IND vs SL: 1st Test, Day 3: As it happened...

Live cricket score and updates from Day 3 of 1st Test between India and Sri Lanka, being played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Courtesy: PTI

Welcome back to ZeeNews Sports for our continued international cricket coverage as India's home season enters its last series against Sri Lanka. After two rain-marred days, India will look to play as many overs as possible in the hope to pose a fightback against the Lankans at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday. Thanks for joining us back for all the live score updates from Day 3, as well as other happenings that make headlines through the day. (LIVE SCORECARD || DAY 2 REPORT || DAY 2 STATS)

Day 3, Stumps - Sri Lanka opt to bowl

Sri Lanka Innings; India 172 All Out

18 November 2017

16:59 PM

India managed to pull things back towards the close of Day 3's play with Umesh Yadav striking twice to remove Lahiru Thiramanne and Angelo Mathews. Both the Lankan batsmen were looking in good touch, stitching a 99-run stand.

Lanka still have a seven-run deficit, but they will retire the day in good spirits. India can also take heart from the fact that after two horrendous days with rain playing spoilsport, they at least got the play some cricket. Mind you, they are the number one ranked Test team in the world.

9:15 AM IST is the start time for Day 4 too. 15 minutes early to cover up lost overs.

16:35 PM

Day 3 Stumps: Sri Lanka 165/4 (45.4) - Niroshan Dickwella 14*(16); Dinesh Chandimal 13*(33)

16:30 PM

That's it from Day 3. The play has been called off earlier than normal due to bad light. India 172, Sri Lanka 165/4 with U Yadav & B Kumar bagging two each #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/TTq0Bazhor

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 18, 2017

16:15 PM

So, it's STUMPS! Sri Lanka trail by 7 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the 1st innings.

16:08 PM

Play stopped due to bad light. Sri Lanka trail by 7 runs.

15:50 PM

Over 43 || Score 150/4 (Dinesh Chandimal 4; Niroshan Dickwella 8)

Drinks!

Sri Lanka trail by 22 runs, but the match is getting interesting with Indian pacers winning few personal battles.

In the last 10 overs, Lanka have scored 32 runs, losing two wickets, and almost lost Niroshan Dickwella too.

India called for a review, for caught behind, but survived. That happened off the first ball of the 41st over, bowled by Umesh Yadav.

15:31 PM

Over 40 || Score 138/4 (Dinesh Chandimal 1; Niroshan Dickwella 0)

Finally, India take a catch. Not, two catches. First, Virat Kohli produces a stunning catch at first slip to end a 99-run stand and send back Lahiru Thirimanne. Umesh Yadav, once again, proving India's partnership breaker.

Wicket: Lahiru Thirimanne c Virat Kohli b Umesh Yadav 51(94)

That happened off the second ball of the 37th over. Dinesh Chandimal is the new man, and three balls later Angelo Mathews completes his fifty with a four.

Then, Yadav gets his second scalp in ten balls. A simple catch at short cover, taken by KL Rahul.

Wicket: Angelo Mathews c KL Rahul b Umesh Yadav 52(94)

Lanka now have two new batsmen in the centre, with Niroshan Dickwella joining skipper Chandimal.

15:07 PM

Over 35 || Score 129/2 (Lahiru Thirimanne 51; Angelo Mathews 44)

Brilliant knock from Lahiru Thirimanne. The 28-year-old completes his fifth Test fifty, and he is going strong. He reached the mini-milestone off the second ball of 33rd over with a single, bowled by Mohammed Shami. He was dropped on 27, by the way.

In the next over, his batting partner and former Lanka captain Angelo Mathews gets a warning for running on the pitch. Umpire Nigel Llong is angry.

14:46 PM

In the meantime, WATCH Virat Kohli's reaction to Mohammed Shami's adventurous batting earlier today. Unmissable!

14:29 PM

Over 31 || Score 113/2 (Lahiru Thirimanne 48; Angelo Mathews 31)

Tea!

A 79-run stand between Lahiru Thirimanne (48) and Angelo Mathews (31) effectively demoralises Indian players at Eden Gardens. The Lankans are 59 runs behind.

For India, Virat Kohli utilises four bowlers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/38 from 12 overs), Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin – with the last three without success.

38 overs' play left in the day.

14:01 PM

Over 24 || Score 93/2 (Lahiru Thirimanne 36; Angelo Mathews 24)

Spin. Virat Kohli introduces Ravichandran Ashwin. The offspinner leaks two singles, off the third and sixth deliveries.

Sri Lanka are scoring at a rate just under four. And they now trail India by 79 runs only.

13:47 PM

Over 21 || Score 84/2 (Lahiru Thirimanne 33; Angelo Mathews 18)

Sri Lanka reduces the lead under 90 runs. Brilliant play from Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews. Their partnership is now worth 51 off 87 balls.

India had their chances though. Dhawan dropped a sitter at first slip, giving Thirimanne a life in the 18th over. Umesh Yadav, however, applauded the effort even as Virat Kohli stood motionless, devoid of any reaction. Very untypical from the skipper. He looked angry, exasperated.

13:19 PM

Over 15 || Score 56/2 (Lahiru Thirimanne 18; Angelo Mathews 5)

Drinks!

Lanka, despite losing both the openers, will be happy with the current state of play.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been brilliant so far, and has taken both the wickets.

13:07 PM

Over 13 || Score 46/2 (Lahiru Thirimanne 8; Angelo Mathews 5)

Virat Kohli introduces Umesh Yadav in the 12th over, and the pacer leaks a single. On the other end, Bhuvneshwar Kumar continues, testing the Lankan batsmen.

Sri Lanka still trail by 126 runs with a minimum of 56 overs left in the day.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami is back. He looks fine.

12:55 PM

Mohammed Shami is leaving the ground. He was struggling. A while ago, he was seen getting the help of physio. In his place, Rohit Sharma is doing fielding duties.

12:45 PM

Over 8 || Score 34/2 (Lahiru Thirimanne 2; Angelo Mathews 0)

Bhuvi strikes again to give India a glimpse of hope, for a fightback. Sadeera Samarawickrama fails to read the line and ends up getting a fine nick.

Wicket: Sadeera Samarawickrama c Wriddhiman Saha b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 23 (22)

It happened off the fourth ball of the seventh over. And Bhuvi is moving the ball at will.

Angelo Mathews is the new man for the visitors.

12:31 PM

Over 5 || Score 30/1 (Sadeera Samarawickrama 20; Lahiru Thirimanne 1)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar strikes for India, removing Dimuth Karunaratne, trapped in front for LBW. Original decision out, but the Lankan opener goes for the review. Umpires talk about shot not being offered, and the ball got the off stump.

Wicket: Dimuth Karunaratne lbw b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 8(15)

It happened off the fifth ball of the fifth over. Earlier, off the third ball of the fourth over, Karunaratne reviewed successfully a LBW decision against Mohammed Shami. Ball kept rising.

Another left-handed batsman for Lanka, in Lahiru Thirimanne.

12:16 PM

Over 2 || Score 13/0 (Dimuth Karunaratne 5; Sadeera Samarawickrama 7)

India's innings started with a wicket on a rainy Day 1, then two days later, Sri Lanka begin their chase with a boundary under the bright, sunny Kolkata sky.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar started the proceedings, and Sadeera Samarawickrama smacked the first ball for a four through mid-on. It was followed by three runs. Eight runs from the first over.

Mohammed Shami shared the new ball with Bhuvi, and leaked five runs, including a four off the first ball, flicked by Dimuth Karunaratne.

11:58 AM

Match will resume in a while, after the Lunch break.

11:34 AM

Cheteshwar Pujara top scored for India with a well constructed 52. He got fleeting supports Wriddhiman Saha (29), who partnered with Ravindra Jadeja (22) to thwart the Lankan attack for some time. Indian tail did well, considering how the top order had failed.

For Lanka, Suranga Lakmal took four, of those three came during that magical Day 1 spell.  Lahiru Gamage, Dasun Shanaka and  Dilruwan Perera took a brace of wickets each.

11:31 AM

Over 59.3 || Score 172 All Out (Umesh Yadav 6)

After a thrilling cameo from Mohammed Shami, Indian innings folded for 172 runs. Shami hit 24 runs from 22 balls with the help of three fours.

Wicket: Mohammed Shami c Dasun Shanaka b Lahiru Gamage 24(22)

11:13 AM

Over 57 || Score 149/9 (Mohammed Shami 6; Umesh Yadav 1)

India lose another wicket, in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Suranga Lakmal getting his fourth scalp in the innings. Unplayable. Edged and caught, similar to the one that undone Lokesh Rahul on Day 1.

Wicket: Bhuvneshwar Kumar c Niroshan Dickwella b Suranga Lakmal 13(17)

Umesh Yadav is the last man for India.

10:54 AM

Over 52 || Score 128/8 (Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1; Mohammed Shami 0)

India in deep trouble. A double-wicket over. First, Ravindra Jadeja. LBW. The initial decision was not out, probably considering the height of the bounce. But the Lankans took the review, and it's hitting middle.

Wicket: Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Dilruwan Perera 22(37)

That happened off the second ball of the 52nd over.

Then, two balls later, Wriddhiman Saha got out in a strange manner. He played a paddle sweep, and ended up offering a catch at first slip. Huge shout, for whatever. Lankans took another review, going for LBW. But during the review, the replay showed a spike and with a clean catch, Saha's gone.

Wicket: Wriddhiman Saha c Angelo Mathews b Dilruwan Perera 29(83)

India are in deep trouble, indeed.

10:30 AM

Over 48 || Score 121/6 (Wriddhiman Saha 25; Ravindra Jadeja 20)

A fledgling partnership of 42 runs between Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja helps India add crucial runs before TEA.

10:24 AM

Meanwhile, here's one update on umpire Richard Kettleborough. He's down with a throat infection, and pulled out of day three's play. He has been replaced by West Indies' Joel Wilson, who accompanied Nigel Long.

10:13 AM

Here's how Team India saluted Pujara on his 16th Test fifty. Incredible sight.

10:13 AM

Over 44 || Score 106/6 (Wriddhiman Saha 20; Ravindra Jadeja 12)

There's some urgency in the scoring rate for India with the arrival of Ravindra Jadeja. He's making sweet connections. Meanwhile, India crossed the 100-run mark with a four off the first ball of the 43rd over, hit by Jadeja off the bowling of Suranga Lakmal.

09:43 AM

Over 38 || Score 79/6 (Wriddhiman Saha 6; Ravindra Jadeja 0)

Shocker for India! Cheteshwar Pujara departs minutes after completing his 16th Test fifty. Bowled by Lahiru Gamage. Ball breached through the bat and pad gap.

Wicket: Pujara b Gamage 52(117)

That happened off the second ball of the 38th over, and Ravindra Jadeja is the new man for India. He recently scored a double hundred in Ranji Trophy, so to say.

09:24 AM

Over 33 || Score 79/5 (Cheteshwar Pujara 52; Wriddhiman Saha 6)

Cheteshwar Pujara starts with a single off the very first delivery as Lahiru Gamage completes his 12th over. Gamage was stranded yesterday with a delivery still left in his 12th over.

Then, Pujara completes his fifty with a four off the fifth ball of the next over. A brilliantly timed glance shot. That's his 16th Test fifty.

09:13 AM

Ashish Nehra gets the bell ringing. Umpires and players are out in the centre. Let's hope for a good day of cricket.

09:10 AM

The Eden Gardens top still has plenty to grass. And luckily there's no rain today.

08:54 AM

We have the first glimpse of Pujara warming up. It will be a huge day for him, and India. Play will start at 9:15 AM IST, yes, if rain gods permit.

Batsman @cheteshwar1 going through his routines on Day 3. How crucial will this man be for #TeamIndia today? #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/eHEB2I8K8f

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 18, 2017

08:40 AM

Day 2 recap:

Cheteshwar Pujara came to India's rescue after Sri Lankan seamer Dasun Shanaka's twin strike had left the hosts gasping at 74 for five on a second consecutive rain-curtailed day.

After Suranga Lakmal's (3/5) exploits on the first day of the rain-affected series opener, it was Shanaka's turn to steal the limelight today as he removed Ajinkya Rahane (4) and Ravichandran Ashwin (4) to return with impressive figures of 2 for 23.

Pujara was the lone Indian batsmen to produce some fight against the Sri Lankan bowling attack on a green top in overcast conditions.

Pujara displayed impeccable defensive technique again and struck only the errant deliveries to score during his unbeaten 47-run knock.

Shanaka took both the wickets in the morning but Pujara anchored India's first innings on testing overcast conditions at the Eden Gardens.

Coming on to bat at the score of eight, Pujara faced 102 deliveries and struck nine fours in his knock, three runs away from what could be a memorable half-century as the India No 3 built his innings with supreme resolve.

Local lad Wriddhiman Saha showed enough grit and determination to help India avoid further blemish yesterday, lunch coming 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled time thanks to the relentless rain.

The heavens continued to pour, which meant no play was possible after lunch forcing the umpires to call off day's proceedings prematurely again.

Only 21 overs' play was possible yesterday, and with 11.5 on Day 1, the match has already lost 147 overs.

For the record, this is the first Test for Lanka at Eden Gardens, and they are looking for maiden win in India.