STUMPS - DAY 3

India 21-3 (8.1 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Rahane gets the first boundary of the innings as he pulls a short ball from Prasad through midwicket for a four.

In the next over, Kohli gets off the mark with a single to the fine leg region.

But disaster strikes for India as Rahane is beaten by a full delivery from Pradeep and is trapped leg before wicket for four.

India are left reeling on seven for three in the sixth over, their lead is just 118 runs.

Rahane has another failure at No. 3, his third in four innings in that position and out walks out his Mumbai team mate Rohit Sharma.

Rohit gets off the mark with two runs as he clips it square on the leg side and pulls the last ball to fine leg for one.

Kohli survives a testing over from Prasad as he is beaten outside the off-stump trying to defend before he somehow blocks one that stays low.

With the light fading, Sri Lanka bring on their spinner Rangana Herath into the attack.

Rohit wastes no time in going down the wicket and lofting it over long-off  fence for a six. He then takes a single from the next ball as India look to rally after a nightmarish start.

Rohit is looking in good touch as he clips Prasad through square leg for three runs before the heavens open up.

The players are forced to rush off as it is a heavy downpour and the groundstaff sprint in with the covers.

India are 21-3 in 8.1 overs, for an overall lead of 132 runs with Kohli on one from 12 balls and Rohit racing to 14 from 10 balls.

So the rain continues in the same vein and the light keeps getting bad as the umpires decide to call stumps.

A thrilling day of cricket with neither side looking on top right now. India seemed be in pole position after taking a healthy 111-run first innings lead but three early wickets has put Sri Lanka right back in the contest.

The morning session will be crucial on Day 4 and if India can see off the pacers in the first session things will only get easier.

India 2-2 (4 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Rahane plays another maiden over from Prasad as India are yet to score from the first three overs of the innings.

Rahul gets India off the mark, from the 19th ball of the innings, as he steers Pradeep through point for two runs.

But he falls off the very next delivery. And unbelievably he falls in the same fashion as in the first innings, offering no stroke to the incoming delivery to be bowled for two.

Once again the right-hander is guilty of not covering his stumps while opting to leave the ball, which comes in sharply to strike the off-stump.

India off to a horror start as they are reduced to two for two, in the fourth over.

Captain Virat Kohli has a big task on hand with the in-form Rahane at the other end, the two most experienced batsmen in this line-up.

Kohli carefully plays out the over from Pradeep as India opt to see off the new ball without any further damage.

India 0-1 (2 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

The injured Dhammika Prasad to open the bowling with a heavily strapped left hand. He has a habit of striking in the first over and facing him is the first innings centurion Cheteshwar Pujara, who carried his bat through.

Prasad continues his habit of striking early again as Pujara is squared up completely, trying to defend but misses and is bowled for a duck.

Ajinkya Rahane is beaten off the very first delivery as he pokes his bat at a wide outswinger but manages to see off the rest of the over.

K L Rahul watchfully defends the second over, bowled by Nuwan Pradeep, as India are yet to get off the mark in two overs.

SL 201-all out (52.2 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Prasad into the attack. Prasad hits the first ball past point for two runs as Mishra does well to keep it inside the ropes and he takes a single from the next ball to mid-on.

Two more singles from the last two deliveries as Prasad manages to keep the strike for the next over.

Ishant continues his ploy of peppering the tailenders with short balls especially Prasad.

He pulls it awkwardly over midwicket for two runs before getting a thick outside edge to the next one, over the slips for a four. Another short ball is pulled over midwicket for two runs before Ishant pitches one up which Prasad hammers through the off-side for a four.

Prasad has raced to 27 from 21 balls despite an injury to his hand and is doing well to cut down India's lead.

He falls in the next over as he comes down the track to Mishra but is beaten in the flight and Ojha completes an easy stumping.

Sri Lanka are bowled out for 201 in 52.2 overs to give India a 111-run first innings lead.

Ishant was the wrecker-in-chief for India as he took five for 54 in 15 overs, while Binny and Mishra claimed two wickets each while Yadav was unlucky to end up with just one wicket. But interestingly, Ashwin went wicketless in his eight overs as the pacers made most of some help from the pitch.

SL 183-9 (50 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Mishra to start off proceedings in the post-tea session. Herath takes a single from the first ball before Prasad lofts the third ball over the leg side for a four. He gets one to turn sharply going past the edge of the bat as Indians go up in appeal for caught behind but the umpire turns it down.

Ishant from the other end and he completes his five-wicket haul, his seventh in Tests, with the wicket of Herath.

The left-hander is unlucky to miss out on a half-century, as he is caught behind for 49 courtesy of a superb diving catch from wicketkeeper Ojha. He dives full length to his left and catches it in front of the first slip fielder.

New batsman Nuwan Pradeep is greeted by a bouncer which he decides to sway out of the way of.

Sri Lanka are 183 for nine in 50 overs, still trailing India by 129 runs.

TEA - DAY 3

SL 175-8 (48 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

And not surprising that Kohli has had enough of the spin bowlers as he brings back pacer Yadav. And immediately Prasad calls on for extra protection including chest guard and the arm guard.

He is immediately on target, getting the deliveries to slant across left-hander Herath. He plays and misses a few before finally edging one which goes between the slips. Rahul at second slip makes a valiant effort, diving full length to his left but can't take the catch as it goes for a four.

A thrilling session of cricket, providing a lot of entertainment to the fans. Sri Lanka scored 128 runs in 30 overs for the loss of three wickets in the post-lunch session.

At the tea break, Sri Lanka reached 175 for eight in 48 overs, trailing India by 137 runs.

Herath continued to frustrate the Indians with a dogged innings of 47, while Prasad was unbeaten on six.

SL 170-8 (47 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Mishra drops it short and Kaushal helps himself to a boundary pulling it behind square on the leg side. Mishra getting a lot of turn but has not been able to find the edge as Kaushal is beaten time and again.

He oversteps as Kaushal lofts it over the off-side for two runs. Three balls later, he pulls a short ball through midwicket for a four as Sri Lanka cross the 150-run mark, in the 45th over.

Kohli not liking what he is seeing at the moment as the tailenders not only continue to frustrate the Indians but also getting runs at a good pace.

Mishra gets revenge as he foxes Kaushal (16) with the googly and traps him LBW trying to defend.

Poor decision from Nigel Llong as he failed to spot a big inside edge before the ball struck the pads.

Prasad walks out to bat at No. 10 after he had retired hurt earlier on after being struck by a bouncer from Ishant.

In the next over, Ashwin has a leg before wicket appeal turned down against Herath, who then reverse sweeps the next delivery for a four.

He plays the convention sweep to the next ball and gets another boundary, this time through the square leg region to take his score to 41. The left-hander attempts another sweep but fails to make connection.

Interestingly, Kohli is not bringing on his pace bowlers to pepper Prasad with a few bouncers.

SL 143-7 (40 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Tharindu Kaushal is the new man as Prasad is still inside the dressing room getting treatment for his injury.

Ishant continues to create problems for the batsmen. This Herath gets an inside edge but it runs away for a boundary through the fine leg region.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra is introduced, to bowl the 37th over of the innings and Ashwin comes on from the other end as Kohli decides to operate with spinners from both ends.

Herath attempts the reverse sweep against Mishra but fails to beat the fielder at thirdman inside the circle and sweeps the next ball for one.

Ashwin bowls it wide down the leg side as Herath swats it fine on the leg side for three runs. Kaushal plays the inside out lofted shot over the covers for a four as the tailenders continue to frustrate the Indians.

Sri Lanka, who were reduced to 47 for six, have recovered to 143 for seven in 40 overs. Herath has continued to bat well to score 31 from 52 balls, while Kaushal is on six.

SL 127-7 (33.4 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Yadav is called back into the attack. The first ball is full as Perera crashes it straight back past the bowler for a four and in the process ends up breaking his bat. He calls for a replacement bat but it hardly matters as he powerfully smacks a short delivery through midwicket for another four and followed by two runs to take Sri Lanka past the follow-on mark.

Herath is setting with anger as he has a few words with the umpire after an angry exchange with Ishant on his follow through.

At the other end, Perera is on the attack. He pulls a short ball for two runs to deep midwicket and repeats the shot off the next ball for another couple to bring up his fifty, from 50 balls.

Perera goes after Ishant as he lofts him straight back over his head for a four. This is good entertainment for the fans at the SSC.

The Indians are not happy with the shape of the ball and the umpire oblige by changing the ball. The replacement ball does the trick as India strike with the key wicket of Perera, who is caught by Kohli after a quickfire 55 from 56 balls.

SL 104-6 (30 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Binny has a huge appeal for caught behind against Herath turned down and the replays show that umpire Nigel Llong was correct as the bat touching the ground made the noise which felt like an edge.

Perera continues to be positive against Ashwin. He goes back and drives a short ball from Ashwin through point for two runs and two balls later hits it through the same region but this time for a four.

Herath gets into the act now. He lofts a full delivery from Binny over mid-off for a four and two balls later pulls a short one through midwicket for another boundary.

The partnership is worth 56 from 69 balls as Sri Lanka reach 104 for six in 30 overs with another nine runs needed to avoid the follow-on.

Perera's counter-attack has left the Indians a bit shell-shocked as he hit 34 from 41 balls, while Herath has also kept the scoreboard moving to score 20 from 29 balls.

SL 85-6 (26 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Yadav drops short as Perera pulls it over the leg side for a four but gets a lifeline a few deliveries. This time Rahul fails to pouch a regulation catch at second slip, again coming across to take it front of Rohit Sharma. Perera rubs more salts on Yadav's wounds as he hits the last ball for a four as 10 runs come from the over.

How costly could that drop prove? In a low-scoring match, even 40-50 can make a huge difference and India cannot afford to give Sri Lanka any more lifeline and undo all their good work from the morning session.

In the next over, Herath drives a full delivery from Ishant through the covers for a four followed by yet another no-ball from Ishant as he oversteps the bowling crease.

Perera does well to protect Herath, not taking singles early in the over, but drives the last ball to deep point for one to retain strike.

India finally introduce spin as Ravichandran Ashwin is introduced, in the 24th over.

Perera sweeps the ball uppishly over square leg for a four to take the score to 80 for six with 33 more needed to avoid the follow-on.

But Ashwin manages to keep him quiet for the rest of the over which means Herath will be on strike from the other end.

Meanwhile, Binny replaces Ishant from the other end. He starts with a wide outswinger which Perera goes after but fails to connect.

The left-hander manages to see off the over from Binny as he defends everything bowled to him.

Perera looking to attack as he reverse sweeps Ashwin behind point for a four. He edges the next next ball, past first slip and this time he is happy to take the single.

SL 58-6 (20 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Ishant to resume proceedings after the lunch break. And he doesn't take long to strike, getting a wicket with the second delivery of the session.

Left-hander Thirimanne (0) edges one and is caught by Rahul at second slip, who does well to hold on to a low catch in front of first slip.

Sri Lanka continue to slip as they are reduced to 47 for six.

New batsman Dhammika Prasad gets a nasty bouncer first up which hits him on the gloves as he looks to fend. He is considerable pain at the moment after the blow on his left hand. Prasad, who bowled his heart out for Sri Lanka, was also struggling with a sore neck and now this painful blow. Nothing going right for the Sri Lankans at the moment!

Prasad retires hurt after that blow as Rangana Herath walks into bat in his place. Kushal Perera gets his first runs in Test cricket as he punches a full delivery down the ground past mid-off for a four.

In the next over, Herath gets off the mark with two runs through the covers followed by a four fine on the leg side.

LUNCH - DAY 3

SL 47-5 (18 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Binny doing a steady job with the ball, creating a few problems in between while keeping it tight from his end.

Yadav gets a breather as he makes way for Ishant as Kohli decides to hold back spin and get the fast bowlers as much use of the new ball as possible.

Ishant comes back and he strikes with his very first delivery. He bags the key wicket of captain Angelo Mathews, who is caught behind for one, to give Naman Ojha his first catch in Test cricket.

A perfect delivery which moves away enough from the right-hander, who is forced to have a poke at it but only edges it.

That is a big blow for Sri Lanka, who are reduced to 45 for four in the 17th over.

Ishant peppers new batsman Lahiru Thirimanne with a few short balls which he ducks under. He looks to defend one but pops it on the leg side where Pujara at short leg nearly pulls off a stunner.

Binny's persistence is finally rewarded. Binny tempts Karunaratne with a wide outswinger which he goes after but gets an edge and is caught by Rahul at second slip for 11.

Sri Lanka are left tottering on 47 for five in 18 overs at the lunch break on Day 3, still trailing India by 265 runs.

All the pacers were superb with the ball, with Ishant and Binny claiming two wickets apiece, while Yadav was unlucky to get only one wicket.

SL 42-3 (15 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Change of ends for Yadav as he takes over from Ishant. Karunaratne drives the first ball through the covers for two runs. Another good over from the India pace bowler, keeping it full and on the stumps and looking to make the batsmen play as much as possible.

Binny bowling on a good line but just a bit of extra width and Chandimal is quick to pounce on it as he crashes it through the covers for a four.

But Binny gets some revenge as he traps Chandimal leg before wicket for 23. The incoming delivery beat Chandimal's defence and struck him on the pads but the impact looks a big high and could have missed the stumps. That was a big wicket for the Indians as the in-form Chandimal walks back in disbelief.

Yadav continues to trouble the batsmen. Karunaratne nearly edges one as he looks to drive a wide one which moves away but is beaten.

SL 34-2 (10 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

Ishant gets Tharanga to edge again but it falls short of the fielder at third slip and two balls later he is beaten again outside the off-stump.

In the next over the left-hander gets an outside edge but it bounces well short and goes through the slips for a four. The next ball is a beauty as Yadav gets some extra bouncer and Tharanga had no clue about it.

Tharanga's struggle ends as Ishant gets the edge and this time Rahul manages to take it cleanly at second slip. The umpires check the frontfoot and Ishant has nearly ended up losing the wicket but gets the benefit of doubt.

Once again, Sri Lanka's opening woes continue as Tharanga walks back for four, in the fifth over.

In the next over, Yadav sends back the other opener. Silva is caught in two minds as he decides to withdraw the bat at the very last minute but gets an inside edge and is bowled for three.

Sri Lanka have two new batsmen out in the middle in Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal.

The last ball of the over nearly fetches another wicket for India as Chandimal is beaten all ends up trying to defend. He is lucky not to have edged it.

Yadav overpitches in his next over and Chandimal drives the half-volley through the covers for a four and the next is turned through midwicket for two runs.

The last ball is short and wide and Chandimal slaps it through point for another four.

Chandimal is adopting a positive approach. Ishant bowls a good bouncer directed at the batsman's body as he somehow sways out of the way. Ishant tries it again but this time he manages to upper cut it over the slips for a four.

Stuart Binny comes into the attack after a good opening spell from Yadav, who took one for 16 in four overs.

He gets one to bounce a bit more but enough to trouble Chandimal, who crashes the next through the off-side for a four.

Chandimal is positive, hitting 19 from 22 balls, as Sri Lanka reach 34 for two in 10 overs.

SL 5-0 (2 ovs) vs India 312 | Scorecard

The pitch is still offering the pace bowlers some kind of assistance and India should be happy getting in excess of 300 as batting is proving to be difficult on this wicket.

Sri Lanka have a new opening pair in Kaushal Silva and Upul Tharanga as Dimuth Karunaratne is pushed down the order.

Ishant struggles to get his bearings right in the first over, starting with three no-balls before he gets Tharanga to edge one but it is put down by KL Rahul at second slip, who dives in front of front slip but fails to hold on to the tough chance.

Umesh Yadav settles into a good line and length immediately. He is getting good movement away from the right-hander Silva, who is beaten from the fourth ball, before he takes a single from the fifth and Tharanga also gets one leg bye from the last ball.

India 312-all out (100.1 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Pujara strokes Prasad to the fielder in the deep on the off-side but turns down the single. However, he takes a single from the next and Umesh Yadav also gets off the mark with one to bring up India's 300, in the 98th over.

A single for Pujara before Yadav has a swing but an inside edge gets him just one.

In the next over, Yadav again has a heave against Herath but fails to make proper connection for one. Pujara comes down the track and gets just one.

Pujara now gives Prasad the charge and drives him to deep point for a single. Yadav takes a risky single from the fifth ball before Prasad bowls a high bouncer which goes way over Pujara and is called a wide. He mishits the pull shot off the last ball as it goes fine on the leg side for a four.

Herath ends India's innings as he bowls Yadav with the arm ball for four.

Pujara is left stranded on 145 as India are bowled out for 312 in 100.1 overs in their innings. Pujara, who opened the innings, becomes the fourth Indian to carry his bat through after Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid.

India 298-9 (97 ovs) vs SL | Scorecard

Dhammika Prasad, who is struggling with a sore neck, to continue his unfinished over from Day 2. Pujara picks a single from the fourth ball and Ishant Sharma has a go at the next delivery, coming down and has a wild swing but misses as the ball narrowly misses the stumps. He has a go again at the last delivery but this time gets an edge which goes past the second slip fielder for a four.

Surprising decision from Sri Lanka to bring in Rangana Herath from the other end. Pujara again farms the strike as he collects an easy single from the fifth ball after blocking the first four.

Ishant is in a rush. He comes down the track but is beaten all ends up and is bowled for six.

Welcome to the coverage of Day 3 of the third and final Test match between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo, on Sunday.

India would hope Cheteshwar Pujara can continue his firm resistance on the third day and add more runs with the tailenders and take the score around the 350-run mark, which would be quite handy on this difficult wicket.

On Day 2, Cheteshwar Pujara recorded his seventh hundred and held India's innings together against an inspired spell of fast bowling by Dhammika Prasad.

Pujara, playing his first Test since the Boxing Day match against Australia in December, remained unbeaten on 135 and guided India to 292 for eight wickets before rain brought an early close to the day's play.

Ishant Sharma (two) was not out at the other end.

Pujara continued to thwart the hosts, adding 104 in an eighth wicket stand with Amit Mishra (59).

Legspinner Mishra looked completely at ease against both the seamers and the spinners and notched up his third test fifty to demoralise the Sri Lankan bowlers.