Live Cricket Score, India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 5: Ravindra Jadeja Removes Mathews, India 6 Wickets Away From Win

One day left and India need seven wickets to earn their ninth successive series victory. The Indian bowlers left Sri Lanka precariously placed at 31 for three and staring at another humiliation in the third and final Test. The Visitors have an Herculean task to salvage a draw from this position and it will be a miracle if Sri Lanka manage to make it. The 16 overs that they batted during the final 85 minutes of the fourth day's play was with an aim to survive rather than play positive cricket. If the scoreboard is anything to go by, the ploy boomeranged on the visitors, who were again seen wearing anti-pollution masks, the second time in the game. An intriguing day of cricket awaits on Wednesday when Sri Lanka, presented a target of 410 runs, resumes at 31 for three at the Feroz Shah Kotla. (Live Scorecard)

The pitch has not deteriorated much but it is the straighter deliveries from the spinners that is causing maximum damage. Mohammed Shami (1/8 in 3 overs), who was unwell after a three-over burst, bowled a hostile spell and accounted for Sadeera Samarawickrama (5). A barrage of short deliveries unnerved the opener, who was hit on the temple while fielding in India's first innings. Shami played on his psyche with well-disguised bouncers into his body - one such he fended awkwardly and offered a simple catch to Ajinkya Rahane in the slips. The ever-accurate Ravindra Jadeja (5-2-5-2) had Dimuth Karunaratne caught behind, giving Wriddhiman Saha his fifth catch of the match. The decision to send Suranga Lakmal (0) as nighwatchman backfired as he played on while trying a forward defensive prod.

Catch the live action and updates of India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 5, straight from Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

10:37 IST: Four! Short delivery outside off, Chandimal slaps it past point to collect his first boundary of the day.

10:35 IST: Ashwin concedes three runs in his first over of the final day. Sri Lanka 67/4 in 31 overs.

10:34 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin introduced in the attack.

10:30 IST: Drinks are on the field now. Just one wicket in the first hour for India, but it was the big wicket of Mathews. However, Dhananjaya on the other hand played some beautiful shots to take his team forward.

10:28 IST: Four! Dhananjaya dances down the wicket, gets close to the ball, and guides it for a boundary on the leg-side. A long chase for Pujara from mid-wicket but is beaten.

10:24 IST: Four! Lucky! Short of a length delivery just outside off from Shami, Dhananjaya played with soft hands and edged it past Rahane at gully for a boundary at third man.

10:20 IST: Four! Short delivery from Jadeja, Dhananjaya rocks back and pulls with intent for a boundary.

10:19 IST: 50 comes up for Sri Lanka in the 28th over.

10:18 IST: Good start from Shami, bowls a maiden over.

10:14 IST: Mohammed Shami introduced in the attack, replaces Ishant.

10:13 IST: Sri Lanka 49/4 in 26 overs, need need 361 runs to win.

10:11 IST: Four! Dhananjaya steps down the wicket and slams Jadeja straight down the ground for a boundary.

10:05 IST: Jadeja has been impeccable in the first session of the game till now. In total, he has bowled nine overs with six maidens and three wickets.

10:02 IST: 23 overs gone, Sri Lanka 43/4.

10:00 IST: Unlucky Mathews. Jadeja had overstepped and umpire Joel Wilson failed to spot it. On the other hand, the ball will be replaced as it failed the hoop test.

09:56 IST: Four! Short delivery from Ishant, Dhananjaya pulls with authority. Back-to-back boundaries for the Lankan.

09:54 IST: Out! Brilliant piece of bowling from Jadeja. Tossed up delivery, Mathews lunged forward for the defensive push but edges it to Ajinkya Rahane at first slip. Mathews departs for one.

09:48 IST: Brilliant from Ishant. Short of a length delivery, the ball keeps straight with some extra bounce, Mathews plays and misses as he could've easily got a tiny nick.

09:42 IST: Ishant Sharma bowls a maiden over. Back-to-back maidens for India. Sri Lanka 34/3 in 19 overs.

09:38 IST: Jadeja starts off with a maiden over.

09:36 IST: Ravindra Jadeja introduced into the attack. Kohli aiming to keep the pressure on the batsmen.

09:35 IST: First over of the day gone, Ishant concedes three runs. Sri Lanka 34/3.

09:33 IST: Full length delivery from Ishant, Dhananjaya flicks it to deep square leg for three runs, first runs of the day for the visitors.

09:31 IST: First ball, short of a length from Ishant, Dhananjaya covers for the movement and lets it go.

09:30 IST: Ishant Sharma starts for India and Dhananjaya to face him for the first ball of Day 5.

09:27 IST: Alright, game time! Both teams are walking out in the middle for an exciting final day of Test.

09:22 IST: While Sri Lanka need 379 runs to win, India need seven wickets to register a commanding win.

09:18 IST: If Virat Kohli (31*) wins the Test series against Sri Lanka then he will surpass former Australia captain Ricky Ponting (31) for the most number of wins in a calender year

09:12 IST: Birthday boy Ravindra Jadeja will like to make his day special by picking up wickets and help India register a historic win.

Here's wishing one of #TeamIndia's rockstars @imjadeja a very happy birthday #HappyBirthdayJaddu pic.twitter.com/gdgHwYZfMj

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2017

09:05 IST: Team India prepping up for the final day of the final Test.

#TeamIndia prepping up for the final day of the final Test #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/mYXPVxWa1P

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2017

09:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the final day of the third Test between India and Sri Lanka straight from Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Skipper Virat Kohli (50 off 58 balls), Rohit Sharma (50 off 49 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (67 off 91 balls) made useful contributions as India declared at 246 for five, with an overall lead of 409 runs. With a cushion of 163-run first innings lead, the Indian batsmen showed intent to score quick runs, scoring at a rate of 4.70 in the 52.2 overs they batted in the second innings. It was a 77-run stand in 17.2 overs for the third wicket between Cheteshwar Pujara (49 off 66 balls) and Dhawan in the post lunch session that set the platform for Kohli and Rohit to accelerate in the final session. The Indian skipper and his limited overs deputy added 90 runs in only 15.2 overs.