Ind vs SL, 3rd Test, Day 3 as it happened: India wrest back control after Chandimal, Mathews tons

At stumps, Sri Lanka 356/9 in 130 overs (Chandimal 147*, Sandakan 0*)
Sri Lanka survive Day 3. Chandimal kept one end up after completing his tenth Test ton, but the lower-order collapsed around him. The visitors will rue that fact that their lower-order could not hold up after their kipper and Mathews stitched together a marathon partnership for the fourth wicket. Sri Lanka still trail by 180 runs.

After 127 overs, 343/9 (Chandimal 134*).
WICKET! Sri Lanka lose their ninth. Jadeja gets his second. Gamage departs for 1. India need just one more wicket to bat again. Chandimal is still batting, but has not been able to strike up a partnership with the tail.
Gamage lbw b Jadeja 1 (16b)

After 123 overs, Sri Lanka 331/8 (Chandimal 123).
WICKET! Shami comes into the act as Ishant takes a breather. Lakmal edges and Saha completes another fine catch. This is the fourth dismissal in this session. Other than Chandimal reaching his ton, nothing has gone their way.
Lakmal c Saha b Shami 5 (13b).

After 119.2 overs, Sri Lanka 322/7 (Chandimal 117*).
WICKET! Ashwin strikes again. Dickwella also falls for a duck. Looks to cut the ball, but misses to make contact as it crashes into the stumps. Chandimal just has the tail to play with now.
Dickwella b Ashwin 0 (4b).

After 117.4 overs, Sri Lanka 318/6 (Chandimal 117*).
WICKET! Roshen de Silva is sent back for a duck. Ashwin gets his second scalp of the day. Chandimal losing partners in a hurry. Dickwella joins him in the middle.
Roshen c Dhawan b Ashwin 0 (3b).

After 116.4 overs, Sri Lanka 317/5 (Chandimal 116*).
WICKET! Sadeera departs, he edges the ball off Ishant. Saha completes a fine diving catch behind the stumps. Chandimal remains Sri Lanka’s final hope to help the team to chip away at the deficit. With the tail now exposed, India will hope to run through the opposition line-up.
Sadeera c Saha b Ishant 33 (61b).

Update: Conditions in Delhi on Monday have been worse than those on Sunday, AFP reports. Concentration of the smallest and most harmful airborne pollutants 18 times the World Health Organization’s safe level, just before the players took lunch, the report adds. On Sunday it was 15 times over the WHO limit, AFP cited the US embassy website as stating.

After 110.1 overs, Sri Lanka 300/4 (Chandimal 106*, Sadeera 26*).
Sri Lanka reach 300. Chandimal and Sadeera are trying to piece together another stand, but they are living dangerously. Sadeera in particular is looking to play aggressively. The stand is now worth 46 runs from 82 deliveries.

After 104.4 overs, Sri Lanka 284/4 (Chandimal 100*, Sadeera 16*).
100 up for Chandimal! The Sri Lanka skipper brings his tenth Test century immediately after the Tea break. Sri Lanka will want him to carry on from here. They still trail India by over 250 runs. He had supported Mathews well over the past two session. In this session, he will now have to take charge. Immediately after the ton, though, he was laid low with what looks like a thumb injury. It will be a matter of concern for him moving forward.

At Tea, Sri Lanka 270/4 in 102 overs (Chandimal 98*, Sadeera 4*).
Ashwin saved the session for India. Chandimal and Mathews were threatening to add more to India’s woes. Ashwin gave his side a timely scalp. With his century, Mathews had anchored a fine fightback for the visitors. His departure, though, gives India a chance to close out the Sri Lanka innings, however, Chandimal is still around two runs from completing his century. India will want to send him back quickly as well, but their catching needs to improve drastically. They spilled two catches today taking the total tally of spilled chances to four in the game.

After 99 overs, Sri Lanka 260/4 (Chandimal 96*).
WICKET! India finally gets a breakthrough. Ashwin strikes! Gets Mathews to edge one to the keeper. Mathews does not pick up the turn and pushes at the delivery. Saha takes a clean catch behind the stumps. Mathews’ gritty knock ends on ‘nelson’. Sadeera Samarawickrama, who took a heavy blow on his helmet while fielding, joins Chandimal in the middle.
Mathews b Ashwin c Saha 111 (268b)

After 95.1 overs, Sri Lanka 251/3 (Mathews 109, Chandimal 89).
250 up for Sri Lanka! Mathews and Chandimal have frustrated India to no end over the course of two sessions, now they are comfortably placed to stretch it to a third. Dropped catches by India, have helped their cause, but the duo has shown maturity in their effort.

After 89 overs, Sri Lanka 241/3 (Mathews 108, Chandimal 81).
Dropped! Substitute fielder Vijay Shankar this time. Mathews lobbed the ball trying to clear the infield, Shankar at mid-off stretched his arms, but could not hold on. It was a difficult chance, but at this stage India needed him to hang on. Sri Lanka have brought the deficit down to under 300.

After 87 overs, Sri Lanka 231/3 (Mathews 104, Chandimal 75).
150-run partnership for Mathews and Chandimal. Fortune has favoured the two, but they have made most from the chances that have come their way. India have tried hard, but the duo has proved to be a tough nut to crack.

100 for Mathews! This is his eighth Test ton. The last time he was in India, he was run-out on 99. He smashed 12 boundaries and two sixes in the 231 deliveries he faced. He was dropped twice during the effort. Once by Kohli and now by Rohit when he was on 98.
Sri Lanka 211/3 after 82 overs (Mathews 101, Chandimal 61).

After 82.1 overs, Sri Lanka 219/3 (Mathews 98, Chandimal 60).
DROPPED! Oh dear, India’s slip catching has been close to atrocious. This time it’s Rohit, puts down Mathews on 98, the first ball after the new ball is taken. Ishant is clearly upset.

After 81 overs, Sri Lanka 208/3: This is now reminiscent of the blockathon by South Africa at the Kotla in December 2015. Mathews and Chandimal have blocked and blocked against the spinners. The second new ball has been taken.

After 79 overs, Sri Lanka 205/3: Things are happening on this pitch now. Jadeja gets it to turn and this time it keeps low, Mathews gets his bat down on time, takes the outside edge and it sneaks past the stump and through Saha’s pads, goes for four – there really is nothing he could have done about it. Jadeja is rushing through his overs, bowling maidens for fun. Mathews two away from a century.

After 74 overs, Sri Lanka 197/3: India took a brilliant review yesterday to dismiss Dilruwan but today, not so good. Ashwin traps Chandimal at the crease and fails to read the turn but the ball was turning too much, missing leg stump. India lose their review. Kohli never seemed convinced enough to take it at the first place.

Second session underway, Sri Lanka 195/3: Ashwin and Jadeja resume India’s quest for a breakthrough on the third morning. Mathews is closing in on a well-deserved century. Three singles from Ashwin, a super-quick maiden from Jadeja.

Update: Green court slams authorities for holding India-Sri Lanka Test in Delhi despite poor air quality.

Lunch time read:

Just In: Green Court slams authorities for holding India-Sri Lanka Test in Delhi despite poor air quality. Skipper Dinesh Chandimal was the first individual on Monday to complain of discomfort. Several visiting players had reported to have been affected by the hazardous air quality in the city where the match is being staged.

At Lunch, Sri Lanka 192/3 after 71 overs (Mathews 90*, Chandimal 52*).
India’s bowlers were left frustrated in a hazy morning session on Monday. They toiled but could not get past the defences of Mathews and Chandimal. This is in fact the first time that Sri Lanka have not lost a wicket in a session. The visitors still trail India by 344 runs.

After 69 overs, Sri Lanka 191/3 (Mathews 89, Chandimal 52).
Spin from both ends now. Kohli feels the ball is scuffed up enough now. Ashwin into the attack just before the lunch break. Another challenge for Chandimal and Mathews, who is nearing a century.

After 65 overs, Sri Lanka 183/3 (Mathews 83, Chandimal 51).
50 for Chandimal. India’s ploys have fallen flat all morning. Sri Lanka are making hay despite the haze. Kohli is trying to bounce the batsmen into submission, but the two Sri Lanka batsmen have done well to work their way around it.

After 175/3 in 63.1 overs (Mathews 80, Chandimal 46).
Mathews, Chandimal have now added 100 runs for the fourth wicket. The duo has batted stoically, managing both the threat from Indian bowlers and the conditions (cough). India and Ishant are trying to get Mathews out with a leg-side heavy field and short-pitched deliveries, but the ploy isn’t bearing fruit for now.

Update: The All-India Senior Selection Committee will meet in New Delhi today to pick the teams for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka and the three-match Test series against South Africa.

Sri Lanka 155/3 after 57 overs (Mathews 68, Chandimal 36)
Want statistical proof of Sri Lanka’s struggle this series? At 68*, Angelo Mathews now has Sri Lanka’s highest individual score this series.

Sri Lanka 152/3 after 54 overs (Mathews 67, Chandimal 36)
Chandimal and Mathews are batting steadily. They are doing a good job at keeping the India’s bowlers at bay. The pacer tried to break the stand, but did not succeed, the spinners are now trying to chip away.

Sri Lanka 148/3 after 52 overs (Mathews 67, Chandimal 32)
Chandimal is the first Sri Lankan to report discomfort. The physio was out and assessed the situation. Play was halted for a bit, but the game has resumed now.

Sri Lanka 141/3 after 48.3 overs (Mathews 64, Chandimal 28)
Quiet start for Sri Lanka. India’s pacers are putting in another fine performance early in the day. Plenty of edges, just haven’t carried to the slip fielders. India dropped two catches in the slips on Sunday. They will want to improve on that aspect of the game.

9.35am: And we are underway. Jadeja completes his pending over from last night. It’s another hazy morning in Delhi. No player is wearing any masks so far. Sri Lanka 132/3 (Chandimal 27, Mathews 57)

9.00am: Virat Kohli smashed a record double century to put India on top in the third Test against Sri Lanka, whose fielders wore anti-pollution masks in extraordinary scenes in a smoggy Delhi on Sunday.

Kohli cracked a career-best 243 but his sixth double century as captain was overshadowed on the second day after Sri Lanka complained about air pollution in the Indian capital, halting play three times.

The match was delayed more than 20 minutes in the second session as smog visibly worsened at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium and the umpires consulted the match referee and team doctors.

Sri Lankan fast bowlers Lahiru Gamage and Suranga Lakmal returned to the pavilion amid the drama, leaving the visitors short of fielders and prompting Kohli to declare India’s first innnings on 536/7.

Sri Lanka were 131 for three at stumps, trailing the hosts by 405 runs.