Abhinav Mukund and Virat Kohli slammed half-centuries as India extended their lead to 498 runs after third day’s play in their first Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Read: Nuwan Pradeep is our number one seamer – Gurusinha

After bowling out the hosts for 291 despite Dilruwan Perera’s gritty 92*, India decided to bat again and at stumps, the visitors were 189 for 3 with Mukund falling in the final over for 81 while Kohli remained not out on 76*.

The left-right combo complimented each other well as they added 133 unbroken runs for the 3rd wicket before Danushka Gunathilaka trapped Mukund plumb in front. The visitors will be looking to play at least another hour on day 4 to give enough time for Kohli to score his hundred before declaring the innings.

Earlier in the first session, the hosts resumed day three on 154 for 5, overnight batsman Angelo Mathews looked all set for his first Test century in two years but against the run of play, world number 1 spinner Ravindra Jadeja struck. Recently-resigned Mathews backed away to the leg and struck firmly towards the off-side where Kohli took a timely catch at short-extra cover. The dismissal brought an end to a 62-run stand for the 6th wicket, the highest in the Sri Lankan innings.

Watch – Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka’s only hope – Cricketry: Day 2

Skipper Rangana Herath attempted a reverse-sweep off Jadeja but the ball lobbed to first slip after brushing the glove. Herath challenged the decision but there was no conclusive evidence to reverse the decision. Nuwan Pradeep added 39 runs with Perera for the 8th wicket before being castled by part-time seam of debutant Hardik Pandya.

Dilruwan Perera was given LBW on 38 off Jadeja but overturned the decision using DRS as the replays confirmed the ball was missing the stumps. He took on the spinners stunningly, slog sweeping and hitting down the ground to score 10 fours and 4 sixes. Perera’s ability to play the cross-batted pull against the seamers was amazing and he showed the top order how to milk the bowlers despite losing partners at the other end.

Photo Album – Sri Lanka vs India 2017 – 1st Test Day 3

Jadeja ended Dilruwan’s hopes of a maiden century nine balls after lunch, beating Lahiru Kumara’s outside edge and crashing the off-stump.

With a 309-run lead, India opted not to enforce follow-on. The two openers started briskly before the first innings’ centurion, Shikhar Dhawan made a lousy cut shot off Dilruwan straight to cover-point with the score on 19.

One drop batsman, Chesteshwar Pujara got off to another healthy start before Kusal Mendis’ individual brilliance at leg-gully ended Pujara’s stay with the score on 56. He flicked Kumara uppishly and Mendis held onto a smart take on the second attempt as rain interrupted play, 30 minutes before scheduled tea time.

Exactly 86 minutes of play was lost to rain which kept the ground staff busy. Since the resumption, Mukund and Kohli batted with authority and delicacy to extend the Indian lead and shut the hosts out of the game.

Mukund reached a well-deserved fifty, his first since July, 2011 while after a string of low-scores, Kohli brought his 15th Test half-century in 68 deliveries. The way Kohli used his long stretches evaded the Lankan spinners while Mukund played it late and farmed the strike at will.

SCORECARD
India - BattingToss: India
Shikhar Dhawanc Mathews b Pradeep190 (168)
Abhinav Mukundc Dickwella b Pradeep12 (26)
Chesteshwar Pujarac Dickwella b Pradeep153 (265)
Virat Kohlic Dickwella b Pradeep3 (8)
Ajinkya Rahanec Karunarathne b Kumara57 (130)
Ravinchandran Ashwinc Dickwella b Pradeep47 (60)
Wriddhiman Sahac Perera b Herath16 (32)
Hardik Pandyac De Silva (Sub) b Kumara50 (49)
Ravindra Jadejab Pradeep15 (24)
Mohammed Shamic Tharanga b Kumara30 (30
Umesh YadavNot Out11 (10)
TotalExtras (16)600 (133.1 overs)
Sri Lanka - BowlingOMRW
Nuwan Pradeep3121326
Lahiru Kumara25.131313
Dilruwan Perera3011300
Rangana Herath4061591
Danushka Gunathilaka70430
Sri Lanka - BattingToss: India
Dimuth KarunarathneLBW b Yadav2 (9)
Upul TharangaRun Out 64 (93)
Danushka Gunathilakac Dhawan b Shami16 (37)
Kusal Mendisc Dhawan b Shami0 (4)
Angelo Mathewsc Kohli b Jadeja 83 (130)
Niroshan Dickwellac Mukund b Ashwin8 (15)
Dilruwan PereraNot Out92 (132)
Rangana Herathc Rahane b Jadeja9 (13)
Nuwan Pradeepb Pandya10 (26)
Lahiru Kumarab Jadeja2 (12)
Asela GunaratneDNB
TotalExtras (5)291 (78.3 overs)
India - BowlingOMRW
Mohammed Shami122452
Umesh Yadav141781
Ravichandran Ashwin275841
Ravindra Jadeja22.33673
Hardik Pandya30131
India - BattingToss: India
Shikhar Dhawanc Gunathilaka b Perera14 (14)
Abhinav MukundLBW b Gunathilaka 81 (116)
Chesteshwar Pujarac Mendis b Kumara15 (35)
Virat KohliNot Out103 (136)
Ajinkya RahaneNot Out23 (18)
Ravinchandran Ashwin
Wriddhiman Saha
Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja
Mohammed Shami
Umesh Yadav
TotalExtras (4)240/3 (53 overs)
Sri Lanka - BowlingOMRW
Nuwan Pradeep122630
Dilruwan Perera150671
Lahiru Kumara121591
Rangana Herath90340
Danushka Gunathilaka50161