Full cricket score, India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 1, Pallekele: IND 329/6 at stumps
The Indian cricket team will look to achieve their first ever clean sweep in a series of three Tests or more away from home when they face Sri Lanka in the final Test of the three-match series at Pallekele from today. Catch live cricket score of India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 1 at Pallekele here
17:28 hrs IST: That’s all from us, thank you so much for joining us for the match. Do join us again tomorrow for Day 2 of the final Test between India and Sri Lanka.
17:23 hrs IST: And that’s stumps. India end day on 329/6, which is largely thanks to Shikhar Dhawan’s ton. Sri Lanka fought back well in the second and third sessions and the game is still in the balance as of now. Day 2 should be interesting.
17:17 hrs IST: With just one over to go, India are 327/6.
17:13 hrs IST: FOUR! Something weird happened there, Saha gets an edge that ballooned over the slips and goes to the boundary.
17:11 hrs IST: WICKET! Fernando bowls one outside off stump, Ashwin has a poke at it and gets the edge. Dickwella takes a good catch to remove him. India are 322/6 after 88 overs.
17:01 hrs IST: Four more overs to go today. India are 315/5.
16:54 hrs IST: FOUR! Fernando strays onto the pads and Ashwin dispatches him through the fine leg boundary.
16:45 hrs IST: Sri Lanka have bowled very well in this last innings. India are 308/5 after 83 overs.
17:01 hrs IST: Four more overs to go today. India are 315/5.
16:54 hrs IST: FOUR! Fernando strays onto the pads and Ashwin dispatches him through the fine leg boundary.
16:45 hrs IST: Sri Lanka have bowled very well in this last innings. India are 308/5 after 83 overs.
16:37 hrs IST: 10 overs to go, and it’s been more than 100 balls since the last boundary. India are 297/5 after 80 overs.
16:30 hrs IST: WICKET! Sandakan bowls a lovely ball outside off, Kohli pokes at it and gets an edge that is caught by Karunaratne. India 297/5 after 78.2 overs.
16:28 hrs IST: India are inching closer to the 300-run mark. They are 296/4 after 78 overs.
16:19 hrs IST: After how action-packed the first session was, the last one has seemed even slower. 15 overs to go, India are 286/4.
16:14 hrs IST: That’s 74 overs played today. India are 282/4.
16:04 hrs IST: Neither Kohli nor Ashwin are taking undue risks, which is good for India. India are 278-4 after 72 overs.
15:56 hrs IST: Given how the pitch is playing, a score of 400 in the first innings might just be enough for India. Ashwin and Kuldeep are bound to have a field day on this pitch when it begins to disintegrate.
15:53 HRS IST: Slow and steady is what India need at the moment, and that’s the pace they’re going at. India are 274/4 after 69 overs.
15:40 hrs IST: WICKET! What a delivery from Pushpakumara. A well-flighted ball and Rahane gives the charge; the ball might have stayed low but it hits the stumps and there goes Rahane. India are 264/4 after 66 overs.
15:34 hrs IST: With 64 overs gone, India are 260/3.
15:30 hrs IST: FOUR! Rahane smashes one through the on-side just one ball after Sri Lanka reviewed the umpire’s decision to give him not out. Talk about rubbing salt in the wounds.
15:24 hrs IST: FOUR! Kohli drives one beautifully through the off side. India are 255/3 after 62 overs.
15:17 hrs IST: That’s 60 overs played for the day. India are 249/3.
15:11 hrs IST: India looking steady for now. They are 247/3 after 58 overs.
15:08 hrs IST: Vishwa Fernando comes back into the attack
15:07 hrs IST: India are 241/3; Kohli 11*, Rahane 9*
15:03 hrs IST: Welcome back!
14:44 hrs IST: And at tea, India are 235/3. Good fight back by Sri Lanka, although the ball is still metaphorically in India’s court. The final session of the day will be key. Join us for the final session in a while!
14:36 hrs IST: Slow and steady is the name of the game as of now. India are 234/3 after 54 overs.
14:29 hrs IST: India looking to rebuild now. They are 231/3 after 52 overs.
14:21 hrs IST: WICKET! Oh my, this is not going according to plan. Pujara edges one to first slip and Sadakan gets his first wicket of the day. India are 229/3 after 50.1 overs.
14:19 hrs IST: And after a 50th over that included a boundary, India are cruising at 229/2.
14:16 hrs IST: With 49 overs gone, India are 223/2.
14:09 hrs IST: WICKET! Dhawan departs after a well-made 119. India are 219/2 after 47.1 overs.
14:05 hrs IST: After 46 overs, India are 213/1.
13:57 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan gets a ball that is practically begging to be hit, and of course he obliges. No clue why Kumara thought bowling short and wide to a set batsmen was a good idea.
13:55 hrs IST: Scoring rate has slowed down, but that’s not much of an issue at this point. India are 204/1 after 44 overs.
13:45 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan brings up his century with a lovely boundary. Gave the bowler the charge then cleanly drives him through the off side. This is Dhawan’s 6th Test century. India are 200/1 after 42 overs.
13:37 hrs IST: Rahul’s dismissal brings Cheteshwar Pujara to the crease. Sri Lanka have a long way to go if they want to salvage this match.
13:34 hrs IST: OUT! Pushpakumara strikes in his very first over, dismissing KL Rahul at 85. India are 188/1 after 39.2 overs.
13:27 hrs IST: Sri Lanka need to try and take some wickets here; looking to contain Dhawan and Rahul won’t work. India are 184/0 after 38 overs.
13:15 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan gets a boundary through the fine leg region. This brings up what is the biggest opening stand by any team against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. Good stuff from India. They are 176/0 after 36 overs.
13:09 hrs IST: Both openers are eying centuries now. India are 166/0 after 34 overs.
13:06 hrs IST: BACK-TO-BACK FOURS! Sandakan gets heaved through the on side by Dhawan.
13:02 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan gets the chance to free his arms and cuts through the off side.
13:00 hrs IST: India get past the 150 mark with ease. They are 152/0 after 32 overs.
12:52 hrs IST: FOUR! Rahul with a lovely drive through the cover region. He’s looking in good touch today.
13:00 hrs IST: India get past the 150 mark with ease. They are 152/0 after 32 overs.
12:52 hrs IST: FOUR! Rahul with a lovely drive through the cover region. He’s looking in good touch today.
12:51 hrs IST: And with 30 overs played, India are cruising at 144/0.
12:42 hrs IST: FOUR! Lucky escape for Rahul, who edges one between the wicketkeeper and slip. It races away to the boundary to add insult to injury. India are 139/0 after 28 overs.
12:40 hrs IST: Welcome back to the second session on Day 1 of the 3rd Test between India and Sri Lanka. We are officially underway again!
12:05 hrs IST: India easily dominated that first session. Poor bowling and dropped catches the highlights of Sri Lanka’s innings so far. If this goes on, India are on course for another big first innings score. Join us again in around 35 minutes for the second session.
12:00 hrs IST: TWO FOURS! First Rahul plays a lovely shot through the cover region. Then he gets another boundary through long-off. And that’s lunch. India are on top after the first session at 134/0.
12:00 hrs IST: TWO FOURS! First Rahul plays a lovely shot through the cover region. Then he gets another boundary through long-off. And that’s lunch. India are on top after the first session at 134/0.
11:58 hrs IST: After 26 overs, India are 124/0.
11:52 hrs IST: Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan keeping things tight, for now. India are 118/0 after 24 overs.
11:52 hrs IST: Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan keeping things tight, for now. India are 118/0 after 24 overs.
11:44 hrs IST: India are 114/0 after 22 overs.
11:35 hrs IST: Fifty for KL Rahul! That’s his 7th consecutive Test half-century. India off to a very good start indeed. They are 109/0 after 20 overs.
11:25 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan brings up his 4th Test fifty in style, and India are 100/0 in 17.4 overs. Just to remind you, this isn’t an ODI you’re watching. Sri Lanka need to stem the flow of runs somehow, or that series whitewash is very much on the cards.
11:22 hrs IST: FOUR! Rahul creams Kumara through the deep extra cover region.
11:18 hrs IST: Wirth 16 overs gone, India are at 87/0 and don’t look like slowing down soon
11:35 hrs IST: Fifty for KL Rahul! That’s his 7th consecutive Test half-century. India off to a very good start indeed. They are 109/0 after 20 overs.
11:25 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan brings up his 4th Test fifty in style, and India are 100/0 in 17.4 overs. Just to remind you, this isn’t an ODI you’re watching. Sri Lanka need to stem the flow of runs somehow, or that whitewash is very much on the cards.
11:22 hrs IST: FOUR! Rahul creams Kumara through the deep extra cover region.
11:18 hrs IST: Wirth 16 overs gone, India are at 87/0 and don’t look like slowing down soon.
11:13 hrs IST: FOUR AGAIN! Perera bowls one that is short, and Dhawan pulls hard through the on-side.
11:12 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan with a lofted shot over mid-off. He’s in imperious form alright.
11:10 hrs IST: After 14 overs, India are cruising along at 73/0.
11:02 hrs IST: Here’s an interesting little story for Indian cricket fans: Lalit Modi (remember him?) quits cricket administration altogehter. Via Twitter. Interesting turn of events to say the least.
11:00 hrs IST: Spin is into the attack, as Dilruwan Perera is asked to bowl.
10:58 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan with a lovely shot off the pads and the ball races through the deep mid-wicket region for a boundary. After 12 overs, India are 67/0.
10:48 hrs IST: And with 10 overs gone, India are 53/0. Dhawan and Rahul have looked to score freely, and they’ve been aided by some pretty ordinary bowling from Sri Lanka.
10:41 hrs IST: FOUR! Fernando offers Dhawan a bit of width and he slashes him to the boundary.
10:39 hrs IST: India are 44/0 after 8 overs.
10:36 hrs IST: Sri Lanka make their first bowling change. Dimuth Karunaratne, who bowls medium pace, comes into the attack. Introduction of spin not too far off now then?
10:29 hrs IST: And with 6 overs gone, India are 37/0. Looks like Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul didn’t get the memo that this is supposed to be a 5-day match. Or they want to end this one in just 3 days. Either way, it’s fun to watch.
10:28 hrs IST: TWO FOURS! Oh Rahul, you beauty. First a beautiful on-drive that came off the bat nicely. He then slams an attempted bouncer behind square with a shot that he didn’t seem in control of. Still, they all count.
10:25 hrs IST: FOUR! You can’t afford to give Dhawan room on the off side; he will only punish you. Cuts Kumara yet again, then collects 3 runs off the next ball.
10:17 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhawan plays a cut through the off side at a ball that was there for the hitting. He’s not messing around. India are 21/0 after 4 overs.
09:16 hrs IST: With the toss merely minutes away, here’s an interesting stat about India’s batting rock Cheteshwar Pujara: he has scored 843 runs in Test cricket this year, more than any other player from any team and this is his most prolific run-scoring calendar year in this format (he scored 836 runs in 2016).
09:03 hrs IST: Some positive news for Sri Lanka: The hosts have lost just one of five previous Tests at the venue (W1, D3). Statistically, there is a chance that they could at least avoid a series whitewash.
08:50 hrs IST: We are now just a little over an hour away from the beginning of the first day. Here’s a bit of a stat attack for everyone: India have won 18 of their 40 previous Tests against Sri Lanka (D15, L7) with half of those 18 victories coming by an innings margin, including the last match in this series.
08:25 hrs IST: Good Morning and welcome to MT’s live coverage of third and the final Test between India and Sri Lanka.
There are no such problems for Virat Kohli, who became the only India captain to win two Test series in Sri Lanka as his side smashed first innings of 600 and more in the opening two Tests at Galle and Colombo.
Cheteshwar Pujara leads India’s run-scorers with two centuries — at an average of more than 100 — in the three innings so far.
Indian bowlers have also shone with spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin topping the wicket-takers’ chart with 13 and 11, respectively.
Despite Jadeja being banned for the third Test, the visitors seem to be in a solid position to complete a whitewash.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka have not been helped by a succession of injuries, capped by a back problem which has sidelined their No. 1 bowler, Rangana Herath, for the third Test.
