Sri Lanka v India 3rd Test day 4 review: India chase history as Sri Lanka cling on

Sri Lanka v India 3rd Test day 4 review: India chase history as Sri Lanka cling on: India moved firmly in control of the series-decider with 3 crucial wickets late in the day after a solid middle and lower-order performance had extended their lead to 386 on the 4th day’s play at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC). Mathews and Kaushal Silva survived some nervous moments to ensure no further damage as Sri Lanka ended the day on 67/3 still needing 319 runs to force an unlikely win.

India, with a lead of 132 runs, were in a good position when the day started but all was not over for Sri Lanka as they had picked up 3 important wickets on day 3. The visitors were looking to add atleast 150 more to their lead and put an underperforming Sri Lankan batting under pressure.

India started Day 4 on a positive note. Rohit Sharma was especially looking in good touch and hit some fantastic boundaries. Kohli though, looked lacklustre and was mostly trying to survive. However, together both of them put up a half-century stand for the fourth wicket and took India’s lead past 150. Sri Lanka finally picked up a wicket after the first hour of play by dismissing Kohli on 21.

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In a fantastic display of batting, Rohit Sharma took on the Sri Lankan bowlers and moved along at a nice rate. Some of the cover drives he hit were breathtaking to watch. He soon brought up his 4^th fifty in Tests and was looking good for a ton. But he perished for exactly 50 trying to hook Dhammika Prasad but only managed to find Pradeep at fine leg. Stuart Binny was looking in good touch as India went in to lunch with a lead of 243 runs.

Runs came easily for India early in the second session as Angelo Mathews opted to bowl his spinners from one end. Stuart Binny and Naman Ojha pushed the lead past 250 without breaking a sweat. With Mathews slowly moving to run-saving mode, the singles were there for the taking. However, as has been the case throughout the match, it didn’t take long for Dhammika Prasad to stamp himself on the session. Binny, who had chanced his way to a confidence-boosting 49 fell to Prasad but it was an important knock in the context of the game.

Ojha and Mishra negotiated Dhammika’s spell without too many difficulties before the former, having accumulated 35 trouble-free runs, attempted a slog off Herath for the second time in the match and was dismissed. India decided to push Amit Mishra above Ashwin in the batting order, a just reward for his efforts in the first innings, and he started where he left off.

Mishra and Ashwin then did a good job of tiring the bowlers out. They completed a fine half-century stand to take the lead past 350. Mishra played another useful hand and made 39 before a fantastic piece of fielding from Kaushal Silva got the better of him. The Indian innings ended when Ashwin edged a Prasad delivery to the keeper. Having been 7/3 at one stage, India were pretty happy with their final score. Pradeep and Dhammika were outstanding with the ball for Sri Lanka picking up 4 wickets each.

As the Sri Lankan openers came out there was a lot of excitement in the air after the face off between Dhammika and Ishant. The lanky pacer dismissed Tharanga in the first over of the Sri Lankan innings on a duck. Tharanga flirted with the outside the off stump line and edged to the keeper. Umesh Yadav then priced out Karunaratne who looked ruffled at the crease. But the dismissal which took the cake was Dinesh Chandimal’s just for Ishant’s bizarre style of celebrating it. Chandimal wanted to run one down towards third man but the extra bounce did him in as he edged it to the slips.

Angelo Mathews and Kaushal Silva did well to hang on until the day ended to share a neat 46-run stand. Weather as always had the final say as bad light forced stumps. Sri Lanka walked off with a little sigh of relief, considering the start they had – 1 for 1, then 2 for 2. The hosts have never chased down more than 352, can they create a record? Or will India take the remaining 7 wickets and canter home? Or will rain spoil everyone’s party? Amidst all these queries an interesting 5^th day  which could decide the series awaits us tomorrow.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka need 319 runs to win with 7 wickets remaining

India 2^nd innings – 274; Ashwin 58, Rohit 50, Pradeep 4-62

Sri Lanka 2^nd innings – 67/3; Mathews 22, Silva  24, Ishant 2-14