Live
- Gurgaon Open: M Dharma fires 67 for two-shot lead on penultimate day
- Sharad Pawar made many attempts to finish Shiv Sena, claims Maha minister
- Former England opener Raman Subba Row dies aged 92
- IPL 2024: Impact player rule is affecting the progress of half all-rounders, says Zaheer Khan
- ‘Teppa samudram’ review: Entertains with twists and turns
- ‘Market Mahalakshmi’ review: Blends humour and heartfelt moments
- SC reserves verdict on pleas seeking mandatory EVM-VVPAT tally
- Actress Ananya Nagalla Launches Advanced Gro hair and Glo skin Clinic at Banjara Hills
- LS poll battle: Only 9.83 pc candidates are women in NE states
- MahaYuti will win 45 plus LS seats in Maharashtra
Series decider evenly poised
Series decider evenly poised. India pacer Ishant Sharma claimed an impressive five-wicket haul, but Sri Lankan bowlers struck back to leave the visitors struggling in their second innings as rain forced early stumps on Day 3 of the third cricket Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) here on Sunday.
Colombo: India pacer Ishant Sharma claimed an impressive five-wicket haul, but Sri Lankan bowlers struck back to leave the visitors struggling in their second innings as rain forced early stumps on Day 3 of the third cricket Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) here on Sunday.
.jpg)
Ishant returned figures of 5 for 54, as the hosts were bundled out for 201, in reply to India's first innings total of 312. Stuart Binny (2-24), Amit Mishra (2-25) and Umesh Yadav (1-64) also bowled superbly. In India's second innings, Rohit Sharma (14 no) and skipper Virat Kohli (1no) remained unbeaten at stumps as the visitors struggled to post a meagre 21 for 3.
The visitors had a vital 132-run second innings lead at the end of the day's play. With the SSC pitch offering appreciable lateral movement, Indian pacers struck early blows to reduce the hosts to 47 for 5 at lunch. Following the break, Ishant continued his rampaging form as he had Lahiru Thirimanne (0) caught at first slip before forcing Dhammika Prasad to retire hurt with a blow on his left hand.
However, a 79-run partnership between Perera and Herath got the hosts back on track and although Perera departed before tea, Herath ensured that Sri Lanka did not stare at a big deficit. Starting their second innings with a 111-run lead, the visitors were on the backfoot right away when Dhammika Prasad dislodged Cheteshwar Pujara's middle stump with an incoming delivery.
Pujara, who carried his bat through India's first innings, became the only man to follow such a feat with a duck in the same Test. Lokesh Rahul soon followed Pujara back to the dressing room when he misread another incoming delivery from pacer Nuwan Pradeep. The opener attempted to leave the ball only to see his bails go flying all over.
Pradeep then trapped Ajinkya Rahane leg before as the Lankans clawed their way back into the match. At the close, Pradeep had figures of 2 for 6 while Prasad took one wicket for eight runs. .
Brief Scores: India 312 and 21 for 3 (Nuwan Pradeep 2/6) vs Sri Lanka 201 (Kusal Perera 55, Rangana Herath 49, Ishant Sharma 5/54)
