |
| 61.1 : L Gamage to Kohli, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 61.2 : L Gamage to Kohli, FOUR! Finally a good shot from Kohli yields him the desired result. Length delivery outside off, Kohli just slaps it through covers. The fielder at deep point hares to his right but is unable to prevent a boundary. |
| 61.3 : L Gamage to Kohli, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 61.4 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Bouncer in line of the stumps, Jadeja crouches low and ducks. |
| 61.5 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Jadeja stays put in the crease and defends it with a straight bat. |
| 61.6 : L Gamage to Jadeja, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 62.1 : D Shanaka to Kohli, FOUR! There are many shots in this sport that evoke a sense of joy. The straight drive is one of them. How beautifully designed this shot is. And Kohli emulates it to perfection, even result wise. Bowled in line of the stumps, Kohli leans into it and hits it straight down the ground. The ball is in a hurry to have a meeting with the ropes. |
| 62.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Shanaka sprays this down the leg side, Virat misses his flick. |
| 62.3 : D Shanaka to V Kohli, Driven towards the mid off region. They pick up a single. |
| 62.4 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Jadeja looks to punch it towards covers but gets it off the inner half towards the bowler. Shadow practices the shot after that. |
| 62.5 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Outside off, left alone. |
| 62.6 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| Spin time as Dilruwan Perera is brought into the attack. Till recently, Herath was their main spinner and in this game, this off spinner is preferred to be the first choice. Strange. Maybe the left armer's average against India has played its part. A long on, long off, deep square leg and a deep mid-wicket in place. Easy runs on offer it seems. |
| 63.1 : D Perera to Kohli, Served around off, Kohli goes back and punches it back to the bowler. |
| 63.2 : D Perera to Kohli, Flicked straight to mid-wicket. |
| 63.3 : D Perera to Kohli, Flatter outside off, Kohli guides it past the slip fielder. Gets a couple for doing so. |
| 63.4 : D Perera to Kohli, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 63.5 : D Perera to Kohli, Kohli drives it with the angle down to long on for a single. |
| 63.6 : D Perera to Jadeja, FOUR! Not the best of deliveries bowled by Perera in the game. Fires this one on the pads, Jadeja gets bat to that and helps it to the fine leg fence. The lead moves up to 125. |
| The substitute fielder is on the field now. |
| 64.1 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 64.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Excellent work by Shanaka in his followthrough to prevent a certain boundary. He bowls it on a fuller length around off and middle, Kohli drives it straight back with sublime timing. Dasun quickly dives to his right in his followthrough to prevent any run off that. The ball also hit Jadeja and that shut off any chance of a run. |
| 64.3 : D Shanaka to Kohli, This ball is blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 64.4 : D Shanaka to Kohli, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 64.5 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli drives this through covers and crosses over to the other end. |
| 64.6 : D Shanaka to Jadeja, This ball is played towards point. |
| 65.1 : D Perera to V Kohli, 1 run. |
| 65.2 : D Perera to Jadeja, Excellent effort from the fielder at covers to save runs. This ball is driven firmly to that region where he dives and stops it. |
| 65.3 : D Perera to Jadeja, Played to the point region by the batsman. |
| 65.4 : D Perera to Jadeja, Jadeja gets forward and blocks that. |
| 65.5 : D Perera to R Jadeja, OUT! Perera has got this happy knack of picking up wickets in this game and he does so yet again. Jadeja is sent packing. Perera lands it just around off, Jadeja goes back to punch that. The extra bounce on that makes it difficult for Jaddu to execute that shot. Also, he is in no position to withdraw from that shot. Ends up getting an edge, that brushes the keeper's gloves and lobs in front of the slip fielder. Thirimanne goes back to catch that off the original angle |
| RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN is the next man in for India. |
| 65.6 : D Perera to Ashwin, Ashwin gets behind the line of the ball and defends it. Just a run and a wicket in this one. |
| SURANGA LAKMAL is back on. Sri Lanka looking to attack from both ends now. |
| 66.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, This is bowled outside off, left alone by Virat. |
| 66.2 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Kohli stays in the crease and defends it solidly. |
| 66.3 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Kohli drives this one towards point. Perera gets to his right to stop that but ends up kicking it towards covers. Before the ball is retrieved, a brace results. |
| 66.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 66.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Bouncer in line of the stumps, Kohli evades it. |
| 66.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, A harmless delivery outside off, left alone. |
| 67.1 : D Perera to Ashwin, No run. |
| 67.2 : D Perera to Ashwin, Perera bowls it outside off, Ashwin just lets it be. |
| 67.3 : D Perera to Ashwin, Ashwin lunges forward and blocks this solidly. |
| 67.4 : D Perera to Ashwin, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 67.5 : D Perera to Ashwin, Ashwin negotiates this one by defending it from the crease. |
| 67.6 : D Perera to Ashwin, Niroshan Dhoni? Perera tosses it wider, Ashwin goes for the drive but misses. Dickwella collects that and quickly whips the bails off. Ashwin has his back foot plonked in firmly though. |
| 68.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Fuller outside off, left alone by Kohli. |
| 68.2 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Another delivery served outside off, Kohli just lets it be. |
| 68.3 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Third leave of the over. Another ball outside off, not needed to be played. |
| Two catching covers in place. This is keeping in mind Kohli's favorite shot. |
| 68.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, The line is tempting enough for Kohli to play the cover drive. He avoids doing so and lets it go. Bowling to his field, is Lakmal. |
| 68.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Kohli ducks under the bouncer and lets it pass safely. |
| Last ball before Lunch. |
| 68.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Finally Kohli gets bat to ball in this over, only to defend it solidly from the crease. LUNCH, DAY 5 with India leading by 129 runs! |
| Confused session for India, to say the truth. Most expected India to come all guns blazing in a bid to put quick runs on the board and dangle a carrot to Sri Lanka. But what the hosts have done is play out a session where they scored 80 runs in about 30 overs. Add to that they have lost 4 wickets too. |
| The session saw Rahul miss out on yet another ton, something that has become a habit of sorts. Pujara looked solid before getting a snorter which he couldn't negotiate. Kohli has looked assured in his knock so far and his approach would be interesting to see on resumption. When Jadeja was promoted up, it seemed the sparse crowd would be entertained but he too fell after having a net session in a game situation. |
| Lakmal yet again was the man who troubled the hosts. He picked up three of the four wickets to fall in this innings. He looked the only seamer who looked like troubling the batters. What's even more heartening is that on a largely-deemed-unresponsive track, he extracted purchase to be effective. That is something that all the other seamers need to have their eyes on. Dilruwan Perera did keep the batters in check before he was rewarded with Jadeja's wicket. |
| With the spinner too getting some purchase, the proceedings in the next session should be keenly observed. If anything significant will be seen, Sri Lanka might just have to bat and that could be tricky. Although safe to assume a draw as the final outcome at this stage, a potentially-spicy session beckons. Join us at 1212 local time (0642 GMT). |
| ... FINAL DAY, SESSION 2 ... |
| Welcome back! The players would have had a sumptuous meal in the break and we hope that they are able to provide we cricket enthusiasts a delicious contest to savour. How will the session pan out? Declaration batting? Dull game? Wickets aplenty? We all would love to not have a dull draw, don't we? Fingers crossed. |
| Virat Kohli and R Ashwin stride out to the middle. Sri Lanka's aim would still be wickets, we believe. Lakmal and Perera just started to look troublesome close to the previous session's end. Can they continue doing so? Their players have taken the positions on the field and it will be LAHIRU GAMAGE to start the session. Two slips and a gully in place. Here we go... |
| Scrap all that. DASUN SHANAKA will bowl now. Gamage was off the field and hence the umpire has informed Chandimal that he cannot bowl for seven minutes more. Shanaka has the same field as Gamage would have. |
| 69.1 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Starts off with a fuller delivery in line of the stumps, Ashwin gets his bat right in front of the pads and blocks. |
| 69.2 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, On a length outside off, left alone by Ashwin. |
| 69.3 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, FOUR! Ashwin gets going after 9 deliveries. Shanaka bowls it on a length outside off, Ashwin gets forward and opens the face of his bat. Guides the ball past gully where Perera puts in a lazy dive. The ball was away from him though and went to the fence. Hard to understand why isn't an agile fielder in that position. |
| 69.4 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Ashwin stands tall and punches it through covers for a single. The lead now moves to 134. |
| 69.5 : D Shanaka to Kohli, A touch fuller around off, defended back towards the bowler. |
| 69.6 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Fuller and wider outside off, Kohli gets a nice stride forward before shouldering arms to let that one go. |
| No surprises here. SURANGA LAKMAL it is to bowl. He has looked like the only one to extract a lot from this surface. Two slips and a gully in position. Strangely, we are talking about Pujara having batted all the days in this game. Lakmal has also bowled on all the days in this Test match. Talk about hard work! |
| 70.1 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Back of a length delivery on the body, Ashwin nudges it to fine leg and ambles over to the other end. |
| 70.2 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Lakmal delivers a full and wide delivery outside off inviting the drive. Kohli doesn't fall for that and leaves it alone. |
| 70.3 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 70.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Quick run? With Ashwin at the other end? Not on! Kohli taps it in front of cover-point and takes off for a run. It's not there and he aborts the plan and raises his hand in apology to his partner. |
| 70.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Short in length, pulled away crisply towards deep mid-wicket for a run. This is a shot we often see him play in limited overs cricket. |
| 70.6 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Just outside off, Ashwin feels for that but misses. |
| Now that seven minutes are gone, LAHIRU GAMAGE is eligible to bowl and he will. |
| 71.1 : L Gamage to V Kohli, FOUR! A genuine edge but results in runs! Gamage hurls it full outside off, Kohli goes for the drive through covers. Gets a thick outside edge and the ball flies through the gap between gully and second slip to go to the fence. Lead swells to 140. Also, this is Kohli's highest score at the Eden Gardens in Tests. |
| 71.2 : L Gamage to Kohli, Kohli drives this one through covers and runs to the other end. |
| 71.3 : L Gamage to Ashwin, Outside off, left alone by Ashwin. |
| 71.4 : L Gamage to Ashwin, This ball is played towards point from the crease. |
| 71.5 : L Gamage to Ashwin, Ashwin looks to drive it loosely away from the body and ends up getting an inside edge past leg stump towards fine leg for a run. |
| 71.6 : L Gamage to Kohli, FOUR! 15th Test fifty up for the Indian skipper. Raises his bat in acknowledgement and flashes a smile too. He has looked good so far and will look to up the tempo now. This one's full around off, Kohli gets across and flicks it towards fine leg. Nobody is there and a boundary is the outcome. |
| 72.1 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Ashwin stays in the crease and clips it towards mid-wicket. |
| 72.2 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Landed outside off, Ashwin doesn't bother playing at that. |
| 72.3 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Lakmal offers this wider outside off, Ashwin responds by pointing his bat skywards. |
| 72.4 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Much better from Lakmal. Bowls it closer to the stumps and has Ashwin playing at that. He pushes at it but the ball flies close past the edge of the bat. |
| 72.5 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, This ball is blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 72.6 : S Lakmal to Ashwin, Short delivery around off, well negotiated. Remember, he copped a blow on his thumb in the first innings while negotiating a bouncer. |
| 73.1 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Around off, Kohli stays put and presents a straight bat as he keeps it out. |
| 73.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli takes on Rangana Herath! Flicks it to the right of mid on and hares to the other end. It was on the wrong side for the veteran and before he has a wild shy at the stumps, Kohli is well in. |
| 73.3 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Length around off, Ash stands tall and blocks it from the crease. |
| 73.4 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, Shorter delivery outside off, Ashwin sways away from the line to let it be. |
| 73.5 : D Shanaka to Ashwin, OUT! Ashwin's woodwork is shattered! Lazy, absolutely lazy from Ashwin. He played a loose drive some while ago and got away, doesn't this time. Shanaka bowls a fullish delivery around off, it moved in a bit after pitching. Ashwin looks to drive through the line but fails to account for the movement. Ends up getting the furniture disturbed. He didn't get to the pitch of the ball, if he has to be faulted more. Also, the cracks reported during the pitch report seems to h |
| WRIDDHIMAN SAHA is the next man walking in. He's the local lad and played a grafty knock in the first innings. How will he approach this one? |
| 73.6 : D Shanaka to Saha, This one outside off is left alone. It went on the bounce to the keeper. |
| RANGANA HERATH into the attack. |
| 74.1 : R Herath to Kohli, No run. |
| 74.2 : R Herath to V Kohli, Kohli drives this to long off for a single. |
| 74.3 : R Herath to Saha, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 74.4 : R Herath to Saha, Saha shows the full bat face and defends it. |
| 74.5 : R Herath to Saha, In line of the stumps, negotiated safely by Wriddhi. |
| 74.6 : R Herath to Saha, He gets a stride forward and watchfully defends it. |
| 75.1 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Wow! Rangana Herath is old? Who says so? Look at him dive and stop that. For a side whose fielding has largely been criticized, this is an excellent effort. Kohli flicks it through mid on, but the fielder runs to his left and dives full stretch to prevent any run. |
| 75.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli defends it off the front foot on the ground. |
| 75.3 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli drives it through covers and takes a run. |
| 75.4 : D Shanaka to Saha, Shanaka bangs it short, Saha ducks. |
| 75.5 : D Shanaka to Saha, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 75.6 : D Shanaka to Saha, This should interest India's seamers! Shanaka bowls it outside off, Saha lets it go. The ball moves prodigiously after passing the batter and that undoes Dickwella. Ends up conceding a bye. |
| 76.1 : R Herath to Saha, Floated on the stumps, Saha defends lunging forward. |
| 76.2 : R Herath to Saha, Saha works it towards mid on. |
| 76.3 : R Herath to Saha, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 76.4 : R Herath to Saha, This ball is safely negotiated by blocking off the back foot. |
| 76.5 : R Herath to Saha, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 76.6 : R Herath to Saha, This ball is pushed back right to the bowler. A maiden for Herath. |
| 77.1 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli stays deep in the crease and presents a straight bat to block that. |
| 77.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Fuller outside off, driven through covers for a single. |
| 77.3 : D Shanaka to Saha, Saha gets off the mark off his 15th delivery. Whips it towards mid-wicket and takes one. |
| 77.4 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli plays this one through the cover region to jog over to the other end. |
| 77.5 : D Shanaka to Saha, Another bouncer to Saha outside off. He spots that early and lets the keeper collect that. |
| 77.6 : D Shanaka to Saha, Good running. Shows how the partner matters for Kohli when it comes to running between wickets. Earlier he had to decline a run when Ashwin was batting and now look at this. Saha taps it in front of square on the leg side and the batters rush for a run. Seeing the deep mid-wicket run in, an opportunity for the second is seized. The throw is fired to the keeper but the batter is well in. |
| 78.1 : R Herath to Kohli, The batsman has driven it straight down the ground. |
| 78.2 : R Herath to Kohli, Floated outside off, Kohli drives it through covers. Gets it off the higher part of the bat but the run still results. |
| 78.3 : R Herath to Saha, Saha lunges forward and defends it solidly. |
| 78.4 : R Herath to Saha, Saha paddles this fine down the leg side and picks up a brace. |
| 78.5 : R Herath to Saha, The batsman gets to the pitch of the ball and connects. |
| 78.6 : R Herath to Saha, This ball is defended solidly from the crease. |
| 79.1 : D Shanaka to Kohli, This ball is square driven for a single. |
| 79.2 : D Shanaka to Saha, Length delivery outside off, Saha covers his stumps and shoulders arms. |
| Saha is out caught. But the umpire is checking for the front foot no-ball. Looks close... |
| 79.3 : D Shanaka to Saha, OUT! After having a look at the numerous replays on offer, eventually the right decision has been made. Shanaka looks the unlikeliest of the seamers to trouble the batsmen but yet again he is among the wickets. Bowls a gentle length delivery outside off, Saha drives it without much footwork. Hits it to the left of the cover fielder where Samarawickrama dives low to his left to take a good low catch. So swift was the action sequence, no one was aware that it was a wicket. |
| BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR makes his way out to replace Saha. Will he attack or defend? |
| 79.4 : D Shanaka to Kumar, Kumar is greeted with a bouncer outside off, he evades that by moving away. |
| 79.5 : D Shanaka to Kumar, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 79.6 : D Shanaka to Kumar, Kumar pushes this to covers from the crease. |
| The second new ball is due and IMMEDIATELY TAKEN! |
| 80.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, FOUR. |
| 80.2 : S Lakmal to Kohli, The batsman plays it with an angled bat and guides it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 80.3 : S Lakmal to Kumar, Kumar shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 80.4 : S Lakmal to Kumar, Bhuvneshwar has a feel for this and gets beaten. |
| 80.5 : S Lakmal to Kumar, The batsman fails to put bat on ball. |
| 80.6 : S Lakmal to Kumar, This one is defended off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 81.1 : D Shanaka to Kohli, FOUR! Glorious, gracious, filled with goodness! Shanaka spears it full outside off, Kohli leans into it and drives it beautifully through covers for a boundary. |
| 81.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Around off, defended off the front foot with a straight bat. |
| 81.3 : D Shanaka to Kohli, This is outside off, left alone by Virat. |
| 81.4 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli defensively pushes it towards covers. |
| 81.5 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 81.6 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Now Kohli taps it in front of covers to retain strike. |
| 82.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Bowled outside off, Kohli covers the stumps and lets it go. |
| 82.2 : S Lakmal to V Kohli, FOUR! Almost similar to the shot that he played on 81.1. Lakmal, in search of the swing, pitches it up to the batsman outside off. Kohli leans and just opens the face of the bat as he drives that. Gets it a bit squarer than the last boundary. Interesting to note that in spite of the new cherry, there's no swing available. |
| BIG MOMENT! Kohli is adjudged LBW but he seems confident that he has got an inside edge. Signals a 'T'. |
| 82.3 : S Lakmal to Kohli, The huge cheers reverberating on the ground signals the decision - NOT OUT! Yes, Kohli survives. Yes, an inside edge is the savior. Lakmal spears this full around off and middle, Kohli looks to flick but misses and gets rapped on the pads. Looks plumb to the naked eye. The Lankans' appeal is upheld. Virat goes for the DRS immediately and the Snicko shows a spike. To be fair to the ump, there was no sound as the ball passed the bat, so hard not to give that on the first g |
| 82.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Poor from Sri Lanka. Kohli drives it to the man at deep point for a run. But the keeper gets a bad bounce on the throw from the fielder there. Ends up missing the ball and another run is the result. Kohli back on strike. |
| 82.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, FOUR! 300 up for India! This straight drive from Kohli almost took the umpire with it. Fuller around off and middle, Virat drives it straight back. The umpire has to take evasive action as he jumps to his left. Narrowly misses the ball otherwise he would have ended helping Sri Lanka. Boundary it is. Lead - 179. |
| 82.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Outside off, left alone. |
| 83.1 : D Shanaka to Kumar, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. They pick up a single. |
| 83.2 : D Shanaka to Kohli, Kohli presents a straight bat face as he blocks that. |
| 83.3 : D Shanaka to Kohli, FOUR! The ODI Kohli is on show here. On middle and leg, Kohli clips it through backward square leg. The fine leg fielder gets to his left, dives but is unable to prevent the boundary. |
| 83.4 : D Shanaka to V Kohli, That ball has taken the inside edge of the batsman and thudded into his pads. |
| 83.5 : D Shanaka to Kohli, FOUR! And another one. Shanaka bowls it around off and middle, Virat makes use of his feet to get to the pitch of the ball and hits it through mid-wicket for another boundary. Declaration on the cards, clearly. |
| 83.6 : D Shanaka to Kohli, FOUR BYES! It doesn't matter if the runs came off the bat or not. The result is the same. This is a short ball down the leg side, Kohli looks to pull but misses. The ball swings away from the keeper who had no chance of stopping that. 13 off this one! |
| 84.1 : S Lakmal to Kumar, Close! Back of a length delivery on the stumps, Kumar backs away and looks to guide it to third man. Ends up almost playing it on as the ball bounces next to the leg stump. |
| 84.2 : S Lakmal to Kumar, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 84.3 : S Lakmal to Kumar, FOUR! Brilliant Bhuvi! Sri Lanka would have been happy to have Kumar on strike till this point. There is no respite from the other end as well as Kumar punches this delivery off his back foot through covers for a boundary. |
| 84.4 : S Lakmal to Kumar, Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. They manage to come back for the second. |
| 84.5 : S Lakmal to Kumar, Short ball around off, Kumar ducks to let it go. |
| 84.6 : S Lakmal to Kumar, This ball is worked towards deep mid-wicket for a run. 35 runs have come in the last 4 overs, India lead by 199! |
| Drinks are on the field! India have gone on fifth gear in this hour, courtesy Kohli. Runs are suddenly not hard to come by. Sri Lankans are looking very flat now. Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri's signs from the dressing room seem to be hit quickly and aim for 200 and then declare. The message has been sent with the person carrying batting gloves for Kohli. |
| 85.1 : L Gamage to B Kumar, Length ball outside off, Kumar backs away but smashes it straight to mid off. |
| 85.2 : L Gamage to Kumar, Kumar making the intentions as clear as an advertising hoarding! Backs away and looks to smash it out of the park but makes contact only with thin air. |
| 85.3 : L Gamage to Kumar, Bhuvneshwar looks to pull it away but misses it completely. |
| 85.4 : L Gamage to Kumar, OUT! The declaration batting has brought and end to Kumar's stay at the crease. Actually speaking, it is a needless shot as Kumar should just give the strike back to Kohli. Instead he takes the onus of scoring runs upon him. Sri Lanka realize the tactics and Gamage bowls it short. Kumar looks to pull it and gets a top edge. The ball flies high and comes down to Perera who moves a couple of steps to his left from second slip. India's lead remains on 199! |
| MOHAMMED SHAMI walks in next. |
| 85.5 : L Gamage to Shami, Shami stays in the crease and defends. |
| 85.6 : L Gamage to Shami, Logic? Absent. Shami taps it towards square leg and Kohli strangely is happy enough to go to the other end and let Shami face the first ball of a new over. |
| 86.1 : S Lakmal to Shami, A short ball, in line of the stumps, Shami gets across and looks to tuck it fine but misses. The ball lands in front of the keeper. |
| 86.2 : S Lakmal to Shami, Another short ball, down the leg side, Mohammed goes for the pull but misses again. |
| 86.3 : S Lakmal to Shami, Unbelievable field placement. Sri Lanka giving easy singles to Shami. Calmly tucked through mid-wicket for a run. Ideally they would have wanted Shami on strike. |
| 86.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, SIX! Ho ho ho! Audacious Kohli! Boy, is Eden alive! Magnificent batting. Jumps down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball, converting the length one into a half volley and lofts it over extra cover for a biggie! Test mode converted into ODI mode and now a T20 one! Moves to 92. |
| 86.5 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Flick shot goes to point. Confused? Shall explain. A length ball outside off, angling in, Kohli looks to tuck it to the leg side but the ball hits his thighs and goes behind point. The fielder is a touch slow to attack the ball and Kohli charges for the second. No signal from the umpire, so must have been an inside edge. He is one hit away from a century now. |
| 86.6 : S Lakmal to Kohli, WIDE! Banged in short, Virat straightaway goes for the hook but misses. Umpire Nigel Llong from square leg signals to his partner that it is not a legal ball. |
| S Lakmal to Kohli, Nope, Kohli does not go for it. Landed outside off, he waits for the ball to come to him and steers it to third man for a single. |
| 87.1 : L Gamage to Kohli, Landed outside off, steered to third man for a single. 96 now. |
| 87.2 : L Gamage to Shami, Full and wide outside off, dabbed to sweeper cover for a run. |
| 87.3 : L Gamage to Kohli, Virat charges down the track and on seeing that, Gamage bowls it full and wide outside off. Kohli has to reach out for it and can only get it to sweeper cover for one. Had he not reached out for it but stayed in his crease, he might have been able to thread the gap between cover and point. |
| 87.4 : L Gamage to Shami, FOUR! Shami into the act now! A short ball around off, Shami pulls it in the air, miscues a bit but gets it into the gap, wide of the man at mid-wicket for a boundary! |
| 87.5 : L Gamage to Shami, Another short ball outside off, Mohammed pulls but misses. |
| 87.6 : L Gamage to Shami, FOUR! Excellent placement. A short ball in line of the stumps, Shami swivels and just help-pulls it behind square leg for a boundary. 11 from the over, 22 off the last 2! |
| 88.1 : S Lakmal to Kohli, Landed outside off, Kohli dabs it to third man and gets a single. |
| Bizarre. After the previous over, Kohli was seen gesturing to Ravi Shastri for one more over. Surely he will aim to get his century in this over... |
| 88.2 : S Lakmal to Shami, A length ball down the leg side, Mohammed looks to flick but misses. Murali Kartik on air is surprised the batsmen did not run for a bye as Dickwella had to dive to his left. |
| 88.3 : S Lakmal to Shami, Now they run. Landed outside off, MS looks to cut, backing away but gets a bottom edge behind the stumps. Kohli back on strike... |
| Sri Lanka trying to delay... Lakmal taking ages to bowl this one... |
| 88.4 : S Lakmal to Kohli, SIX! 50TH INTERNATIONAL HUNDRED FOR VIRAT KOHLI! He wanted this badly. The crowd is on its feet and so is the dressing room but Kohli is animated. This has not been his best ground in Test cricket and he wanted to prove his detractors wrong. Sashays down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it over cover for a flat six. He then runs further down the pitch, getting to the other end, goes on one knee and pumps his fist in the air! That is called the 'Love for |
| 47 overs left in the day, as per my colleague AK. We feel the same. Account 10 for bad light. Can Sri Lanka be bowled out inside 35 overs? Doubt whether they will look to chase down 231 in that time. |
| Excellent batting by India but a little bit puzzling as well. They started off in grand fashion with Dhawan and Rahul counter-attacking and adding 166 for the opening wicket in 37.1 overs. But then, things started to go a little bit pear-shaped. The Indians started well today morning too but then seemed to lose track of proceedings. |
| However, just when we felt like the match was heading to a draw, the Lankans started to pick up more wickets and at 281/7 with the lead reading 159, Sri Lanka would have sniffed a chance. But Virat Kohli then changed gears. From 58 to 93, he rocketed to 104 from 119, as if he was chasing a target of 350 in the ODIs. |
| Sri Lanka would be disappointed. Not with today, but with that last session yesterday. Had they not leaked so many runs, they might have delayed the declaration. Lakmal picked up 3 but Shanaka was impressive for his 3 too. Gamage was expensive once more while the spinners were not needed for long. |
| So! Will we have a result in this game? The run chase begins in a while... |
| 0.1 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Landed outside off, Samaraawickrama gets across and defends. |
| 0.2 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Outside off, left alone. |
| 0.3 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Fuller in length, watchfully defended. |
| 0.4 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 0.5 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, Close call! On a good length outside off, Samarawickrama looks to flick but misses. The ball goes off his thighs and over the sticks to the keeper. India appeal for a catch, then think about the review for LBW but Bhuvi says no. |
| 0.6 : B Kumar to Samarawickrama, OUT! Chopped on! 1 down, 9 to go! Nerves...nerves... that is what these are. Sri Lanka have to see off around one and some sessions, that is why this shot. Landed wide outside off, could have been left alone but Samarawickrama chooses to feel for it and only drags it back onto the stumps. Sri Lanka 1 down and there will be some jitters in that dressing room... |
| LAHIRU THIRIMANNE walks in at number 3, replacing Samarawickrama. 46 overs left in the day, light permitting... |
| 1.1 : M Shami to Karunaratne, Around off, tucked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 1.2 : M Shami to Thirimanne, A bouncer now, Thirimanne ducks. |
| 1.3 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Outside off, punched straight to point. |
| 1.4 : M Shami to Thirimanne, Outside off, tapped towards point for a quick single. |
| 1.5 : M Shami to Karunaratne, Landed outside off, left alone. |
| 1.6 : M Shami to Karunaratne, Full and outside off, pushed straight to cover. |
| Some help needed. Repair work being done on the footmarks near the bowler's landing areas. To be put plainly, they are hammering the pitch. |
| 2.1 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, left alone. |
| 2.2 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Oohhh... did he want to leave that alone? On a length around middle, Thirimanne initially waits for the ball to come, thinks of shouldering arms but at the last moment, dabs it to gully. |
| 2.3 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Outside off, Lahiru feels for it but misses. |
| 2.4 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 2.5 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Another play and a miss! LT is having nervy moments. |
| Nervous Sri Lankan fan! Yup, this is about my colleague Predicto Praky, who is already biting his nails. Today is his off and he should be holidaying at home but instead he reminds me of a scorecard in 2011 at Cardiff. England declared then, just like India did today. The Lankans were 33/2 in 12 overs at Tea and then got bowled out for 82 in the next 12.4! Now, now, Predicto, don't worry... perhaps light might save the Lankans... |
| 2.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 3.1 : M Shami to Karunaratne, Outside off, left alone. |
| 3.2 : M Shami to Karunaratne, Goes right back in his crease and blocks. |
| 3.3 : M Shami to Karunaratne, OUT! Another one is played on! India have two, need 8 more in 43.3 overs, if light permits! Mirror image of Samarawickrama's dismissal. Landed outside off, Karunaratne shuffles across and looks to push away from the body. Mirrors don't lie. That is a bad shot and you need to pay for it. Off goes Karunaratne. Eden erupts. |
| ANGELO MATHEWS walks in now at number 4. Still 18 minutes to Tea. |
| 3.4 : M Shami to Mathews, A bouncer to test the new batsman, Mathews sways away. |
| 3.5 : M Shami to Mathews, Outside off, left alone. |
| 3.6 : M Shami to Mathews, Fuller length outside off, but Mathews stays back and defends. |
| 4.1 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 4.2 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Wider outside off, left alone now. |
| 4.3 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 4.4 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Fuller and closer to the stumps, Thirimanne defends. |
| 4.5 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full again, nicely played out. |
| 4.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, And a nice compact defense to end the over. |
| 5.1 : M Shami to Mathews, FOUR! Dead silence in the crowd. A nothing ball, down the leg side, fuller in length, Mathews clips it to the fine leg fence. |
| 5.2 : M Shami to Mathews, Wider outside off, not played at. |
| This could be the last over before Tea. Can India get in one more after this? 4 minutes left... |
| 5.3 : M Shami to Mathews, A length ball around off, Mathews hops to tuck it to square leg but the ball stays low a touch. Manages to pinch a single. |
| 5.4 : M Shami to Thirimanne, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 5.5 : M Shami to Thirimanne, OUCH! That would have hurt. A short ball on middle, Thirimanne tries to leave the ball alone but the ball hits his arm guard, then brushes his gloves and dies down. He is in pain but continues. Simon Doull on air smartly says that he should have called for the physio even if it wasn't that serious. Time would have been wasted. Today is all about time. |
| 5.6 : M Shami to Thirimanne, That would have taken the leg stump had he missed. Full and outside leg, coming in with the angle, Lahiru gets across but manages to put bat on ball to flick it towards fine leg for a single. |
| The players are rushing around. Umpire Nigel Llong asks his partner how many minutes left. Rahane has a smile looking at Kohli as he quickly gets into position. Yes, we shall have one more over. |
| 6.1 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and down the leg side, flicked towards square leg. |
| 6.2 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Closer to the stumps, watchfully defended. |
| 6.3 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, A bouncer now, Thirimanne sways away in time. |
| 6.4 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Outside off, left alone. |
| 6.5 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and around off, compactly defended. |
| 6.6 : B Kumar to Thirimanne, Full and outside off, pushed towards a straightish short extra cover. TEA ON DAY 5! |
| 40 overs left in the day. Technically. But don't think we can get beyond 25. Will that be enough to bowl out the Lankans? A torrid little time for them, losing 2 wickets in the 7 overs bowled. They are looking ultra-tentative and perhaps could be better served if they play normal cricket. |
| India have been brilliant in this mini-session. Not much looseners. They have prized out the openers and will be looking to get through this middle order. There was not much fight shown once Mathews was dismissed in the first innings apart from Herath. |
| So from waiting to exciting to boring, cricket at Eden Gardens has now got itself on an reindeer to chase an antelope. It is like a race against time to see if India can pick up the remaining 8 wickets and produce a result. They have the aces right now but if Sri Lanka manage to not lose more than one wicket till the end of play, they will be in better shape heading into the second Test. On the other hand, even if they don't lose but end up being 6 or 7 down, moral victory will be India's. Join |
| ... FINAL DAY, FINAL SESSION... |
| Welcome back for the final session of this day and match. Thoughts keep on going to that magical day when India beat Australia at the Eden when the game was seemingly poised for a draw. But then, the final session turned the game. What will happen today? |
| The players are out on the field. It will be UMESH YADAV to ANGELO MATHEWS first up... |
| 7.1 : U Yadav to Mathews, On a good length outside off, dabbed to the off side. |
| 7.2 : U Yadav to Mathews, Cracking delivery. Hits the right spot, bangs it in short, generates extra bounce and Mathews is surprised. Is caught hopping but manages to fend it down to the off side. |
| 7.3 : U Yadav to Mathews, A length ball now, AM hops again and works it through square leg for a single. |
| 7.4 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 7.5 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, FOUR! Uppish but in the gap. Full and outside off, Thirimanne leans and drives it through cover-point for a boundary. Even in the first innings, Umesh used to follow a good ball with a loosener. |
| Excellent observation from Simon Doull on air. He says that in the first innings, Umesh Yadav was not quite getting his body action. His left knee needs to be coming in line when his right foot lands. But it was coming at an angle. That usually happens when the bowler is aiming for reverse swing with an open chest. But now, with the new ball in his hand, that open-chested action is not there. Mind-blowing... |
| 7.6 : U Yadav to Thirimanne, Outside off, pushed to deep point for a single. |
| BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR to bowl from the other end. |
| 8.1 : B Kumar to L Thirimanne, OUT! Edged and taken! 7 more needed from 38.5 overs remaining in the day. The length is perfect, between full and good but the line is not the most dangerous. It is well outside off and Thirimanne could have left it alone. But he pokes at it and ends up nicking to third slip where Ajinkya Rahane gulps it with ease. |
| 0.0 : DINESH CHANDIMAL walks in now, at number 5. Cardiff 2011 looming all over... |
| 8.2 : B Kumar to Chandimal, ANOTHER EDGE! On the bounce this time. Length outside off, Chandimal is drawn forward, has a needless poke and gets an outside edge. Lands short of Rahane at gully. |
| 8.3 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Full and outside off, Dinesh goes back, then comes forward and blocks. |
| Interesting from Rahane. He walks over to Kohli and seems to be suggesting that he (Rahane) could be standing at fourth slip, somewhere closer to the batsman. This was what Joe Root was doing during the Eng-SA and Eng-WI series recently. Standing very close as compared to a conventional slip position. |
| 8.4 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Down the leg side now, flicked away through square leg for a couple. Gets off the mark. |
| 8.5 : B Kumar to Chandimal, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 8.6 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Outside off, wide enough to be left alone. |
| 9.1 : U Yadav to Mathews, Length ball outside off, pretty wide, Mathews shoulders arms. |
| 9.2 : U Yadav to Mathews, Similar ball, same reaction. |
| 9.3 : U Yadav to Mathews, On a length ball outside off, pushed towards cover. |
| 9.4 : U Yadav to Mathews, Stays back in his crease and blocks it out. |
| 9.5 : U Yadav to Mathews, On a good length outside off, Angelo pushes it to the off side again. |
| 9.6 : U Yadav to Mathews, Full and down the leg side, flicked behind square leg for a single. |
| 10.1 : B Kumar to Mathews, Outside off, pushed to the off side. |
| 10.2 : B Kumar to Mathews, Outside off, watchfully pushed away. |
| A man comes in now. From short mid-wicket to cover. |
| 10.3 : B Kumar to Mathews, Down the leg side, tucked through long leg for a single. |
| 10.4 : B Kumar to D Chandimal, Full and outside off, driven towards mid off. |
| 10.5 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 10.6 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Good length ball to end the over, Dinesh blocks. |
| 11.1 : U Yadav to Mathews, Landed around off, watchfully pushed to the off side. |
| 11.2 : U Yadav to Mathews, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 11.3 : U Yadav to Mathews, A short ball around off, Mathews sways away. |
| 11.4 : U Yadav to Mathews, FOUR! Short and outside off, punched through the covers for a boundary! |
| HOWZZAT? Is Mathews a goner? India want a review. Height could be the factor. |
| 11.5 : U Yadav to Mathews, OUT! LBW! Surprise, Surprise! Hard to say how that has been reversed. But Hawk Eye is showing it is plumb. It was a length ball, around off and Mathews was in the air, when he was trying to play the flick shot. One could see the middle and off stumps and to the naked eye, it seemed like it will miss leg stump. Accordingly the umpire shook his head and Kohli asked his keeper before signalling for the review. And lo! Hawk Eye shows it to be hitting leg! Kohli is pumped up |
| NIROSHAN DICKWELLA walks in at number 6, replacing Mathews as Sri Lanka keep searching for souls who could play for time. |
| 11.6 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Landed outside leg, short in length, Dickwella gets across and shoulders arms. He trusted the length there and the ball went well above the stumps. |
| 12.1 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Landed around off, watchfully defended. |
| 12.2 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Wide outside off, left alone. |
| 12.3 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 12.4 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Fuller this time, around off, watchfully pushed away. |
| 12.5 : B Kumar to Chandimal, A bouncer around off, Chandimal ducks and the ball swerves a long way away to the keeper. |
| 12.6 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Full again, outside off, well kept out. |
| 13.1 : U Yadav to Dickwella, A bouncer on middle and leg, Dickwella ducks. |
| 13.2 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Another bouncer, higher than the previous one, Niroshan lets it through again. |
| 13.3 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Another one seen off. Landed in Umesh's half, all ND has to do is watch where it pitches. Then he need not even bother to see where it is going. |
| 13.4 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Better from Umesh, keeps the length fuller than the previous ones and forces Dickwella to defend. |
| 13.5 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Full again, around middle, pushed towards cover for a quick single. Jadeja quickly gets to the ball from mid off and then picks it up and throws in one swift motion at the striker's end. Misses. But Chandimal was in. |
| 13.6 : U Yadav to Chandimal, FOUR! Controlled. Full and outside off, Chandimal leans and opens the face of the bat. Gets it past third slip and the ball runs down to the fence. |
| MOHAMMED SHAMI is back on. |
| 14.1 : M Shami to Dickwella, SIX! Not in control. A short ball on middle, Dickwella is forced into the pull but his eyes are closed when he plays that shot. The timing takes the ball over backward square leg! |
| 14.2 : M Shami to Dickwella, A length ball, around off, Niroshan wants to touch and run to cover but is sent back. |
| 14.3 : M Shami to Dickwella, SIX! NO BALL! But do you know for what? Dickwella plays an atrocious shot. Gets across his stumps and then scoop-flicks it over square leg! And then the umpire signals a no ball. Well, it is because Dickwella has pointed it out to the square leg umpire, who is standing at point, that there are three men behind square on the leg side! That is called, knowing the rules! There was a backward square leg, a fine leg and a leg gully. |
| M Shami to Dickwella, Full and outside off, pushed to cover. |
| 14.4 : M Shami to Dickwella, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 14.5 : M Shami to Dickwella, Full on middle, flicked over square leg for a single. |
| 14.6 : M Shami to Chandimal, Outside off, a bouncer, Chandimal ducks. |
| Plenty of things happening. In between overs, Ashwin was seen having a word with Dickwella. Then Kohli went to the umpire and sort of made a complaint. Not quite sure what happened. Might be some sledging. Boy... sledging in an Ind-SL game... not quite heard of! |
| 15.1 : U Yadav to Dickwella, A length ball down the leg side, tucked past what can that be called - a short fine leg? Perhaps. Two runs taken. |
| 15.2 : U Yadav to Dickwella, Another flick, this time a single. |
| 15.3 : U Yadav to Chandimal, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads for a couple of runs. |
| 15.4 : U Yadav to Chandimal, FOUR! Down the leg side, Chandimal gets it fine enough and beats Shami from fine leg. |
| 15.5 : U Yadav to Chandimal, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 15.6 : U Yadav to Chandimal, Ball hits the batsman low on the pads. The batsmen have run through for a single. Leg bye signalled by the umpire |
| 16.1 : M Shami to Chandimal, On middle and off, tucked through the leg side for a single. |
| 16.2 : M Shami to Dickwella, Fuller and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 16.3 : M Shami to Dickwella, FOUR! Nicely done. On a length around off, Dickwella waits for the ball to come and then dabs it to third man. This stand is pretty counter-attacking. |
| 16.4 : M Shami to Dickwella, Outside off, left alone. |
| 16.5 : M Shami to Dickwella, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single. |
| 16.6 : M Shami to Chandimal, Full and around off, nicely blocked out. |
| 17.1 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Landed around off, watchfully defended. |
| 17.2 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Full and outside off, nicely blocked. |
| 17.3 : B Kumar to Dickwella, A short ball on middle and off, pulled all along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 17.4 : B Kumar to Chandimal, Full and outside off, Chandimal pushes but misses. |
| 17.5 : B Kumar to Chandimal, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 17.6 : B Kumar to Chandimal, FOUR! Another boundary. Landed outside off, Chandimal comes forward and with deft soft hands, guides it past third slip to the third man fence. The stand moves to 40 from 38 balls. |
| DRINKS are on the field now. But by no means is this the final hour. 29 overs are left in the game. This attacking partnership between Dickwella and Chandimal has provided some calmness to the dressing room. They were tottering at 22/4 but now they seem to be a bit relaxed. However, one wicket is good enough to set the cat free amongst the pigeons. |
| 18.1 : M Shami to Dickwella, Shami steams in from round the wicket and bangs in a short ball. Dickwella ducks to let it pass. |
| 0.0 : As Shami runs in to bowl, Dickwella still hasn't taken his stance. This upsets Shami who makes his displeasure felt. Has a word with his skipper as well as the batter... Temperatures rising high at the Eden Gardens! |
| 18.2 : M Shami to Dickwella, The drama continues! Shami bowls in a short ball, Dickwella gets squared up in defense. Gets an outside edge that brushes his left shoulder and rolls over to slip. Instead of acknowledging the ball, Niroshan points to the bowler that the pitch has helped him bowl well which angers Shami to no end. Shami goes very close to the batter to give him an earful. |
| 18.3 : M Shami to Dickwella, Hurls it on a length around off, blocked from the crease. |
| The war of words is getting to hard to handle right now. Both the umpires have assembled in the middle and have a long chat with both the skippers as well. In the end, Dickwella apologizes to Kohli, who fumingly walks to his position on the field. All this is unnecessary as this time pass will hurt India more. |
| 18.4 : M Shami to Dickwella, Length ball outside off, left alone by ND. |
| 18.5 : M Shami to Dickwella, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 18.6 : M Shami to Dickwella, Dickwella comes forward and blocks it. |
| Spin time. RAVINDRA JADEJA comes into the attack to give the pacers some respite. |
| 19.1 : R Jadeja to D Chandimal, Flatter around off, hit towards mid off. |
| 19.2 : R Jadeja to Chandimal, This ball is hit back to the bowler. |
| 19.3 : R Jadeja to D Chandimal, Chandimal drives it through covers and jogs across for a run. Seeing that the man at sweeper is Ashwin, decides that there is a second run on offer and completes it. |
| 19.4 : R Jadeja to D Chandimal, Landed around off, eased through covers for a run. |
| The floodlights have been switched on. Now, it's a race against time. It always was, now it's even more. |
| 19.5 : R Jadeja to N Dickwella, FOUR! Shot! Nicely played. Jadeja floats it outside off, Dickwella drives it powerfully through covers. The fielder there dives but it is far from him. How good the outfield has been, as it just speeds to the fence. |
| 19.6 : R Jadeja to Dickwella, Around off, hit straight to the cover fielder. |
| 20.1 : M Shami to Chandimal, Outside off, left alone by Dinesh. |
| 0.0 : What happened there? There was a noise as the ball passes Chandimal but the umpire doesn't think so. Kohli takes a chance and reviews this. |
| 20.2 : M Shami to Chandimal, Not Out! Shami bowls it around off, Chandimal gets beaten for the pace and the ball passes close to his bat and strikes something before going to the keeper. The Indians appeal but the umpire stays unmoved. India decide to review this. There is no bat involved says the Snicko and LBW is out of question as the impact is well outside off. |
| 20.3 : M Shami to Chandimal, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 20.4 : Shami to D Chandimal, OUT! Timber! The Eden Garden erupts. Shami is ecstatic and why not! It is a peach of a delivery to end the 47-run stand that came in 53 balls. Shami hurls a fuller delivery around off, it swings in even before pitching and then goes on with the angle. Chandimal looks to flick it away but gets a faint inside edge owing to the movement. Ends up shattering the stumps. If I'm good at reading expressions, the Lankan skipper's look suggests as if his new car has been banged |
| DASUN SHANAKA strides out to the centre. Can he handle the pressure along with the conditions out there? He is on a pair. |
| 20.5 : M Shami to Shanaka, Good ball first up. In line of the stumps, Shanaka gets behind the line and blocks. |
| 20.6 : M Shami to Shanaka, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| Just an over for Jadeja. BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR is brought on from this end. |
| 21.1 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Outside off, left alone. |
| 21.2 : B Kumar to Dickwella, This ball is hit to the point region. |
| 21.3 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| The umpires have gone upstairs for a caught behind appeal against Dickwella. The soft signal is OUT! |
| 21.4 : Kumar to Dickwella, Drama and more drama! The third umpire reverses the on-field call. NOT OUT it is and Dickwella stays on. Kumar bowls it on a length just outside off, Dickwella looks to punch that and gets an inside edge. Saha gets low to his right and pouches that and appeals. The umpire goes upstairs, giving the soft signal that the batsman is out. However, replays show that the ball has just landed short. Multiple times it has to be looked to overturn the on-field call. Right decisio |
| 21.5 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Outside off, Dickwella looks to drive but gets hit on the front pad before the ball rolls towards the keeper. The Indians put up a stifled appeal. But it is all futile as the impact is well outside off, which is seen from the naked eye. |
| 21.6 : B Kumar to Dickwella, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment. |
| 22.1 : M Shami to Shanaka, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 0.0 : Light starting to fade away. |
| 22.2 : M Shami to Shanaka, Ouch! That might have hurt! Shami bangs it short around off, Shanaka sways away from the line but is unable to get the body away in time and cops a blow on his chest on the right side. Looks to be in some pain. |
| After being struck on his body, the physio rushes on the field. But the batsman signaled that he is alright. This makes the physio pause before eventually running on the field to tend to Dasun. Strange, as teams would want to let time pass by especially when you are on the back foot. The Indians aren't amused by Mr. Llong is having nothing of that. |
| 22.3 : M Shami to Shanaka, Landed outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 22.4 : M Shami to Shanaka, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 22.5 : M Shami to Shanaka, On middle and off, worked straight to short mid-wicket. |
| 22.6 : M Shami to Shanaka, Full and outside off, driven straight to mid off. |
| Dickwella is a goner! Rightly though, he chooses to use the DRS. It is for a LBW decision. |
| 23.1 : B Kumar to Dickwella, OUT! LBW! The umpire's call stays! The Indians are pumped up as they have finally seen the back of Dickwella. Kumar comes round the wicket and bowls it on a length around off. Dickwella looks to flick but misses and wears it on the front pad. The Indians put in a celebratory appeal which is agreed by the umpire. Dickwella chooses for the DRS. It shows that the ball would have clipped the top of off stump. The on-field call stays though the Lankans retain their review. |
| 0.0 : DILRUWAN PERERA walks in at no.9 for Sri Lanka. |
| 5 slips in place. |
| Perera has been adjudged LBW! He immediately chooses to review that call. Should be a goner unless the bat saves him. |
| 23.2 : B Kumar to Perera, Not Out! Perera makes the right use of the review system in place. Kumar is making the ball talk here. Bowls it around off, Perera looks to defend. The ball however misses the bat and hits him on the back leg. Looks pretty adjacent and the umpire feels so too. Perera immediately signals for the review. The Hawk Eye returns that the bounce would have meant that the ball would have gone over the stumps. Strange! Didn't look that the ball bounced that much, to the naked eye |
| 23.3 : B Kumar to Perera, Bouncer! The batsman does well to evade it. |
| 23.4 : B Kumar to Perera, Full and outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 23.5 : B Kumar to Perera, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 23.6 : B Kumar to Perera, Landed outside off, watchfully defended. |
| 24.1 : M Shami to Shanaka, Bowled around off, Shanaka blocks it from the crease. |
| 24.2 : M Shami to Shanaka, Good shot. Fuller in line of the stumps, Dasun drives it straight down the ground. The fielder from mid on gives it a valiant chase and restricts the batsmen to a couple. Shanaka gets off the pair. |
| 24.3 : M Shami to Shanaka, FOUR! Well timed! Fuller around off and middle, Shanaka clips it past mid-wicket. There's nobody in the deep who'll prevent the boundary. |
| 24.4 : M Shami to Shanaka, Outside off, left alone. |
| 24.5 : M Shami to Shanaka, Length ball outside off, Shanaka has a feel for it but misses. |
| 24.6 : M Shami to Shanaka, Around off, pushed towards covers. |
| 25.1 : B Kumar to Perera, Bowled just outside off, Perera hangs out his bat in defense but misses the ball altogether. |
| 25.2 : B Kumar to D Perera, OUT! Jaffa! Perera's stumps have gone for a roll! Kumar drops it on a length around off, Perera plays down the wrong line. Ends up missing the ball completely which strikes the stumps down. The crowd's noise is deafening. India crawl closer now. |
| RANGANA HERATH is seen walking out to the middle. Sri Lanka's dressing room looks concerned because of the visibility. However, they are in such a position that even if it would have been noon, they'd have problems. |
| 25.3 : B Kumar to Herath, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 25.4 : B Kumar to Herath, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. |
| 25.5 : B Kumar to Herath, On the pads, flicked away towards mid-wicket. |
| The umpires have got the light meters out. The longer the pacers operate, the more will be the frequency of their checking. |
| 25.6 : B Kumar to Herath, Brilliantly bowled! Kumar nails a yorker in line of the stumps, Herath does extremely well to dig it out. |
| The Sri Lankan physio was seen rushing out. Not sure who asked for it, but the umpires know the game of cricket and have sent him off immediately. |
| 26.1 : M Shami to Shanaka, Shami steams in and lands it around off. Shanaka blocks it with a straight bat. |
| 26.2 : M Shami to Shanaka, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 26.3 : M Shami to Shanaka, Fuller around off, Dasun presents the full face of the bat to defend that. |
| The umpires get together once again. Signs do not look promising for India, who have one foot on the win. The umpires talk to each other, check the light meters and decide that the light is poor to continue. Kohli has a talk with the umpires and then is seen shaking hands with the Sri Lankan batsmen. Yes, IT IS A DRAW, but an interesting one towards the end. |
| Hush! What an hour of play towards the end we have had! What looked like a tame draw at most points of time turned out to be a draw albeit a thrilling one. The Indian seamers gave their all to pick 7 Sri Lankan wickets. Kumar was just magnificent with the ball as figures of 11-8-8-4 seldom lie. He got good support from Shami from the other end as well. As much as their efforts should have reaped rewards, they'd feel hard done by the fading light. |
| Sri Lanka can give themselves a pat on the back for more than one reason. Firstly, they quashed all those talks that pointed to another whitewash or a domination by India, by starting exceedingly well with the ball. Lakmal was just outstanding with the assistance that he got from up as well as down. In overcast conditions on a green track, he was menacing to say the least. |
| However, India were saved the blushes by Pujara in the first innings, who played another characteristic knock of his to help them post what looked then a decent total on the board. He was helped from some useful cameos from lower down the order. It's easy to say that the highlight of the Sri Lankan batting lay in Herath's 3rd Test fifty. That wouldn't have counted for anything though if not for some good fighting half centuries from Mathews and Thirimanne. Dickwella too got a start but didn't ca |
| India were off to a reasonably flying start as Dhawan and Rahul laid a solid platform of 166 runs. Both of them missed out the respective tons. The southpaw would deem himself unlucky as he looked in command before his mind and bad light got the better of him. But then India were caught in a quandary as to whether play for being safe or go for the kill, i.e., get quick runs and set Sri Lanka a target that they would look to get. India did get to the latter plan but it was a bit too late in hinds |
| Although Lakmal and Shanaka, with their twin three-wicket strikes, helped them have a target of 231, it was always a bit too much considering the conditions and the time available. Both of them were really good even without much assistance off the track. They got off to a horrid start with the bat though. Having been 22/4, chances of a defeat increased. Then came the moment, which you can say, saved them to a great extent. |
| Dickwella combined with his skipper Chandimal to forge a 47-run stand that just took the hosts by surprise. Add to that, Dickwella getting under the Indian player's skin only aided their cause. They were made to waste the 'precious' match time as the threat of bad light and hence an early stumps always loomed. It was a gutsy knock but Kumar helped India make further inroads after making the early strikes. As much as India would have liked to have carried on, the umpires carried them off, eventua |
| MOHAMMED SHAMI says that the bowlers had to put those extra efforts to pick up wickets towards the end. Observes that even the crowd enjoyed that passage of play. States that they were trying 100 percent to bowl in the right areas and get a win. Being a local lad, he knew that sun would come out after the second day for play to take place. He made his debut on this ground the experience gained by playing along with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar always helps, he reckons. Ends saying that he carri |
| In a way, both sides were pushed to their limits and then came back well to end in the middle of the equilibrium. Looking at the way they played, the draw seems to be the best result in the end. Stay tuned as we get to you the captains' view. |
| DINESH CHANDIMAL says that winning the toss helps in such conditions. States that they fought and played well till the very end as a team. He is happy as they competed well. States that Lakmal has been doing well for them in the past couple of years and is trustworthy at any point of time. Feels great for Herath who scored his third Test fifty although there was very little for him to do with the ball. Reckons that even in the series against Pakistan, batting in the second innings was the key an |
| VIRAT KOHLI states that it was important to make a game of this in whatever time was available. Opines that although the conditions changed drastically after the first couple of days, it was important for them to not let the opposition get far ahead in the game. Towards the end, he says that more on Sri Lanka's batting collapses, he relied on his teams strengths as given the position that the opposition were in, mistakes from the batsmen would have been hard to come. Bowling in the right areas w |
| BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR is the Man of the Match. He says that as the surface was drier, it was difficult to bowl in the second innings than the first. There was reverse swing available, he states. On changing from being just a swing bowler to having those extra yards of pace, he opines that he always wanted to improve on that. Ends saying that the mindset was that of playing in overseas conditions and hence they could never afford to relax. |
| So, that's it from us in this game! Although rain dominated the first couple of days in the match, a good contest between bat and ball ensued later on. That it had such a close finish adds weightage to the adage that in cricket, it isn't over till it's really over. Both these sides clash for the second Test in Nagpur on 24th November. Join us at 0930 local time (0400 GMT) then. Till then, it's a goodbye from us. |
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