Mukund, Kohli fifties extend India lead

Abhinav Mukund and Virat Kohli slammed half-centuries as India extended their lead to 498 runs after third day’s play in their first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle.

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After bowling out the hosts for 291 despite Dilruwan Perera’s gritty 92*, India decided to bat again and at stumps, the visitors were 189 for 3 with Mukund falling in the final over for 81 while Kohli remained not out on 76*.

The left-right combo complimented each other well as they added 133 unbroken runs for the 3^rd wicket before Danushka Gunathilaka trapped Mukund plumb in front. The visitors will be looking to play at least another hour on day 4 to give enough time for Kohli to score his hundred before declaring the innings.

Earlier in the first session, the hosts resumed day three on 154 for 5, overnight batsman Angelo Mathews looked all set for his first Test century in two years but against the run of play, world number 1 spinner Ravindra Jadeja struck. Recently-resigned Mathews backed away to the leg and struck firmly towards the off-side where Kohli took a timely catch at short-extra cover. The dismissal brought an end to a 62-run stand for the 6^th wicket, the highest in the Sri Lankan innings.

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Skipper Rangana Herath attempted a reverse-sweep off Jadeja but the ball lobbed to first slip after brushing the glove. Herath challenged the decision but there was no conclusive evidence to reverse the decision. Nuwan Pradeep added 39 runs with Perera for the 8^th wicket before being castled by part-time seam of debutant Hardik Pandya.

Dilruwan Perera was given LBW on 38 off Jadeja but overturned the decision using DRS as the replays confirmed the ball was missing the stumps. He took on the spinners stunningly, slog sweeping and hitting down the ground to score 10 fours and 4 sixes. Perera’s ability to play the cross-batted pull against the seamers was amazing and he showed the top order how to milk the bowlers despite losing partners at the other end.

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Jadeja ended Dilruwan’s hopes of a maiden century nine balls after lunch, beating Lahiru Kumara’s outside edge and crashing the off-stump.

With a 309-run lead, India opted not to enforce follow-on. The two openers started briskly before the first innings’ centurion, Shikhar Dhawan made a lousy cut shot off Dilruwan straight to cover-point with the score on 19.

One drop batsman, Chesteshwar Pujara got off to another healthy start before Kusal Mendis’ individual brilliance at leg-gully ended Pujara’s stay with the score on 56. He flicked Kumara uppishly and Mendis held onto a smart take on the second attempt as rain interrupted play, 30 minutes before scheduled tea time.

Exactly 86 minutes of play was lost to rain which kept the ground staff busy. Since the resumption, Mukund and Kohli batted with authority and delicacy to extend the Indian lead and shut the hosts out of the game.

Mukund reached a well-deserved fifty, his first since July, 2011 while after a string of low-scores, Kohli brought his 15^th Test half-century in 68 deliveries. The way Kohli used his long stretches evaded the Lankan spinners while Mukund played it late and farmed the strike at will.

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