Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test, Day 3: Mukund falls just before stumps, but visitors in driver's seat

Galle: India continued dominating the first Test against Sri Lanka on Day three as they have taken a mammoth lead of 498 runs.

Earlier in the day, the Men in Blue bundled out Sri Lanka to 291, after helpful contributions from Upul Tharanga (64), Angelo Mathews (83) and Dilruwan Perera (92). Asela Gunaratne, who was ruled out of the series with an injured thumb did not walk out to bat, and the hosts were all out after the ninth wicket fell. India, however, did not enforce Sri Lanka to a follow on.

In the Indian innings, centurions of the previous innings Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara departed early as they were dismissed for 14 and 15 respectively. Rain came into play just before tea and the match was delayed for about an hour

Soon after play resumed, opener Abhinav Mukund, who brought up his second Test fifty and Virat Kohli kept Team India going as they put up a partnership of 133.

However, Mukund departed for 81 just before stumps as Danushka Gunathilaka appealed for an LBW.  

The Lankans will have a huge task at hand on Day four as they continue to struggle against the Indian batsmen.

India 158/2 from 37 overs

It was another milestone for the duo of Virat Kohli and Abhinav Mukund as they put up a 100 run partnership. This match is certainly going India’s way as they are not giving any room for the Lankan bowlers to breakthrough.

India 141/2 from 35 overs

India extended their lead to 450 as Virat Kohli and Abhinav Mukund kept the visitors going. With just 11 overs left, the Men in Blue will hope to extend their lead to 500 and set up a humungous task for Sri Lanka on Day 4. 

India 136-2 from 34 overs

Indian opener Abhinav Mukund showcased an improved performance after he got to just his second Test fifty. Mukund, who got out for 12 in the first innings, looked in good touch, as he continues to build a good partnership with Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli got to his 15th Test fifty as India continued to march on in the match. This was his fastest fifty as captain in Tests on overseas grounds. Also, India's lead closed onto the 450 run mark. 

India 92/2 from 23 overs

India continued dominating the Test match as their lead crossed 400. Both Virat Kohli and  Abhinav Mukund looks in good touch at the moment. While Abhinav Mukund (40) will hope to get to just his second half-century in Tests, the Indian captain has been supporting him from the other end, scoring 23.

India 67-2 from 18 overs

Play has resumed after a rain delay. About 30 overs will be bowled. Captain Virat Kohli and opener Abhinav Mukund are taking India forward as they gradually approach the 400 run lead.

Update: Covers come off

The covers have come off. The match will resume soon. 31 overs are yet to be bowled.

Rain update

The rain has stopped. There will be a ground inspection by the umpires at 3.45 pm.

Tea break: India 56/2 from 16.5 overs

Cheteshwar Pujara departed after scoring just 15 runs as Lahiru Kumara got Lanka's second wicket. Pujara flicked it behind square on the on side just as Kusal Mendis took a good catch. However, players walked off the field just as the rain arrived.

So, the players head for tea after rain continues to play spoilsport.

India 44/1 from 12 overs

India kept their score ticking in the second innings even after Shikhar Dhawan departed early. Cheteshwar Pujara, who came in at number three, and Abhinav Mukund kept the team going as the lead went past 350.

India 19/1 from 4.1 overs

WICKET! The centurion from the first innings departs early this time round. Dilruwan Perera sent in a short ball outside the off stump, a ball that was asking to be hit. But the ball stopped on Dhawan, who only spooned it to substitute Dhananjaya de Silva at backward point.

Sri Lanka 291/9 (all out) from 78.3 overs

WICKETS! And Ravindra Jadeja wraps things up with a peach of a delivery. Lahiru Kumara completely missed the line of the ball, as it went on to clip the top of the off stump. Although Sri Lanka technically have one more wicket left, Asela Gunaratne's injury means that he cannot come out to bat. India will not enforce follow-on.

Sri Lanka 289/8 from 77 overs

LUNCH! The islanders are in deep waters now. With Angelo Mathews gone, Dilruwan Perera is their only hope of avoiding follow-on, which seems like a long way away right now. They need another 111 runs with the last two wickets remaining, for that.

Sri Lanka 280/8 from 73.5 overs

WICKET! A great moment for Hardik Pandya on his debut. After he scored a debut half century yesterday, Pandya has now picked up his first ever wicket in Test cricket. Lahiru Perera backed away to the leg side, in order to make room, but his shot lacked conviction, as he seemed to just poke at a straight delivery by Pandya. While Perera missed, Pandya hit, knocking over the Sri Lankan's stumps.

Sri Lanka 241-7 from 59 overs

WICKET! Ranagana Herath departs, Jadeja picks up his second wicket. Herath goes for a reverse-sweep but the ball brushed the glove band on its way to Rahane at first slip.

Dilruwan Perera  reaches his half century

Sri Lanka 205-6 from 50 overs

WICKET! India got yet another wicket, Angelo Mathews innings comes to an end as he is dismissed for 83 runs . Angelo Mathews was looking good untill he hit the ball  straight to Kohli at short cover of Jadeja's bowling , Team India got the breakthrough yet again. Rangana Herath comes to crease.

Sri Lanka 175-5 from 50 overs

Angelo Mathews and Dilruwan Perera give Sri Lanka steady start in the morning session as both the batsman have managed to keep Indian bowlers at bay. 

Preview: Virat Kohli and co hold the upper hand, as Team India get set for Day 3 of their first Test against Sri Lanka, at the Galle International Stadium, on Friday.

India have been dominant throughout the first two days of play, with supreme batting efforts by opener Shikhar Dhawan (190) and Cheteshwar Pujara (153) helping the world no one Test side put up a mammoth total of 600 on board.

Nuwan Pradeep was the only Sri Lanka bowler to show any promise, ending with first innings figures of 6-132.

This was followed by a dominant bowling performance by the Indians, as Mohammed Shami (2-30), Umesh Yadav (1-50) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1-49) made early inroads into the Sri Lanka innings. Abhinay Mukund also showed great alertness in the field to render Upul Tharanga run out, from close range.

With half the Lankan batting order back in the pavilion, India will be looking to wrap this up early.

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Abhinav Mukund.

Sri Lanka: Rangana Herath (captain), Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Malinda Pushpakumara, Nuwan Pradeep.