STUMPS - DAY 2

India 292-8 (95.3 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Pujara looking to keep get some runs as he paddle sweeps Herath fine on the leg side for two runs. Once again he takes a single from the fifth ball leaving Ishant with just one delivery to negotiate.

It has gone quite dark at the SSC and the groundstaff are getting ready to bring on the covers. The umpires are also checking the light meter.

And it is not long before the heavens open up and the players are called off the ground.

India are looking good on 292 for eight in 95.3 overs, having dominated the post-tea session.

Pujara has single-handedly rescued the Indian innings with a magnificent innings of 135 from 277 balls, inclusive of 13 fours.

He got good support from Mishra, who made 59, as the duo put on 104 runs for eighth wicket.

The rain has stopped and it has gone very bright at the SSC but with less than 10 minutes remaining, the umpires decide to call off play on Day 2.

India 289-8 (94 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Mishra yet again sweeps Herath fine on the leg side for two runs to raise the 100-run stand for the eighth wicket, from 157 balls, scoring at nearly four runs per over.

This is already India's highest eight-wicket stand against Sri Lanka, beating the previous record of 70 between Kapil Dev and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan in September 1985.

Mathews trying to test Pujara with bouncers. He first attempts the upper cut but is beaten before he looks to pull one down the leg side but misses out yet again. But sensibly, he decides against attempting another rash shot as he ducks under another bouncer.

Herath makes the breakthrough as Mishra comes down the track but gets an inside edge and is stumped after a good innings of 59 from 87 balls.

It ends a superb partnership of 104 runs for the eighth wicket which has put India in a position of strength after the top order had failed with the bat.

Prasad comes back into the attack as Sri Lanka look to polish off the last two wickets and bowl India out under the 300-run mark.

Pujara decides it is time to take most of the strike. He flicks Prasad through midwicket for two runs before taking a single from the fifth ball as Ishant Sharma keeps the last ball out.

India 278-7 (90 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

The short ball posing no threat to Mishra, who casually pulls it to fine leg for a single. On the other hand, Pujara looks in supreme control as he drives Prasad through the covers for two runs. The next ball is full and on the pads which Pujara whips through midwicket for a boundary.

Captain Mathews comes into the attack, replacing Prasad. Mishra is beaten off the first delivery before he pulls a short ball to fine leg for one.

Pujara takes on the short ball from Mathews but mishits it on the leg side where Pradeep on the fine leg fence fails to judge and drops a straight forward chance and also ends up giving a boundary.

Herath comes into the attack. Mishra comes down the track and crashes the first ball through the covers for a four to bring up his fifty in some style, from 71 balls. He paddles the next ball fine on the leg side for two runs.

Pujara ends the over with a cracking cover drive off Mathews for a four.

India have progressed well after the tea break to reach 278 for seven in 90 overs.

Pujara has looked in total control to score 127 from 258 balls, while Mishra has stroked 55 from 79 balls with the duo adding 98 runs for the eighth wicket.

India 252-7 (86 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Mishra is looking quite comfortable out in the middle as he flicks Pradeep on the leg side for two runs to take his score to 40.

The second new ball has not made the desired impact for Sri Lanka as both Pujara and Mishra are scoring runs easily. A short wide delivery from Prasad is cracked through the covers for a four, his 10th of the innings, to take his score to 110.

Mishra steers a wide ball from Prasad square on the off-side for two runs and hits the fourth ball through the covers for two more runs to raise India's 250, in the 86th over. He retains strike with a single from the last ball and also close in on his fifty.

India 238-7 (82 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

The spinners will continue as Sri Lanka look to race through the next few overs and get the second new ball as soon as possible.

Mishra nudges Kaushal fine on the leg side for three runs before Pujara picks a single to long-on fielder.

Two singles from the next over as India reach 228 for seven in 80 overs.

Sri Lanka waste no time in taking the second new ball and immediately Pradeep comes back into the attack.

Pujara takes a single before Mishra cuts a short wide delivery square on the off-side for a four to bring up the 50-run stand from 96 balls. He has been quite positive, hitting 34 from 56 balls with the help of five fours.

No surprise as Dhammika Prasad is called from the other end. Pujara cuts the second ball but the fielder at gully makes a good diving stop to save a certain boundary.

Prasad gifts Mishra a full toss as he miss the yorker which the batsman hits through the off-side for a four. This partnership is now worth 58 runs, the highest of the Indian innings so far.

TEA - DAY 2

India 220-7 (77 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Mishra gives Kaushal the charge but mishits the loft on the leg side for two runs. He survives a close shout for LBW off the last ball of the over.

Spin from both ends now. Herath gets one to grip and turn, leaving Pujara stunned, who must consider himself unlucky not to have edged it. He takes a single from the next ball to take his score to 99.

In the next over, Kaushal, from the round the wicket beats Mishra with one which goes straight on. In the same over, Mishra is struck on the pads and once again the LBW appeal is rejected.

He then makes room to steer it through point but misses as the ball goes over the stumps.

Pujara completes his century, his seventh in Tests, with a quick single to mid-off in the next over from Herath.

What a superb innings from the right-hander in his comeback Test, where he had to play as a stand-in opener.

Pujara's century has held the Indian innings together as the visitors scored 100 runs in 31.1 overs for the loss of three wickets in the post-lunch session.

At tea on Day 2, India have reached 220 for seven in 77 overs on a pitch not exactly easy for batting.

Prasad was excellent with the ball, taking four for 65, and made most of the helpful conditions.

India 204-7 (70 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Mishra plays a nice late steer past the slip fielder off Kaushal for two runs. In the next over, he flicks a full delivery from Prasad through midwicket for a four.

Pujara gives Kaushal the charge and clips it through midwicket for two runs to take his score to 92. He gets a single from the fifth ball to inch closer towards his century in his comeback game.

Pujara collects another single from Prasad's first delivery before Mishra pulls it square on the leg side for a four to bring up India's 200, in the 70th over.

He slaps the fifth ball straight down the ground for another four as India up the ante.

India 184-7 (66 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Pujara goes after a wide delivery from Pradeep but gets an inside edge for a single to fine leg. In the next over, Pujara is beaten as he looks to steer it past the slip fielder.

Ravichandran Ashwin gets off the mark in some style with a boundary off Pradeep through the off-side.

Sri Lanka call their best bowler Prasad back into the attack. And he strikes with his very first delivery as Ashwin edges the outswinger and is caught behind for five as India slip to 180 for seven, in the 66th over.

Prasad greets new batsman Amit Mishra with a quick bouncer which he somehow avoids gloving. He cuts the next ball in the air through the point region for a four to get off the mark.

He has a poke at the last ball but misses it completely.

India 173-6 (61 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Three runs each from Mathews and Herath's over as the runs keep coming to keep the scoreboard moving.

Pradeep comes into the attack. Pujara misses out on a wide half-volley before he hammers the next one in the gap through the same region for a four.

In his next over, Pujara goes for the pull but gets a top edge which goes fine on the leg side for another four to take his score into the 80s.

Kaushal, who has bowled only two overs out of Sri Lanka's 60, comes back. Ojha drives the first ball down to long-off for one to bring up the 50-run stand for the sixth wicket from 85 balls.

The third ball is short as Pujara cuts it behind point for a couple.

He is lucky to get the wicket of Ojha, who holes out to long-on to be dismissed for 21.

A wicket against the run of play for Sri Lanka as Ojha gifted his wicket away after getting off to a good start.

India 150-5 (55 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Four overs of fast bowling after the lunch break before veteran spinner Herath comes into the attack. Pujara looks to sweep but gets it off the back of the bat for two runs behind the wickets.

Meanwhile, Prasad drops slightly short as Ojha goes back and steers it past the point region for another four.

Herath bowls a maiden over to Pujara before Mathews takes over from Prasad at the other end, who also sends down a maiden.

Pujara breaks the shackles as he gives Herath the charge and crashes him straight down the ground past mid-on for a four followed by a single. Two balls later Ojha lofts Herath over mid-off for another four to bring up India's 150, in the 55th over, as India continue to be positive against the spinners.

India 133-5 (50 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Debutant Naman Ojha walks out to the middle with India needing a good partnership to bail them out of trouble.

Pradeep tries a short ball to Pujara, who pulls it on the leg side for one and he does the same off the fifth delivery, for another run.

Pujara avoids the hat-trick as he comes forward the defends the full delivery from Prasad. Two balls later, he drives one through the covers for three runs as his approach is a bit more positive after the lunch interval.

Ojha drives the last ball past mid-off for a single and register his first runs in Test cricket.

Pujara drives the first ball of Prasad's new over, through the off-side for three more runs to take his score to 63. Two balls later, Ojha is beaten by one that leaves him before he edges the last ball which goes past gully for a four.

India are 133 for five in 50 overs.

India 119-5 (46 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Prasad strikes straightaway after lunch, claiming a wicket with the first delivery of the second session.

Stuart Binny is struck right in front of the stumps to be trapped leg before wicket for a golden duck.

Prasad on a hat-trick in his next over.

LUNCH - DAY 2

India 119-4 (45.5 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Prasad produces a beauty to beats Pujara all ends, moves away after pitching and has some extra bounce too. That was unplayable! How unlucky was the bowler not to end up with a wicket with that delivery.

Pujara has changed gears as he pulls a short ball from Herath through midwicket for another four, to take his score to 55.

Prasad is finally rewarded with the wicket he deserved. The pacer bowled it wide outside the off-stump, tempting Rohit to have a go which resisted. Then Prasad bowled one closer to the stumps and Rohit was forced to defend but got an edge to be caught at first slip after scoring 26.

So a wicket at the worst time for India as Rohit is dismissed on the stroke of lunch to make it a good session for the hosts.

At lunch on Day 2, India are 119 for four in 45.5 overs. Pujara has done well to see off the session to be unbeaten on a patient innings of 55 from 138 balls.

The morning session went to plan for Sri Lanka as India managed just 69 runs in 30.5 overs while losing wickets in the process.

India 114-3 (43 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Herath bowls a wide half-volley which Rohit drives through the covers for another four, his third of the innings. At the other end, Prasad beats Pujara with the outswinger which moves quite a lot, beating the batsman who was forced to have a poke.

Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal is called into the attack, to bowl the 41st over. He starts with a wide half-volley which Pujara slaps through the covers for his first four of the day. Kaushal switches to round the wicket but drops short as Pujara goes back and steers it past the slips for another four.

Pujara has suddenly cut loose. He makes it a hat-trick of fours, crashing another wide delivery through the gap at point to take India past the 100-run mark.

Prasad tries a short ball to Rohit but it goes down the leg side as the right-hander pulls it to fine leg for one and Pujara steers it past point for three runs. Rohit gets another two runs with a nice flick through the leg side.

Kaushal drops short again as Pujara hits it through the off-side for two runs followed by a single from the next ball to complete his half-century, from 127 balls, his seventh in Test cricket. An important knock from the right-hander under difficult circumstances as he was forced to bat as an opener on a pitch offering a lot of help to the seamers early on.

India 86-3 (38 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Rohit decides to chance his arm yet again and this time it comes bang off the middle. He jumps down the track and lofts Herath straight down the ground for the first six of the match. Pujara has shown a lot of patience to score 31 from 92 balls, with two fours, while Rohit already has a four and a six in his 34-ball 13.

The ball has gone out of shape and the umpires change it in the 34th over as Pujara defends for another maiden over, by Pradeep.

Sri Lanka have a fielder at long-on for Rohit before he decides to come down and loft Herath over midwicket for another four.

While Rohit looks keen to keep the scoreboard moving, Pujara is defending everything coming his way and proving to the perfect partner at the other end.

Herath tries to tempt Rohit with flighted deliveries, wanting him to have another go down the ground with a fielder placed at long-on but the right-hander resists the temptation.

Prasad comes in for another spell and starts with a maiden over to Pujara, who has gone into a shell in the last few overs.

India 72-3 (30 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

India have struggled this morning, scoring just 14 runs from 10 overs while losing the wicket of Kohli.

New batsman Rohit Sharma survives a close shout for LBW in the next over from Mathews. He gets off the mark a few deliveries with a quick single on the leg side. Rohit plays a risky lofted shot against Herath, coming down and hitting it back over the bowler's head and just about manages to get it over Pradeep at mid-on. That was unnecessary risk but Rohit gets away with it.

Pujara is having no problems as he tucks Herath round the corner for two more runs as India look to rebuild after Kohli's wicket.

Rohit seems to have realised his mistake after the rash shot against Herath a few overs back as he gets his head down to play with caution.

India 64-3 (24 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Prasad trying to tempt Kohli with wide outswingers but so far he has resisted the urge to go after them. The Sri Lankan pacer has settled into a good rhythm at the start and is creating enough problems. The odd incoming delivery is keeping the batsmen guessing. The last ball is wide as Kohli goes after it, gets a thick outside edge past the gully for a four.

Pujara is looking a bit more assured than his captain and is doing a good job of keeping out the pacers. Prasad bowls a good fast yorker to Kohli, who gets his bat down in time, this is a good spell from the experienced pacer.

India manage to see off the pacers as spinner Rangana Herath is called into the attack. Pujara turns the first ball through the leg side for two runs before he defends the rest of the over.

Captain Angelo Mathews brings himself into the attack. And he strikes in his very first over of the day, getting the big wicket of Kohli, who pokes at a wide outswinger only to edge it and give debutant Kushal Perera his first Test catch.

Kohli walks back after scoring 18 from 60 balls to leave India in trouble at 64 for three, in the 24th over.

India 50-2 (17 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Pacer Dhammika Prasad to open the bowling on Day 2 and facing him is the Indian captain Virat Kohli.

The first two deliveries moves away as Kohli opts to leave before the third one comes in sharply, hitting the right-hander on the pads. The Sri Lankan go up in appeal but umpire Nigel Llong gives the batsman benefit of doubt, perhaps the height and movement came into consideration.

The last ball also shapes in and again Kohli is struck on the pads but yet again he survives the LBW shout. This was much closer than the previous one, maybe the impact was marginally outside the off-stump.

In the next over, Nuwan Pradeep cuts Cheteshwar Pujara into half with another one which comes in plus the extra bounce. The incoming deliveries create problems for both batsmen as Sri Lanka pacers start the day with back to back maidens.

Welcome to the coverage of Day 2 of the third and final Test between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo, on Saturday.

The good news is that it is bright and sunny at the Sinhalese Sports Club which means that play is set to resume on time. The second day's play will begin at 0945 IST and one is hoping that there are no rain disruptions on the second day.

On Day 1, India lost two quick wickets to reach 50-2 before rain washed out the post-lunch and post-tea sessions.

Only 15 overs of play were possible in the entire day as the umpires made multiple inspections to check for a restart but called stumps about an hour after the official tea break.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was rewarded by his fast bowlers with the wickets of opener K L Rahul (two) and in-form batsman Ajinkya Rahane (eight) after he opted to bowl on a pitch sporting a covering of grass.

India captain Virat Kohli (14) survived some nervy moments to stay unbeaten with Cheteshwar Pujara (19) when heavy rain forced the players off the ground for an early lunch break.

Rahul was clean bowled by Dhammika Prasad with the second delivery of the day with the batsman inexplicably shouldering arms to a ball that nipped back from outside the off stump.

Rahane, who scored a century in India's second Test victory last week, batted confidently before he missed a straight delivery from Nuwan Pradeep to be given out leg before wicket.

The hosts made three changes to the side that lost the second Test with lower order batsman Jehan Mubarak and paceman Dushmantha Chameera being dropped while Kumar Sangakkara retired from international cricket.

Hard-hitting batsman Perera, left-handed batsman Upul Tharanga and paceman Nuwan Pradeep were drafted in for the deciding Test of the series tied at 1-1.

India also handed a Test debut to a wicketkeeper-batsman with Naman Ojha replacing Wriddhiman Saha, who was been ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered in the second match.

Pujara, whose last match was the Boxing Day Test against Australia last December, replaced injured opener Murali Vijay in the only other change in the visiting team.