Live cricket score, India vs Sri Lanka, Third Test, Day 1: Vijay gets 50, IND steady

Murali Vijay registered his 16th fifty while Virat Kohli came close to 5000 runs in Tests as India made a great start against Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah Kotla.The visitors still look for their first Test win on Indian soil and will have to do something special to consign Virat Kohli team to their first defeat at the Kotla since 1987. The winter setting for this Test match is just ideal for long batting stints at the middle and ahead of the long tour of South Africa, India’s top batsmen will test their skill and temperament against a Sri Lanka attack that has shown fire at times. Get live cricket score of India vs Sri Lanka, third Test, Day 1 here. (LIVE STREAMING INFO | LIVE SCORECARD | ASHES 2nd TEST LIVE SCORES)

11:34 hrs IST: That is lunch on day 1 of the Kotla Test. Vijay has scored a magnificent fifty as he continues his great form. Kohli has started off well and he is nearing 5000 Test runs.

11:31 hrs IST: FIFTY for Murali Vijay. He taps it to the off side and sets off for a quick single, the fielder has a shy at the bowler’s end but the ball ricochets off the stumps and to the boundary for overthrows.

11:25 hrs IST: Just five minutes to go until the lunch session. Will Sri Lanka strike or will both the batsmen get to their landmarks?

11:20 hrs IST: FOUR! The run-scoring tempo has gone up a notch. Kohli whips this flighted delivery to deep mid wicket. He is nearing 5000 runs.

11:16 hrs IST: FOUR! Vijay is nearing yet another fifty as he works this to deep mid wicket. Smooth and serene batting from the Tamil Nadu batsman.

11:14 hrs IST: FOUR! Vijay is simply a delight to watch on the cover drive. Gamage bowls it too full and the batsman caresses the cover drive to the fence.

11:11 hrs IST: FOUR! Kohli gets off the mark in style as he flicks a short ball to deep mid wicket. The crowd at the Kotla roar.

11:05 hrs IST: WICKET! Fallen right into the trap. There was a fielder stationed at unconventional leg slip, Gamage bowls short and on the hips of Pujara, the batsman tucks it but finds the fielder. Cheteshwar Pujara c Samarawickrama b Gamage 23 (39).

11:04 hrs IST: At Wellington, it is stumps and New Zealand have ended on 447/9, a lead of 313 runs. Tom Blundell has hit fifty on debut while Colin de Grandhomme scored a blazing century.

11:01 hrs IST: Lakshan Sandakan, the Sri Lankan chinaman bowler, is into the attack. Can he get some purchase of this wicket and break this dangerous stand?

10:56 hrs IST: FOUR! Pujara is on song here. Overpitched from Gamage and the batsman drills it down the ground past the vacant mid-off region for a boundary.

10:53 hrs IST: FOURS! First boundary after six overs. Dilruwan bowls it short on the pads and Pujara whips it to the deep square leg fence. Next ball, Pujara once again finds the gap as he thwacks it to deep mid wicket.

10:49 hrs IST: Over in Adelaide, the rain persists and we could have an early tea. In Wellington, New Zealand’s lead has crossed 300.

10:46 hrs IST: There is not much bounce on the Kotla deck. The ball is also not coming on to the bat. Spin to have a major role. Perhaps, Dinesh Chandimal could be right. This is ideally not a good preparation for South Africa. But, could be wrong as well.

10:37 hrs IST: Play is all set to resume in Adelaide. Meanwhile, Pujara and Vijay have taken India past 50. This track is sluggish and only one hour is up on day one.

10:33 hrs IST: Over in Wellington, Tom Blundell scores a fifty on debut. New Zealand’s lead is 298.

10:30 hrs IST: Pujara and Vijay were the key in India seizing the initiative in the Nagpur Test. Can they do it again in Delhi?

10:21 hrs IST: Over in Wellington, Colin de Grandhomme slams the second fastest century by a New Zealand batsman in Tests as the lead nears 300. Great stuff. Meanwhile, Vijay and Pujara are all set to grind Sri Lanka.

10:15 hrs IST: WICKET! Lucky break for Sri Lanka. Dhawan slog sweeps Dilruwan to deep backward square leg where Lakmal misjudges it, somehow he holds on to the catch. Sheepish smile from the Sri Lankans. 100th wicket for the Sri Lankan offspinner. Shikhar Dhawan c Lakmal b Dilruwan 23 (35).

10:12 hrs IST: Once again rain halts play in Adelaide. This could be a lengthy break as the big covers come on. Over in Wellington, New Zealand’s lead is nearing 300 with de Grandhomme nearing a century.

10:07 hrs IST: FOUR! Poor ball from Dilruwan. Short ball and Dhawan waits on the back foot and punches it to the cover point boundary.

10:05 hrs IST: Only eight overs have been bowled and already we are seeing signs of spin. Dilruwan Perera into the attack

10:01 hrs IST: FOUR! Edged but safe. Lakmal probes away in that corridor outside off and Vijay edges it, the ball flies safely past second slip and gully for a boundary.

09:57 hrs IST: FOUR! After a couple of quiet overs, Dhawan breaks the shackles again with a boundary through cover off Gamage.

09:52 hrs IST: The rain has stopped in Adelaide. The game will resume shortly. Over in Wellington, Colin de Grandhomme is nearing a century.

09:45 hrs IST: Rain has delayed proceedings in Adelaide. The last time I can remember rain interrupting play in Adelaide was during the Phil Hughes Test between India and Australia in 2014, the match where Virat Kohli scored hundreds in both innings.

09:43 hrs IST: FOUR! Now, Dhawan gets into the act. Width offered by Lakmal and the left-hander cracks it past deep cover for a boundary.

09:41 hrs IST: FOUR! Delightful drive by Vijay. Full ball from Lahiru Gamage and the batsman just pushes it down the ground past mid on. Delight to watch.

09:35 hrs IST: FOURS! Poor start for Sri Lanka. Vijay opens the bat face and guides a full swinging ball to the third man fence. Next ball, Lakmal floats it on the pads and the batsman glances it to the fine leg fence. India make a good start.

09:31 hrs IST: Suranga Lakmal will open the bowling. Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay will open for India. Vijay to take strike. Three slips and a gully in place.

09:28 hrs IST: Over in Wellington, New Zealand’s lead has gone past 200 and Colin de Grandhomme is nearing a quick fifty. These runs are hurting the West Indies.

09:27 hrs IST: Right, the anthems are done. The action will begin shortly.

09:20 hrs IST: With the changes in the Indian side, Virat Kohli has still never played the same side in two consecutive Tests. So, change is the constant for the current Indian skipper.

09:16 hrs IST: At the Basin Reserve, New Zealand have crossed 300 and their lead is nearing 200. But, if one has to look deep into the Basin trends, the pitch flattens out on day 3 and 4. So West Indies still have a chance.

09:12 hrs IST: Australia have made a cautious start at Adelaide. Overcast skies, Pink Ball, Green pitch, wind blowing. Bowlers might have a field day today.

09:06 hrs IST: Here are the playing XIs for both sides. Lakshan Sandakan comes into the Sri Lankan side while Roshen Silva makes his debut.

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma

Sri Lanka: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal(c), Niroshan Dickwella(w), Roshen Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Gamage

09:01 hrs IST: India have won the toss and chosen to bat vs Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Couple of changes for India. Mohammed Shami replaces Umesh Yadav while Shikhar Dhawan replaces KL Rahul. So, the Delhi contingent is out in full force. Ishant Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan in the team.

08:56 hrs IST: Roshen Silva has been handed his cap and will make his debut for Sri Lanka. Remember, Rangana Herath has been ruled out of the Test due to a back injury. He is primarily a batsman who bowls offspinners.

08:51 hrs IST: Today is Super Saturday in cricket. Besides the Delhi Test, the Ashes Pink Ball Test will start in a couple of minutes. England have chosen to field against Australia. Across the Tasman, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Miguel Cummins has sent back Mitchell Santner but New Zealand have taken a 147-run lead against West Indies.

08:48 hrs IST: A warm welcome to the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka from the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. Virat Kohli’s side are aiming for their ninth straight series win while Sri Lanka are aiming to snap their winless streak against India.

India have some nice headaches and the choice for openers is one of them. Murali Vijay is confident that all three of India’s potential opening batsmen are ready to perform in the third Test against Sri Lanka as the trio vie to secure roles for the eagerly anticipated tour of South Africa.

KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan started the opening Test and both failed in the first innings, before making 79 and 94 respectively in their second knock. Dhawan sat out the next match and replacement Vijay capitalised with a fine 128 in a crushing victory.

Sri Lanka will be without spin king Rangana Herath but the left-armer has done precious little in this series. The look and feel of the Kotla wicket should once again inspire the quick bowlers who will be keen to bend their back and fire on all cylinder like they did at the Eden Gardens.