04:45 pm: That’s it from us for the day. The Test is, in all likelihood, meandering towards a draw after a two good sessions for India. Join us on Monday morning for another day of action. And oh, before we leave, Pujara is all set for a pretty cool record when he comes out to bat on day five...
STUMPS, India lead by 49 runs: And finally in this Test match, India have looked the superior side. After Herath’s gritty half century gave Sri Lanka a handy 122-run lead, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan came out with intent, a spring in their step and made the most of the drying, brown pitch to hack down the lead in no time and reach 171/1 at the end of the day’s play. Some exquisite driving by both the openers against a pedestrian bowling effort by the Lankans.
Wicket! Dhawan is gone, India 166/1: Perhaps over-eager to get to his century, Dhawan comes down the track against Shanaka, and his given out caught behind by Nigel Llong. He reviews it immediately but one has to wonder why because there’s a considerable spike on Ultraedge. Nevertheless, a fine innings by Dhawan and his 94 came at a quick clip, to make sure India end the day ahead of the Sri Lankans.
Meanwhile, no nightwatchman. Pujara walks in at No 3.
Dhawan has shifted gears big time: With the sun beginning to set in Kolkata, with the shadows growing longer, Dhawan has raced ahead to 87 off just 103 balls. 37 runs from 29 balls since reaching his 50. The latest bowler to suffer his wrath is Gamage who tries to bounce him, but Dhawan pulls for two boundaries in that over. India 157/0 after 34 overs, lead by 35.
The over rate has been pretty poor all day, and we have 20-plus overs pending with the light going down.
India are in the lead at Eden Gardens: And what a way to get there! Dhawan – who has used his feet against spinners very well – dances down the track to Herath and smashes it over long on for a six. India 129/0 after 30 overs. (Rahul 62*, Dhawan 63*)
50 up for Shikhar Dhawan: Just as KL Rahul was pulling away, Dhawan plays catch up. Gets to his 4th Test fifty with a neat flick to square leg for a single. He has used his feet well against Perera today, even if it’s just to find the gaps and rotate strike. Herath into the attack for the first time today and he’s welcomed by a lofted off-drive for four.
India 116/0 (Dhawan 55*, Rahul 60*)
100 up for India, 103/0 after 25 overs: Dhawan and Rahul have added 100 at quite the pace, especially upping the ante since tea. The run-rate of 4-plus tells you how the pitch has eased and how Sri Lanka’s bowlers have struggled as well. Rahul meanwhile, has reversed a recent run of not-so-great form - his sequence of scores across formats (international and otherwise) was 4, 17, 7, 24, 68, 4, 23, 9, 92, 0. This is a much needed half century for him.
Sri Lanka lose both their reviews: After a poor LBW review against Dhawan before tea, SL do it again. This time by reviewing when Dhawan gloved it on to his pads. Both reviews wasted and Chandimal won’t have any more referrals in this innings.
Fifty for KL Rahul, India 90/0 after 20 overs: Dilruwan and Lakmal resume after tea for Sri Lanka and there is very little to challenge the Indian batsmen. Rahul has come racing out of the blocks since tea, reaching his half century with a flurry of boundaries. It’s his 9th 50 in his last 11 innings in Tests. Would love to carry on and convert it into a century.
Tea at Eden Gardens, India 70/0: KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan have shared the load perfectly among each other. Both have faced 51 balls each in that session, as India reach tea without losing a wicket. The truth is they didn’t even look like losing a wicket – except for one half chance when Rahul drove back with power and Gamage put down a tough return catch. The two batsmen have driven beautifully. For Sri Lanka, Lakmal came back to bowl just one over before the tea break after walking off in the 4th over. The rest of the bowlers have looked ordinary.
India 34/0, after 9 overs: A bit of a blow for Sri Lanka, as Lakmal had to walk back after just bowling two overs. A niggle apparently. Doesn’t look like there is anything in the pitch (or in Shanaka and Gamage’s abilities) to trouble Dhawan and Rahul right now though. The latter especially has looked in great touch, driving with authority. 20 off 25 balls, with four boundaries.
And as we type this, Lakmal is back on the field...
India off to a good start, 17/0 in 3 overs: KL Rahul off to a confident start in the second innings, avoids the king pair and then some. Three gorgeous off-drives in the 2nd over off Gamage gets him going. Dhawan joins with a cover drive for four in the next over as well. Seems like dream batting conditions now.
STAT-ALERT: First time since 1983, Indian seamers have taken all 10 wickets in an innings in a Test match on home soil! Shami 4, Bhuvi 4 and Umesh 2.
SRI LANKA all out, lead by 122 runs. That didn’t last long then. Lakmal was just looking to free his arms, gets an inside edge on to the stumps to give Shami his fourth wicket. But what a fightback by the Lankans to finish with 294 runs after being 201/7.
And finally, Herath is gone: After 67 invaluable runs, India finally manage to dismiss Herath – who was looking to be aggressive. What a gritty knock! He plays a lofted cut off Bhuvi and finds Shami in the deep. Sri Lanka 290/9, lead by 118 runs.
New ball taken, Sri Lanka lead by 118 runs: Kohli has taken the new ball promptly, but Lakmal and Herath continue to frustrate India. Herath’s now on 66, the partnership nearing 50.
Fifty for Herath, lead crosses 100 for Sri Lanka: What a player! Herath continues to frustrate India, ducking, shuffling, and continuing to score runs. Hits Umesh through the covers for 4 to score his 3rd Test fifty. And takes Sri Lanka’s lead past the 3-figure mark. Ashwin, meanwhile, is in the middle of a nice little spell.
12:10 pm: Alright, we are all set for the second session. Ashwin will start proceedings with his 6th over. (Who would have thought he’d bowl so less, eh?) Sri Lanka nearing a lead of 100 runs, Herath closing in on a fifty.
LUNCH, SRI LANKA LEAD BY 91 RUNS: A topsy-turvy session of Test cricket. It started well for Lankans with Dickwella, Chandimal finding the boundaries frequently after taking the lead. Then came a phenomenal burst by Bhuvi and Shami as the pacers took 3 wickets in 10 balls for one run. And then a bit of a controversy with Dilruwan Perera seemingly getting the dressing room’s help to remain not out. But the last laugh is with Herath. The wily old legend has accumulated (that’s the word) 43 runs off 67 balls, to put Sri Lanka right on top.
Sri Lanka 263/8 (74 overs)
Wicket, Shami provides India the breakthrough: What a beautiful delivery to send Dilruwan back. Shami has been sensational this morning and he’s still running in with the old, soft ball and getting it to talk. A short-of-good-length ball, shapes away ever so slightly and takes a fine edge. Shami’s third, but Sri Lanka have built a handy lead.
Sri Lanka, 249/8 (71 overs), lead by 77.
Sri Lanka 238/7, lead by 66 runs: Rengana Herath is playing a little gem of an innings for Lanka, in his own inimitable style. Swatting and shuffling and jabbing his way to a valuable 31. Jadeja just got the one over after drinks and then suddenly Kohli came on to bowl for an over. Umesh then came on and sprayed the ball all over. Kumar and Shami back bowling in tandem now.
Sri Lanka 218/7: Jadeja into the attack for the first time after drinks. Some discussion on that DRS controversy... Sri Lanka meanwhile, have extended the lead to 46 runs.
WICKET! Or is it? Well, DRS drama! : Shami That looked plumb! Perera walked back immediately, towards the pavilion, then decides to review all of a sudden. Turns out to be not out by inches. Remarkable. Looked plumb in the replays as well. But that’s not the drama – it looks like Perera got the signal from the dressing room to review. Replays show hands going up as the batsman started to walk back. Remember Steve Smith, anyone? Ultimately the right decision was made, but this is not the last time we have heard about this.
Drinks at Eden, 217/7 after 60 overs.
Wicket, Shami again, Sri Lanka 201/7: Captain Chandimal has been doing that all innings – shuffling across and poking at balls outside off stump. Was getting away with it yesterday and today so far, but this one shapes away beautifully in the air and off the pitch as well. The jab is not good enough, Saha gleefully accepts the catch. Sri Lanka have lost 3 wickets in 10 balls!
Wicket, Bhuvneshwar’s turn to strike, Sri Lanka 201/6: Shanaka is gone for a duck. Not the first Sri Lankan batsman to shoulder arms to Bhuvi and be given LBW. That ball shaped in beautifully – reversed. The previous ball moved away from the same length outside off stump. Brilliant bowling this by Bhuvi. Shanaka is jumping in the crease, so he reviews, but it’s still not enough to save him
Wicket, Shami breaks through, Sri Lanka 200/5: Dickwella was looking dangerous, finding the boundaries and putting India under pressure. But Shami has the last laugh. First, a little wide – hit for four. Next ball, short of good length, raising from good length, beats the outside edge, swinging exaggeratedly after passing the batsman. The ball after that, same length, stays with the angle and the outside edge flies to Virat Kohli at second slip!
Sri Lanka 196/4, now racing ahead: Since the lead was taken, Chandimal and Dickwella have started finding the boundaries with ease. Three in an over from Bhuvneshwar, as the partnership crossed 50. There’s no swing in the air, just some movement off the pitch. But Chandimal and Dickwella not afraid to drive on the up. Four boundaries since the lead.
Stat-attack: Not often India concede the lead to Sri Lanka...
Sri Lanka 173/4, take the lead against India: Not surprisingly, Bhuvneshwar and Shami start off proceedings for India. Shami’s gunning for bounce and carry from short of good length, trying to intimidate Dickwella. Bhuvi, typically, goes for swing – beats Chandimal with two beautiful away swingers. Shami’s next over sees him up the pace after a steady first over, Dickwella hits the first boundary of the day with a pick up short over square leg. There’s still some juice left in the pitch, but Sri Lanka are in the lead and looking to pull away now.
09:15 am: Alright then. It’s nice and sunny in Kolkata. The pitch is as brown as it could be – not the green track anymore. Onus on spinners now? Will Kohli persist with the pacers? We are all set for action on day four. Bhuvneshwar Kumar starts off.
09:05 am: The team huddle is done. Wonder what the message to his troops is? If India attack too much, there’s a chance Sri Lanka would break away quickly.
09:00 am: If this Test match is going to have a result, one thinks this is the most crucial phase – the next one hour. India desperately need wickets. Sri Lanka have two attacking batsmen in the middle who, if they survive the early burst from Indian pace trio, can take the match away from India quickly.
Here’s the report of day three action, if you want to catch up.
08:50 am: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the fourth day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka. Despite losing large parts of day one and day two, the match is fascinatingly poised. The visitors are 7 runs behind India’s first innings total and have six wickets in hand. The hosts need wickets and need them quickly. The weather, like yesterday, looks perfect for some riveting Test cricket.