India v/s Sri Lanka: First Test match, Day 3: Chandimal dazzles with unbeaten 162, India finish Day at 23-1

LIVE BLOG

• 14 Aug 2015, 05:35 PM

  Stumps, Day 3

  What an entertaining day we've had. Sri Lanka's ship was about to sink, but good knocks from Mathews, Sangakkara, Thiramanne and an anchoring innings from Chandimal saved the day. Chandimal remained unbeaten on 162 to give the hosts a good lead of 175 runs. India lost Lokesh Rahul early on but now look steady with Shikhar Dhawan and Ishant Shrama as the night watchman.

  India are 23-1 and require another 153 runs to win.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 05:20 PM

  WICKET!

  Sri Lanka have struck early! Herath catches Lokesh Rahul lbw. Not a start the youngster would have wanted. He was replaced as the opening partner for the injured Murli Vijay and has failed to impress. India are 12-1 in 4.2 overs. Ishant Sharma walks down as the night watchman.

  Lokesh Rahul lbw b Herath 5 (14b)

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 05:02 PM

  The Indian opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh rahul walk out to the crease. Dhawan was the pick of the batsman in India's first innings with a century. India need 176 runs to win with 10 wickets in hand.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 04:45 PM

  WICKET!

  That's it from the Sri Lankan innings. R Ashwin ends things for the hosts with yet another beauty. He cleans up Pradeep. Chandimal reamins unbeaten though at 162. He proved the key to Lankans posting a respectable target to chase.

  N Pradeep b Ashwin 3 (4b)

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 04:35 PM

  WICKET!

  Finally Ishant Sharma gets one. Kaushals drive through the off-side only manages to edge the ball and it's a comfortable catch for Saha behind the wicktes. He was playing a good role but has to depart now, Chandimal still leading the battle. Sri Lanka are 361-9 with a lead of 171 runs.

  Kaushal c Saha b I Sharma 7 (22b)

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 04:35 PM

  150 for Chandimal!

  Brilliant innings from the Lankan. He is waging a solitary war for the hosts and could well turn the game around. He keeping the strike with himself. Kaushal is alongside him with 7(20b).

  Sri Lanka 352-8 with a lead of 160 runs and two wickets remaining.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 03:43 PM

  WICKET!

  Rangana Herath has to departs. Mishra strikes again. And yet again looks to be an umpiring error. The ball seems to have clipped the thigh pad and into the hands of Rahane at slip. Rahane with his eighth catch in this Test match.

  Rangan Herath c Rahane b Mishra 1 (15b)

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 03:40 PM

  WICKET!

  Jehan Mubarak misses out on his half  century by just one run! He was looking good, hitting a boundary of the previous ball to bring up the300 for Sri Lanka. But the very next ball he knicks one and is caught at slip. Harbahajan Singh gets his first of the innings.

  Sri Lanka are 302-7 with a lead of 110 runs.

  J Mubarak c Rahane b Harbhajan Singh 49 (60b)

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 03:25 PM

  65 overs gone, Sri Lanka have a glimmer of hope till Chandimal is on the crease. The batsman is going steadily at 103 with Mubarak proving the best assistance with 41(47b). 

  Sri Lanka are 287-6 with a lead of 95 runs and four wickets in hand.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 03:00 PM

  100 for Chandimal!

  He just places the ball towards the covers and takes a single for his 4th Test century. Brilliant innings by Chandimal under pressure. He could prove the key for Sri Lanka to post a respectable lead. 

  Sri Lanka are 265-6 with a lead of 74 runs and four wickets in hand.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 02:50 PM

  Tea, Day 3

  Superb session for the hosts. Chandimal just two runs short of a century as he leaves for tea. Good partnerships from Sangakkara and Angelo Matthews made sure the hosts take a respectable lead of 71 runs. Jehan Mubarak is providing good support. Meanwhile a monkey invades the pitch.

   

  Monkey on a cricket field, and Harbhajan had absolutely nothing to do with it. #SLvInd Galle

  — Andrew Fernando (@andrewffernando) August 14, 2015

   

  Sri Lanka 263-6 with a lead of 71 runs and four wickets remaining.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 02:30 PM

  After the end of

  55 overs, Sri Lanka are 243-6.

  Dinesh Chandimal still trying to resurrect the Lankan innings with an unbeaten 90. Jehan Mubarak accompaning him on 14(15b). 

  Sri Lanka lead by 51 runs with four wickets in hand.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 02:20 PM

  OUT!!

  It's R Ashwin to the rescue again. Ashwin's ball breaks the partnership between Chandimal (78) and Thirimanne (44). Ajinkya Rahane stretches a bit and takes the catch at slip. Jehan Mubarak has come to replace Thirimanne. Will he score in this inning?

  After 51 overs, Sri Lanka at 183 & 220/6 with 4 wickets in hand.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 02:11 PM

  After 50 overs, Thirimanne and Chandimal are taking Indian bowling apart. This is the test of Virat Kohli's strategy to use the five-bowler format.

  Sri Lanka at 1813 & 218/5 with 5 wickets in hand. Now the islanders lead by 26 runs.

   

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 01:36 PM

  Chandimal tries to get another big hit on Harbhajan Singh's bowling. The ball gets a lot of height but it falls inside the rope. Mishra manages to save the boundary as Harbhjan Singh fails to get any wickets.

  After 43 overs Sri Lanka at 183 & 187/5. They trail by mere 5 runs with 5 wickets remaining

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 01:20 PM

  Dinesh Chandimal scores his 9th Test fifty.

  Post lunch, Sri Lanka are slowly getting back in the game with a new partnership between Chandimal (50) and Thirimanne (23). The duo has gathered 76 runs over 13.5 overs with impressive runrate of 5.49

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 01:11 PM

  That's 150 runs for Sri Lanka.

  Chandimal and Thirimanne manage to hold the fortress for the islanders as Indian spin continues attacking.

  At 150 runs, Sri Lanka trail by 42 runs

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 12:55 PM

  SIX!!

  It was a big one from Chandimal to Mishra over square leg.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 12:47 PM

  And we are back. Some food and some caffeine goes a long way.

  R Ashwin starts the second session for the day. Thirimanne and Chandimal are on the pitch to bat for Sri Lanka.

  After 31 overs, Sri Lanka at Sri Lanka 183 & 114/5, trail by 78 runs with 5 wickets remaining

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 12:05 PM

  Amit Mishra to Chandimal, the ball gets the bounce on silly point's foot, for Mishra to come in and take the catch.

  A loud appeal is made. Third umpire rules not out. Sri Lanka benefits once again.

  At lunch time, Sri Lanka at 183 & 108/5. Trail by 84 runs with 5 wickets remaining 

  What's on your lunch menu then?

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 11:50 AM

  OUT!!

  Looks like Sangakkara's wicket has started the steady flow of Lankan batsmen back to the pavilion.

  Right after Ashwin, Amit Mishra takes out the second half on Lankan steady partnership, Angelo Mathews.

  Amit Mishra's ball bounces, hits the upper edge of Mathews' bat and KL Rahul takes the beautiful catch.

  Sri Lanka at 183 & 99/5 after 26.3 overs with  5 wickets in hand

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 11:40 AM

  OUT !!

  R Ashwin scalps the most important wicket of the day. The ball turns a lot, taking the edge of Sangakkara's bat it goes to the left slip. Ajinkya Rahane takes a magnificent catch!

  The crowd applauds and pays respect as Sangakkara goes back to the pavilion.

  Dinesh Chandimal has come to replace Sangakkara.

  Sri Lanka at 183 & 92/4. Trail by 100 runs with 6 wickets in hand

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 11:35 AM

  Meanwhile, let's see what twitter has to say about sunny third day at Galle International Stadium -

  This is the first time Sri Lanka have lost first 3 wickets with less than 30 runs on the board in both innings of a Test vs India. #INDvSL

  — Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 14, 2015

  Aaron in both innings so far, get an early wicket and then make ammends for it. #INDvSL

  — Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) August 14, 2015

  Percy tells me Sanga will do something today and then talks about his double centuries. Will be something if it happens from here. #INDvSL

  — Jaspreet Sahni (@jaspreet_sahni) August 14, 2015

  The good thing about Sangakkara getting a big one is India's five-bowler theory will be properly tested. #IndvSL

  — Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 14, 2015

   

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 11:25 AM

  After 20 overs, partnership of Kumar Sangakkara and skipper Angelo Mathews is flourishing now. They are keeping the scoreboard by taking strokes and sneaky running between the wickets. 

  Sri Lanka at 183 & 75/3. Trail by 117 runs with 7 wickets in hand.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 11:00 AM

  Angelo Mathews sends R Ashwin's ball in the hands of Virat Kohli crouching in the short leg. Third umpire rules out clear on the basis of too much doubt. 

  Mathews to continue.

  After 15 overs, Sri Lanka are at 183 & 55/3. Trail by 137 runs with 7 wickets in hand.

  Sangakkara and Mathews are in no mood to give up.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 10:50 AM

  Looks like  Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews will not give in so easily. Theya re slowly building their partnership. The current partnership is at 32 runs off 7.5 overs.

  Sri Lanka at 37/3 at the end of 12th over. They trail by 155 runs

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 10:24 AM

  That must have hurt so bad!

  Sri Lanka skipper takes Ishant Sharma's ball to his left side of his torso. After some treatment, Mathews is ready to play again.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 10:20 AM

  That was one big jump by Wriddhiman Saha. Sigh, only the gloves reached the ball. Getting the wicket of Angelo Mathews would have been a big achievement for Aaron.

  Twitter on the other hand is enjoying the match in their own way -

  @AnushkaSharma followed @VarunAaron on twitter & he started taking wickets :P #INDvSL

  — Abhijeet. (BROTHERS) (@imAbhijeet0803) August 14, 2015

  When was the last time an Indian fast bowler produced such a rude wake-up call for an opposition batsman? #SLvIND #INDvSL @IExpressSports

  — Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) August 14, 2015

   

   

   

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 10:05 AM

  OUT!!

  This is not a good start to the day for Sri Lanka. First ball of the day and Varun Aaron's bouncer took Dhammika Prasad's wicket. The bouncer came up to Prasad's throat, he tried to fend it but alert Rahane took the catch in gully.

  Sri Lanka at  183 & 10/3. Trail by 182 runs with 7 wickets in hand.

  
• 14 Aug 2015, 09:50 AM

  Before we start here are some interesting stats for your information - 

  •  India (375) have recorded their highest total vs Sri Lanka in Tests at Galle, surpassing the 338 in 2010.
  • Kohli has registered eight hundreds away from home in 22 Tests and three in 13 Tests in India.
  • Kohli enjoys an outstanding record as captain - his tally being 566 in four Tests at an average of 94.33, including four centuries. His strike rate of 63.09 is quite impressive.
  • Kohli has been dismissed on 103 three times in Tests - once each vs Sri Lanka, New Zealand and England. Eight times he has been dismissed between 103 and 119 in Tests.
  • For the first time in the same innings, both the openers have been dismissed without scoring by spinners # Wriddhiman Saha (60) has posted his maiden fifty in Tests, surpassing the 36 vs South Africa at Nagpur in February 2010
  • He is now the second Indian wicketkeeper to post a fifty in a Test in Sri Lanka - 76 by Mahendra Singh Dhoni had scored 76 at Colombo, SSC in 2010
  • Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were involved in a stand of 227 - India's highest third wicket stand vs Sri Lanka in Tests, surpassing the 173 between Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohinder Amarnath at Nagpur in December 1986.
  • The aforesaid stand is India's third highest for the third wicket in overseas Tests - the highest is 336 between Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag vs Pakistan at Multan in March 2004.