India leads overall by 498 runs

India leads overall by 498 runs 

An adamant stand by skipper Virat Kohli and Abhinav Mukund in India’s second innings led the visitors’ to 189/3 at stumps, boasting a 498 run lead with 7 wickets remaining against Sri Lanka, on the 3rd day of the first test in Galle.

Despite the fall of early wickets in India’s second innings the Kohli, Mukund partnership continued to raise the visitors tally to dominant heights with a take of over 133 runs between them.

However offspinner Danushka Gunathilake had the last say of the day breaking through when he trapped Mukund lbw in what turned out to be the last ball of the day on 81.

Thanks to Perera’s durable knock Sri Lanka replying to India massive score of 600, made 291. It was still a good distance away but the way Perera batted in the middle the Indians didn’t want to take a chance and enforce the follow-on although they enjoyed a lead of 309.

The Lankan batsmen could learn a thing or two from Perera, the top scorer in the innings the way he batted against India’s pace cum spin attack on a pitch that is still good for batting. Perera was not afraid to come down the track to the spinners and smite them over and he also played the short ball quite comfortably pulling and cutting with aplomb.

At the non-striker’s end was Perera, stranded eight short of a maiden Test hundred.

His proactive approach had led Sri Lanka’s fight in the morning session, in which they scored 135 runs at just over four an over, while losing three wickets.

Sri Lanka already down to 10 batsmen without the services of Gunaratne suffered another jolt when Rangana Herath, the captain had to leave the field after hurting the middle finger of his bowling hand trying to stop a powerful Kohli drive at extra cover.