IndiaToday.in | Posted by Rohan Sen
New Delhi, December 4, 2017 | UPDATED 09:03 IST
India vs Sri Lanka: The visitors will be looking to pose some sort of a challenge against the hosts after Virat Kohli's record double hundred put India in a commanding position on Day 2.
(AP Photo)Hello and Welcome to our Live Coverage of the third day's play in the third Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.
9.00 IST: What to expect on Day 3? It is often called the moving day in cricket. Mathews and Chandimal have looked set but one always starts new on a fresh day. The first hour will be crucial. Can Sri Lanka battle hard? Or will they be rolled over by the Indians?
Day 2 report:
India captain Virat Kohli smashed a career-best 243, his second successive double hundred, before a blanket of smog prompted him to declare on 536/7 in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
The home side's attack then turned the screw even further on the visitors when they reduced Sri Lanka to 131-3 on the second day.
Angelo Mathews capitalised on an early reprieve to score 57 not out and skipper Dinesh Chandimal was on 25 with Sri Lanka still 405 behind on a hazy day in the Indian capital.
Behind in the match and struggling in the conditions, several Sri Lankan players returned from the lunch break sporting facemasks as the seasonal haze affecting the region thickened over the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.
The smog eventually held up play twice and 22 minutes was lost in total as Lahiru Gamage and his pace colleague Suranga Lakmal both left the field during the second session as they found it difficult to breathe.
Umpires Nigel Llong and Joel Wilson were discussing the air quality with the tourists when Kohli signalled his team in.
Until then, the stadium's near-capacity crowd was treated to some elegant shot-making by Kohli, who hit 25 crisp boundaries in his master class spread over seven-and-half hours.
The 29-year-old became the first international captain to score six double centuries, all of them coming in the last 17 months.
His latest looked a mere formality after India, chasing a record-equalling ninth consecutive Test series victory, resumed on 371-4.
Kohli's partner in a 135-run fifth-wicket stand, Rohit Sharma, smacked left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan (4-167) over long-off for a six but all eyes were on Kohli as he approached the 200-mark.