India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test, Day 3: Highlights

Suranga Lakmal grabbed four wickets to help Sri Lanka bowl India out for 172. Cheteshwar Pujara top scored with 52 for the hosts. Follow live cricket score and updates.

IndiaToday.in  | Posted by Jepher Christopher Nickels
November 18, 2017 | UPDATED 17:37 IST
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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the third day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at Kolkata. (Scorecard)

Sri Lanka 1st Innings:

16.09 IST: That's it. 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.

16.09 IST: 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.

15.59 IST: 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.

15.57 IST: 44.4 Shami to Dickwella, FOUR. 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.

15.45 IST: 42.5  Umesh 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.

15.24 IST: 38.5 Umesh to 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.

15:15 IST: FIFTY! 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. Sri Lanka 138/3, trail India (172) by 34 runs

15:12 IST: WICKET! 36.2: U Yadav to L Thirimanne! 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 by Thirimanne. Sri Lanka trail by 39 runs.

15:01 IST: 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 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 means five penalty runs.

14:57 IST: 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.

14:56 IST: FIFTY! 33.2: M Shami to 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. Sri Lanka 119/2, trail India (172) by 53 runs

14:45 IST: 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.

14.26 IST: Umpires call for Tea with Lahiru Thirimanne still stuck on 48 not out. Sri Lanka 113/2

14.07 IST:  25.4 Ashwin to Thirimanne, FOUR. 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.

14.02 IST: 24.4 Bhuvneshwar to Thirimanne, FOUR. 100 comes up for Sri Lanka. Wrong line again. On the pads, flicked through fine leg for the second boundary of the over.

14.02 IST: 24.2 Bhuvneshwar 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.

13.56 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin comes on for a bowl. First over of spin from India.

13.48 IST:21.4 Umesh to Mathews, FOUR. Excellent placement. Perhaps short of a fuller length, outside off, Mathews plays it behind point and gets a boundary!

13.44 IST 20.5 Shami to Mathews, FOUR. Thirimanne and Mathews bring up their FIFTY-run partnership. The first of the match! 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.

13.44 IST 20.4 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.

13.30 IST: Umesh finally gets it right, but Dhawan drops a sitter. Lahiru Thirimanne dropped on 27. 

13.28 IST: 16.5 Shami to Mathews, 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.

13.22 IST: 15.4 Umesh to Thirimanne, FOUR. Another poor ball. Down the leg side, Thirimanne clips it away for consecutive boundaries.

13.21 IST: 15.3 Umesh to 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.

13.17 IST: 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.

BCCI Photo

BCCI Photo

 

13.14 IST: 14.3 Bhuvneshwar to 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.

13.10 IST: 13.4 Umesh 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!

12.52 IST: 9.4 Shami to 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.

12.36 IST: 6.4 Bhuvneshwar to Samarawickrama, 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 tailing in back enough to disturb the sticks? Yes, it is. Confirms the Hawk Eye. Sri Lanka lose a review and their first wicket as well.

12.27 IST: 4.5 Bhuvneshwar 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.

12.23 IST:3.6 Shami to Samarawickrama, FOUR 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.

12.20 IST: 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.

12.18 IST: 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. Beats Jadeja backing up and races away to the fence.

12. 14 IST: 2.2 Bhuvneshwar 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.

12.13 IST: Nic Pothas is also celebrating his Bitrthday today.

12.09 IST: 1.1 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.

12.08 IST: Mohammed Shami to share the new cherry from the other end.

12.05 IST: 0.1 Bhuvneshwar 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.

India 1st Innings:

11.39 IST: 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.

AP Photo

AP Photo

 

11.28 IST: Lunch has been taken. Sri Lanka 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.

11.24 IST: 59.1 ALL OUT Gamage to Shami. 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!

11.23 IST: 59.1 Gamage to Shami, FOUR. 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.

11.18 IST: 58.2 Lakmal to Umesh, FOUR The tail is enjoying itself. Wagging along. A length ball, in line of the stumps, Umesh gives it a 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.

11.15 IST: 57.4 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.

 11.13 IST: 57.3 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.

11.10 IST:  If India get bowled out inside 10 minutes, Sri Lanka could come out to bat before the break.

11.07 IST: 56.2 Lakmal to Bhuvneshwar, 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.

10.54 IST: 52.3 Shanaka to Bhuvneshwar, FOUR  Controlled edge or was it? Landed outside off, Bhuvi pushes at it but gets squared up. However, he plays it with soft hands, hence the ball does not carry to the slip cordon. Anyways, it is in the gap and races to the third man fence.

10.50 IST: 51.5 OUT! Perera to Saha. 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. He takes the review and on the first replay, it seems like the ball has hit the arm. However, Snickometer shows a deflection when the ball goes past the bat. Well, the decision is... you know what... India back in trouble.

10.45 IST: OUT! 51.2 Perera traps Jadeja. 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 stays put and now the Lankans want a review as Perera is sure the ball has hit the pad first. The third umpire checks again and again for any inside edge and finally he is convinced that the ball has hit the pad first. Now, he asks for the Hawk Eye. We wait. He waits. The players wait. We could have had a drinks break. Still, the technology is not ready. Eventually, just when we fear the umpire's call might stay, we get the Tracker. It is perfect, hitting the top of leg stump. Jadeja has to go back now, he is very disappointed with himself. Not because of his dismissal but perhaps of the mode. He might have been okay had he holed out but missing the line of the ball.....

10.42 IST:Review time again! Dilruwan reckons that he has Jadeja trapped in front and has coaxed his skipper to take the only review remaining.

10.41 IST: 50.6 Shanaka to Saha, FOUR Half volley outside off, Saha leans and drives it through the covers for a boundary!

10.28 IST: The stands are filling up as the sun shines on Eden Garden. Maybe a full day of play?

BCCI Photo

BCCI Photo

 

10.19 IST: Dasun Shanaka comes into the attack for the first time this morning.

10.18 IST: 45.4 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.

10.15 IST: 44.4 Lakmal to Saha, 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, it 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. India 113/6

10.08 IST: 43.5 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.

10.00 IST: 42.1 Lakmal to 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 and go.

09:49 IST: 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 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.

09:48 IST: Appeal for an lbw! Not given and Dinesh Chandimal takes the referral. Looks a bit high.

09:47 IST: 39.5: L Gamage to Saha, FOUR! A bit uppish but through the gap. 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.

09:35 IST: WICKET! 37.2: Gamage to C Pujara! 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. India 79/6 (37.2 overs) vs Sri Lanka

09:18 IST: FIFTY! 33.5: R Herath to Pujara, FOUR! A tossed up ball on middle, 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! Wickets were tumbling at the other end but he kept his composure and has played an exemplary innings so far.

09:16 IST: Interesting move! It's 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.

09:15 IST: 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.

09:13 IST: Ashish Nehra rings the bell, that's 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.

09:05 IST: 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 would mean that any bit of movement off the surface could get the batters in trouble. Ends opining that the bowlers should rule the day.

Good news to begin with. No covers are on the ground and the players are seen practicing. There has been no rain since last evening and a good amount of play is possible on the third day today. However, it's still overcast.

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-players. They do look good to watch but these conditions test your real game. India stand exposed at the moment.

In the limited time for which play was possible on the second day, Sri Lanka's seam bowlers continued to make life tough for the Indian batsmen. If Day 1 belonged to Suranga Lakmal, Day 2 was all about Dasun Shanaka, who grabbed the two wickets to fall in the day.

Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten on 47 up while Wriddhiman Saha was his partner at the other end. It is expected to be a better day in terms of the weather.