Mohali Test: SL lose three more wickets; India eye victory
Sri Lanka lost three more wickets in the second session on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test against India at the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja took a wicket each in the post-lunch session. They still trail by 280 runs after India enforced the follow-on (120/4). The Lankans were bundled out for 174 in the first innings.
How did the second session pan out?
Ashwin struck for India in the third over after lunch. The senior off-spinner got rid of Pathum Nissanka, who returned unbeaten on 61 in the first innings. In the 16th over, pace spearhead Mohammed Shami dismissed Sri Lanka's captain Dimuth Karunaratne. Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva shared a pivotal stand thereafter. However, Jadeja dismissed the latter at the stroke of tea.
A crucial partnership for SL
Mathews and de Silva shared a 49-run stand after Sri Lanka were reduced to 45/3. The duo negotiated the likes of Ashwin and Jadeja. However, the left-arm spinner removed de Silva just before tea. As a result, Charith Asalanka joined Mathews in the middle.
Mathews and Asalanka launched a counter-attack
The likes of Mathews and Asalanka launched a counter-attack in the dying moments of the post-lunch session. In the penultimate over, Mathews slammed a huge six off Ashwin. His compatriot Asalanka showed his attacking instinct in the very next over. He smashed 20 runs off Jadeja in that over, having struck two sixes and as many fours.
