Sri Lanka vs India, 3rd Test - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: India tour of Sri Lanka, 2017 Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele Date & Time: Aug 12-Aug 16, 10:00 AM LOCAL

India picked up the remaining nine wickets in a little over two sessions to wrap the game up on Day 3. © AFP

Stats Wrap:

Biggest away wins for India:

by innings & 239 runs at Dhaka, 2007

by innings & 171 runs at Pallekele, 2017*

by innings & 140 runs at Dhaka, 2004

by innings & 131 runs at Rawalpindi, 2004

Biggest home defeats for Sri Lanka:

by innings & 201 runs vs SA, SSC, 1993

by innings & 171 runs vs India, Pallekele, 2017*

by innings & 163 runs v Pakistan, Galle, 2000

Nine Test wins for India in Sri Lanka in 24 Tests - the most for a visiting team - goes past eight by Pakistan (also in 24 Tests)

Fifth successive loss for Sri Lanka against India - the joint-most in a row for them against an opponent. They have lost their last five against New Zealand as well.

India win the series 3-0, their first-ever away series whitewash

Quite fittingly, Ashwin takes the final wicket and that is it. All over for Sri Lanka. This has been a meek submission from the hosts after the tourists put up a big score on the board. Bowled out for 135 and having been asked to follow on, Sri Lanka never looked like possessing enough teeth to bite the bullet.

Shami opened the morning brilliantly and Ashwin played along very well for both to star in India's comprehensive win. It is also the first time India have achieved a series whitewash away from home. The emotions were visible as Virat Kohli, who seems to know his stats, mentions about history to his teammates as they walk off the field. This has been a very rounded show from the Indians, quite complete, although they would have liked to be 'Test'ed.

Play extended in the second session. For how long? Shouldn't take much time..

All over, no, wait..

Fernando scoops one straight back at Shami, who stretches his right hand out but the ball hits him on the wrist, nowhere close to the palm. Simple chance goes down, India will have to wait for a while..

Three wickets in the first session and now five already in this session. Less than ten minutes on the clock to Tea for that one wicket remaining. Would they need an extension? Highly doubt. Should be over. The last pair of Kumara and Fernando out there in the middle.

@ThePapareSports

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First Blood

Kuldeep is replaced by Ashwin just after one over and the ploy works wonders for him and India. Flatter, quicker and some sharp bite off the deck as Dimuth Karunaratne jabs at it with hard hands, the extra bounce and turn didn't help the southpaw either. Simple catch for the first slip fielder. India up and running, nice and early!

Wicket maiden for Ashwin

Quite a few grey clouds overhead and interestingly, India begin with Kuldeep Yadav. Mohammed Shami from the other end. Some movement too for the Bengal pacer. The conditions should help him, don't you think?

Reading Time

"It is very hurting. You cannot find any excuses and you need to work with these boys and teach the best you know and give them a bit of time," said the SL batting coach Hashan Tillakaratne.

In case you have not followed much of the action yesterday, the man of the day was the sprightly new-found love of Indian cricket, the 'commodity' that India hasn't had enough of - an allrounder. Guessed it right? Hardik Pandya! Here's what Vishaal had to write about him: Confident Pandya comes of age

Rain threat?

Our man Vishaal Loganathan has pinged early in the morning: "Looks like there was some rain earlier today. Most of the covers have been removed. There's one kept just beside the pitch in case it starts raining again soon. Teams are out practising."

A familiar slide for Sri Lanka?

There is an eerie similarity between how the Pallekele and the Colombo Tests have panned out so far. India post a big first-innings total, Sri Lanka crumble in a jiffy and face a mountainous task following on. Last time around, they showed some signs of grit through Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis. When the action resumes on Monday, Karunaratne has the task of enhancing his reputation of being a second-innings specialist. Last time around, even centuries from the two weren't enough so they'll know that their graft has to carry on much beyond their personal milestones. The wicket isn't behaving in favour of the bowlers so Sri Lanka should really look to dig in and pocket the majority of Day 3 and not typically dominate few phases and undo it with a collapse. Needless to say, an action-packed Day 3 is ahead of us.

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