STUMPS - DAY 4

SL 67-3 (18.1 ovs); Target: 386 | Scorecard

The pitch has eased out considerably and the batsmen are feeling quite confident out in the middle. Binny bowls a full wide delivery and Mathews despatches it through the covers for a four.

Ishant comes back after a disappointing second spell from Yadav. He starts with a short ball which Silva pulls over midwicket for a four and then takes a single. Mathews punches the fourth ball through the off-side for two runs.

With the light fading, India bring on leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who starts with a single in his first over before Ishant sends down a maiden.

Ashwin replaces Ishant as Mathews cuts the first ball for a four before the umpires decide to call off play early because of bad light.

At stumps on Day 4, Sri Lanka are 67 for three in 18.1 overs still needing another 319 runs for victory with seven wickets in hand.

Mathews is unbeaten on 22 from 37 balls, while Silva has made 24 from 42 balls with the duo adding 46 runs for the fourth wicket to steady Sri Lanka after a few early wickets.

SL 50-3 (13 ovs); Target: 386 | Scorecard

India make their first bowling change as medium pacer Stuart Binny replaces Yadav, who was hit for three fours in his previous over. Silva drives the first ball for two runs through the covers and does the same a few deliveries later for the same result.

Angelo Mathews, who had a long friendly chat with Ishant, at the other end will face the tall fast bowler. He defends the first four balls before taking one from the fifth ball and Silva blocks the last ball.

Binny bowls a beauty to Mathews, who is beaten by the outswinger as he tries to play it from the crease.

Change of ends for Yadav as he takes over from Ishant, who bowled an excellent first spell of two for seven in five overs.

Yadav's struggles continue as he starts with a short ball which Silva pulls over midwicket for a four before he repeats the shot off the next delivery for the same result.

Binny has settled into a good rhythm and is causing a few problems with the ball. Mathews is lured into going after a wide delivery which he edges to gully for a single. Silva plays a superb drive off the last ball, hitting it past the point fielder for a boundary, his third of the innings.

Yadav is leaking runs in plenty and is going for a lot of boundaries. Mathews punches a full delivery straight down the ground past mid-on for a four. The next ball is driven in the gap on the off-side for another boundary as Yadav's struggle with the ball continues. An angry Yadav sends down a bouncer but Mathews is content to duck under it.

A single from the last ball takes Sri Lanka to 50 for three in 13 overs.

SL 21-3 (7 ovs); Target: 386 | Scorecard

Chandimal edges the first ball of Ishant's new over but it falls short of the fielder at third slip, who does well to stop it on the bounce. He retains strike with a single from the last ball of the over.

Chandimal shows his positive intent as he hits Yadav for three boundaries in a row, in the sixth over. A wide short ball is hit through point for a four before he drives the next one square for the same result.

The fifth ball is slipping down the leg side which Chandimal nudges fine for a four to fine leg.

However, in the next over Ishant cripples Sri Lanka further with the wicket of Chandimal, who is caught by Kohli at second slip after a fumble by KL Rahul at third slip, for 18. Some crazy celebrations by Ishant as he bangs his head with his own hand as Chandimal walks by. Apparently, the two players clashed during the Indian second innings when Ishant was batting out in the middle.

Sri Lanka tottering on 21 for three in seven overs, with another 265 needed for victory.

SL 3-2 (4 ovs); Target: 386 | Scorecard

The Indians are all charged up with that early wicket. The umpires have a word with captain Kohli about their celebration at the fall of wicket as Ishant celebrated very close to the batsman.

Umesh Yadav struggles to get it right in the first over, bowling a couple down the leg side to right-hander Kaushal Silva but ends up with a maiden over.

Ishant bowls a bouncer to Karunaratne, who ducks under it before he sees off the rest of the over.

Silva gets the first runs with the bat for Sri Lanka in this innings as he taps it on the off-side for one.

Yadav makes it worse for Sri Lanka with the wicket of Karunaratne, who pokes at a wide outgoing delivery only to be caught behind by Ojha for a duck.

Sri Lanka in tatters at two for two in the fourth over, chasing a huge 386 for victory.

Dinesh Chandimal gets off the mark with a single to the fine leg region and Kaushal defends the last two deliveries to end the over.

SL 1-1 (1 ov); Target: 386 | Scorecard

Sri Lanka open with Upul Tharanga and Kaushal Silva as the umpires have a chat with India captain Virat Kohli, maybe about the Ishant-Prasad confrontation.

Ishant to open the bowling for India. He must be all charged up after that clash with Prasad, who ran after him at the end of the Indian innings, and spoke to him just before he was entering the dressing room.

Tharanga is beaten as he goes after a wide delivery before he edges one but it falls short of the fielder at first slip.

But Ishant strikes with the last ball of the over as once again as Tharanga is beaten all ends up and only manages to edge it behind to wicketkeeper Ojha for a duck.

India 274-all out (76 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

No. 11 Ishant Sharma on strike against Prasad, who as expected greets the Indian with a bouncer. The next ball is again a short ball which Ishant gets out of the way of and Prasad is not happy and gives him the big stare and exchanges a few words too.

Prasad tries the bouncer yet again but has overstepped and it is called a no-ball. Ishant then takes a single on the off-side and as he passes Prasad, the Indian makes a gesture asking the bowler to hit his helmet. A few words being exchanged before Ashwin also steps in and the umpires have to separate the players and calm things down.

Ashwin takes a single to bring Ishant back on strike and not surprising Prasad oversteps by a long way to bowl another bouncer. The next ball is full as Ishant clips it to long leg for one.

Ashwin telling Ishant in Hindi to run for a single if he gets any bat on it. Prasad bowls it wide of the off-stump which Ashwin tries to drive but gets an edge and is caught behind.

Ashwin walks back after a good innings of 58 from 87 balls as India are bowled out for 274 in 76 overs.

Sri Lanka face a tough target of 385 to win the Test match and along with the three-match series.

Prasad was once again the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers as he claimed four for 69, while Pradeep also excelled to take four for 62.

A superb comeback from the Indians after they were reduced to seven for three on Day 3. Ashwin, who was demoted to No. 9, was the top scorer for the visitors with a good innings for 58. Rohit started the fightback with a fluent knock of 50 and got good support from Binny, who made 49.

Ojha (35), and Mishra (39) also made useful contributions down the order to enable their team set Sri Lanka a stiff target on a pitch still offering a bit of help to the fast bowlers.

India 269-9 (75 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Time for some pace as Pradeep comes back. Ashwin drives the second ball through midwicket for a four, using his wrists to good effect and getting the timing spot on. He pulls the next ball through midwicket for another four to bring up his fifty in some style, from 76 balls, his fifth in Tests.

Pradeep delivers a short wide ball which Ashwin cuts to thirdman but gets just a single and Yadav edges it in the gap between the slips for another run.

In the next over, he plays a cracking drive through the covers for a boundary, getting his feet to the pitch and hitting it bang off the middle. He is also doing well to farm majority of the strike as he once again takes a single from the fifth ball giving No. 10 Yadav just a delivery to face.

Yadav finally runs out of patience and has a go at Pradeep as he shuffles across and heaves it behind square. Herath on the fine leg fence does well to judge the high catch and maintain his balance just inches inside the boundary ropes.

Yadav walks back for four as India are reduced to 269 for nine in 75 overs, with a big lead of 380 runs.

India 252-8 (72 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

India continue to bat in the post-tea session as Kaushal resumes his over in which he had taken a wicket from the second ball before the break.

Umesh Yadav gets off the mark with a single before Ashwin does the same from the last ball to retain strike.

Spin from both ends as Sri Lanka look to get through the next few overs till the second new ball is available.

Kaushal bowls a maiden before Ashwin steers Herath behind point for a four and gets a single on the off-side. Yadav likes to have a go at the bowlers but so far he is content to defend and take the singles.

Ashwin comes down the track and drives Herath to long-off for another single.

In the next over, Ashwin turns Kaushal fine for two runs and guides the next ball behind square on the off-side for a four to take his score into the 40s.

TEA - DAY 4

India 234-8 (67.2 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Has the pitch eased out on a bright sunny day at the SSC? The two spinners have not been able to make any sort of an impact with the ball and Sri Lanka have had to rely on their pacers to do the damage.

India are content to let the game move on at a fair pace, not willing to take any unnecessary risks at the moment and are happy with the singles on offer.

Ashwin has looked to use his feet as much as possible especially against Herath. He plays a nice cover drive off the left-armer for a couple before again chipping down for one to long-on.

Mishra paddles Herath fine and manages to beat wicketkeeper Perera who did well to anticipate the shot but could not prevent two runs to fine leg.

Mishra plays a nice late cut as he steers it past the slip fielder for a four followed by a single to square leg region.

Herath once again drops short as Ashwin cuts it square on the off-side for another four, the second of the over.

India's good session is somewhat ruined as Mishra is run out in the final over of the session. Kaushal Silva at short leg comes up with a piece of brilliance as he stays foot despite Mishra coming down and hitting it off the middle. He stops the ball cleanly and flicks the ball back on to the stumps to end a good innings from Mishra. He made 39 from 62 balls, putting on 55 runs for the eighth wicket with Ashwin to take the game away from Sri Lanka.

That wicket sees the tea break being taken as India go into the break at 234 for eight in 67.2 overs, having stretched their lead to 345 runs.

Ashwin has got his eye in to be unbeaten on 27 from 58 balls.

It remains to be seen if India declare their innings or allow the last two wickets in the company of Ashwin to score a few quick runs.

India 207-7 (60 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Off-spinner Kaushal comes back into the attack. Mishra (10) gets a lifeline as Mathews puts down a simple catch at short cover. There is a run out opportunity off the next delivery as Mishra turns it fine and decides to take the second run but a poor throw sees him get home in time.

Mishra getting the scoreboard moving as he plays a lovely drive through the covers for a four to take India past the 200-run mark, in the 59th over.

Kaushal, from round the stumps, hits Ashwin on the pads but the appeal for LBW is turned down. He nudges the last ball fine for a couple as India continue to make good progress.

India 196-7 (57 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Pradeep strikes Mishra on the helmet as he looked to get out of the way of a bouncer. But he is okay to resume his batting soon after as India continue to build their lead.

The India's spin duo seem to be having no problems out in the middle.

Mishra goes after a wide delivery from Pradeep but only manages to edge it over the slips for a four.

In the next over, Mishra sweeps Herath for a single as India's lead touches the 300-run mark. That will be a difficult score to get in the fourth innings and India look good for a lot more.

Sri Lanka are looking to use the short balls against Mishra and have a fielder at square leg and in the deep. Mishra ducks under the first ball which is short from Pradeep bowling from round the wicket. The next ball doesn't rise as much and Mishra helps it fine for a single.

Ashwin punches the last ball through the vacant mid-on region and it is timed quite well for a boundary.

The umpires call for drinks as India are comfortably perched on 196 for seven in 57 overs for an overall lead of 307 runs.

Mishra is once again doing the job with the bat for 18 from 34 balls, while Ashwin is on 10 from 24 balls.

India 180-7 (52 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Mishra gives Herath the charge and lofts it over the covers but gets just a single to the fielder at long-off.

In Herath's next over, Ojha comes down the track and lofts him over the off-side for a four which takes his score to 34.

Prasad bowls a high bouncer to Mishra, which is called a wide for height. A few deliveries later, he drags Mishra forward who gets the edge but the fielder in the gully is unable to get his hands to a tough low catch.

Mishra then has a go at the bouncer but fails to make any connection before taking a single from the last ball.

Just a single from Herath's next over, who looks to keep it tight, as India reach 173 for six in 50 overs, for an overall lead of 284 runs.

Mishra looking in good touch yet again as he steers a short ball from Prasad over the slips for a four. However, two balls later Prasad bowls a beauty to beat Mishra before he is struck by a bouncer which does not bounce much.

Ojha throws it all away with another ugly across the slog. He looks to heave Herath over midwicket but gets a leading edge and is caught on the off-side for 35. He was dismissed playing a similar shot in the first innings and again he went for a risky across the line slog.

India 161-6 (45 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Binny has changed tactics after the lunch break and is looking to play a bit more solidly to carry on his innings.

He looks to drive Herath but gets an edge for two runs before getting a single to take his score to 47.

Prasad comes back and starts with a wide half-volley which Binny crashes through the covers for a couple. But he falls off the next ball as Prasad gets him with the outswinger which Binny looks to defend but gets an edge and Tharanga completes a good catch at first slip.

Binny unlucky to miss out on a fifty as he walks back for a brisk 49, laced with seven fours from 62 balls.

Amit Mishra get a promotion as he walks out to bat ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin. He has looked good throughout the series and played a particularly good knock in the first innings.

He gets off the mark with a single from the last ball as India reach 161 for six in 45 overs.

India 152-5 (42 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Sri Lanka begin with spin as Kaushal starts off proceedings after the lunch break. The first ball is on the pads which Ojha flicks through midwicket for two runs and the next ball is nudged fine on the leg side for a four as Kaushal once again gives away some easy runs.

Three more singles make it seven runs from the first over of the session.

Pradeep to bowl from the other end as Sri Lanka surprisingly to decide to hold back their best bowler Prasad.

Ojha plays another delightful shot, driving a wide full delivery square on the off-side to take his score to 23.

Kaushal is taken off after that poor over as he makes way for Herath with Sri Lanka keen to stop the flow of runs.

The singles are coming quite easily against Herath with Sri Lanka spreading their field around and looking to prevent the boundaries.

India have progressed to 152 for five in 42 overs, for an overall lead of 263 runs. The flow of runs continue as 20 runs have come from the first five overs of the post lunch session without taking any risks at all.

LUNCH - DAY 4

India 132-5 (37 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal comes into the attack, to bowl his first over, and the 34th of the innings. Not surprising he oversteps and gifts a no-ball before Naman Ojha steers it through point for two runs.

Prasad bowls a bouncer to Binny who looks out to ramp it over the keeper but fails to make connection but lets the next bouncer go through. Two singles from the last two balls to end the over.

Kaushal bowls it short and wide and Ojha goes back to cut it behind point for his first boundary. He keeps strike with a single from the last ball of the over.

Pradeep comes back, to bowl what looks like the last over of the morning session. Ojha turns the first ball to fine leg for one and Binny, who has shut shop, takes another single to the thirdman region before his partner ends the session with one to deep point.

At lunch on Day 4, India reach 132 for five, for an overal lead of 243 runs. It was a good session for the Indians despite losing the two big wickets of Kohli and Rohit as they scored 111 runs in 28.5 overs in the morning session.

Binny provided the impetus as he chanced his arm around to score 38 from 45 balls, while Ojha was unbeaten on 11.

India 118-5 (33 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Rohit content to take the singles and bring Binny on strike, who looks keen to get on with things.

Binny plays a nice paddle, sweeping Herath fine for another four. He comes down the track two balls later but is beaten and wicketkeeper Kusal Perera misses an easy stumping.

Binny looks in a rush, he has raced to 25 from 28 balls and seems hungry to attack the bowlers. He needs to just calm down and build on his good start and try to create a big partnership with Rohit to bat Sri Lanka out of the contest.

Binny looking to be aggressive. He looks to take on a short ball from Prasad but misses and is struck on the helmet before picking a leg bye.

He is living a charmed life. Once again he goes after the wide delivery but gets an edge which goes past the second slip fielder for a four as Sri Lanka's frustration continues to grow and so does India's lead, at a very good rate.

Binny seems to have come in with a game plan. He chips down the track to Herath and lofts him over midwicket for a four, to race to 33 from 32 balls with seven fours.

Rohit takes two runs off Prasad in the next over through midwicket to raise the 50-run stand for the fifth wicket, from 60 balls.

He takes a single from the next ball to point to complete his fifty, from 71 balls, his fourth in Test cricket.

But he fails to carry on as he pulls a short ball but gets a top edge which goes straight into the hands of the fielder on the fine leg fence. A poor shot from the right-hander considering he took a risk so close to the lunch break.

He walks back for 50 after putting on 54 runs in 63 balls for the fifth wicket with Binny that helped India steal the initiative.

India 94-4 (29 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Pradeep is making things happen. He bowls a wide one as Binny flashes hard at it, getting it past gully for a four. That was in the air and could have gone anywhere but luckily for India, it went in the gap.

Herath is back, for his second spell on Day 4. Binny gives him the charge before he taps it to the covers for one and Rohit blocks the rest of the over.

Prasad comes back and starts with a short wide delivery which Binny cuts through point for his third four, to take his score to 15. He is looking quite confident now and the pitch also seems to have eased out. The right-hander steers the third ball to the vacant thirdman region for two runs to take the lead past the 200-run mark.

He plays another risky shot off the last ball, throwing his bat at another wide one as it just about goes over the fielder at gully for a four.

India are 94 for four in 29 overs, for an overall lead of 205 runs.

Rohit has grown in confidence to reach 43 from 60 balls, while Binny has stroked 21 from 25 balls.

India 77-4 (25 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Pradeep comes back, as he replaces Mathews, and he strikes immediately. Kohli chased a wide delivery but got an edge which was pouched by Upul Tharanga at first slip after juggling initially.

Kohli walks back for 21 as India are reduced to 64 for four in the 23rd over.

Stuart Binny looks all at sea and is beaten a couple of times outside the off-stump. There is a huge appeal off the last ball as Binny looks to defend but is beaten by the swing. Top bowling from the pace bowler.

Rohit survives another loud appeal for LBW against Mathews, who gets the ball to shape in sharply. Maybe the impact was outside the line of off-stump, that was close.

Binny gets off the mark with a boundary as he clips one on the pads from Pradeep through midwicket.

Rohit plays two cracking drives later in the over for back to back fours. He is feeling confident enough to play away from his body as he continues to be positive.

He has moved to 42 from 54 balls as India reach 77 for four in 25 overs, with the lead swelling to 188.

India 64-3 (22 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

India managing to keep the scoreboard moving Herath with singles as Sri Lanka seems to have gone on the defensive.

Rohit survives a huge shout for LBW against Mathews as he was beaten by the incoming delivery but the impact is too high.

He edges the next ball as he looks to drive through the off-side but it goes in the gap between slips and gully for a four.

Kohli goes back and steers Herath past the point fielder to pick up three runs as the fielder does well on the ropes to keep the ball inside. Rohit is beaten again as he edges a full delivery past the slip fielder for three more runs.

India have recovered to 56 for three in 20 overs to stretch their lead to 167 runs.

Both Kohli (20) and Rohit (28) have quite comfortable out in the middle and runs are coming at a good rate at the moment.

Rohit gets another edge off Mathews for two runs through the gully region to raise the 50-run stand for the fourth wicket from 92 balls.

Sri Lanka bring pacer Prasad to replace Herath, who struggled to make an impact with the ball.

Kohli tries to drive the ball but gets an inside edge for a single to fine leg. Rohit then pulls a short ball through the fine leg region for a four to continue India's good progress.

India are 64 for three in 22 overs, with the lead having stretched to 175 runs.

India 43-3 (16 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Prasad keeping it full and on the stumps to Kohli, who offers a straight bat to everything. But the fifth ball drifts on the pads and the India captain flicks it square on the leg side for the first boundary of the day.

Spin introduced as veteran Rangana Herath comes into the attack. The Indians get going as they pick four singles from his first over of the day, clearly giving away their tactics against spin.

Captain Angelo Mathews comes into the attack. He gifts his opposite number a half-volley on the leg stump which Kohli flicks through midwicket for a four to take the Indian past the 150-run mark.

Rohit looks to be positive against Herath as he comes down the track and lofts him over midwicket for three runs and Kohli takes a single from the fifth ball.

India 26-3 (12 ovs) & 312 vs SL 201 | Scorecard

Dhammika Prasad to continue his unfinished over from Day 3 when play was called off early due to rain.

India would need to be wary against Prasad, who has this habit of taking a wicket in the first over of the day.

Kohli manages to see off the remaining five deliveries of the over to deny the pacer a wicket in the first over of the day.

Rohit gets India's first run on Day 4, tapping the ball on the leg side and is called by his captain for a quick single.

Kohli leans forward to the next ball and gets it in the gap through the covers for two runs.

Prasad beats Rohit outside the off-stump as the right-hander goes for a drive through the off-side. Two balls later there is an appeal for LBW as Rohit comes forward to defend but the umpire is not interested.

India happy to block everything and see of the spell from the two fast bowlers. It is bright and sunny at the SSC and batting will only get easier as the day progresses.

Welcome to the coverage of Day 4 of the third and final Test between Sri Lanka and India, at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, on Monday.

India would be looking to get a big partnership going and get their innings back on track following three early wickets on Day 3.

On Day 3, Ishant Sharma had claimed five wickets to bowl out Sri Lanka for 201 to give the visitors a 111-run first innings lead, but the hosts staged a superb fightback late in the day.

India were reeling on 21 for three in 8.1 overs before played was called off early due to rain with Virat Kohli (1 not out) and Rohit Sharma (14) at the crease.

The visitors lost a wicket in the first over of the innings when first-innings centurion Cheteshwar Pujara was bowled for a duck by pacer Dhammika Prasad, who bowled with an injured left hand.

K L Rahul perished in the same fashion as in the first innings when he offered no stroke to an incoming delivery from Nuwan Pradeep to be bowled for two, the same score as in the first innings.

Ajinkya Rahane also failed for the second time in the match when he was trapped leg before wicket by Pradeep for eight to lead Sri Lanka's superb fightback with the ball.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 201 in their first innings. Responding to India's first innings score of 312, Sri Lanka avoided the follow-on courtesy of Kusal Perera's half-century as the debutant stroked a quickfire 55 from 56 balls.

He got good support from Rangana Herath, who made 49, as the duo added 79 runs for the seventh wicket to rally Sri Lanka, who were tottering on 47 for six at one stage.

Pace spearhead Ishant was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he took five for 54 in 15 overs, while Stuart Binny and Amit Mishra took two wickets each.