Indian fast-bowler, Ishant Sharma and Dhammika Prasad were in the thick of things as a grueling day of cricket ended on Monday with India strongly in the driving seat to beat Sri Lanka in the third and final Test match at SSC grounds.
Firstly, Sharma altercated with Prasad after he received a barrage of bouncers by the latter but minutes later, the Lankan seamer chased down Indian to the pavilion after getting the final wicket in an interesting manner.
Fiery Sharma returned to bowling and bowled with venom yet he gave two hasty send-offs to Tharanga and Chandimal after dismissing them.
All in all, India hold all the cards with only one day remaining as they need only 7 wickets to record a memorable series win. Sri Lanka need 319 runs to win the match or bat all day to save the game.
After being set a record target of 386, The Lankan top order failed with the bat once again as if they are walking scalps for Ishant Sharma and Co.
Tharanga and Dimuth poked at deliveries outside off-stump with both left-handers looking very average against the seaming delivery.
At 2 for 2, Chandimal walked in and played few delightful shots to score 18 off 17 but he became Sharma’s 2nd scalp while chasing a wide delivery away from his body.
Kaushal Silva (24*) and Angelo Mathews (22*) played it out safe until close of play and gave glimmer of hope to the hosts.
After being 21 for 3 overnight, India recovered well to muster 274 runs in their second innings with valuable knocks from the tail.
At the expense of Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India managed 111 runs in the first session. The Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews was helpless with the pitch settling down as he made many blunders in the field and let the Indians off the hook.
Virat Kohli was the first to be dismissed to the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep when he once again chased down a ball way outside the off-stump and was caught at slips.
Rohit Sharma and Stuart Binny gradually built a solid stand worth 54 in 63 balls to stretch the lead. Sharma reached his 4th half-ton but holed out at deep long-on soon after while trying a hook shot off Prasad.
After lunch, Stuart Binny missed a well-deserved half-ton when he was caught sharply for49 by Upul Tharanga at first slip off Dhammika Prasad.
Wicket-keeper batsman, Naman Ojha looked positive during his knock of 35 but he tried playing against the spin of Herath and was caught easily by Karunarathne at covers.
Amit Mishra was run-out for 39 thanks to superb reflexes by short-leg fielder Kaushal Silva just before the tea break.
R Ashwin played a blinder of an innings alongside the last two batsmen to notch up a cracking half-ton. He was the last to be dismissed after scoring 58 off 87 to become the highest run-scorer for India.
India – 312 all out in 100.1 overs: Cheteshwar Pujara 145*, Rohit Sharma 26, Naman Ojha 21, Amit Mishra 59, Dhammika Prasad 4/100, Rangana Herath 3/84.
Sri Lanka – 201 all out in 52.2 overs: Kusal Janith Perera 55, Rangana Herath 49, Dhammika Prasad 27, Dinesh Chandimal 23, Stuart Binny 2/24, Ishant Sharma 5/54, Amit Mishra 2/25.
India (2nd inn) – 274 all out in 76 overs: Rohit Sharma 50, Stuart Binny 49, Amit Mishra 39, R Ashwin 59, Naman Ojha 35, Nuwan Pradeep 4/62, Dhammika Prasad 4/69.
Sri Lanka (2nd inn) – 67/3 in 18.1 overs: Angelo Mathews 22*, Kaushal Silva 24*, Ishant Sharma 2/14.
