Cricket India extends lead to 355 in third test vs Sri Lanka

India’s captain Virat Kohli plays a shot during the fourth day of their third test cricket match against Sri Lanka

Virat Kohli added an unbeaten 25 to his double-century in the first innings, helping India reach 192-4 at tea and extend its lead to 355 runs on the penultimate day of the third test against Sri Lanka.

India dismissed Sri Lanka for 373 in the morning session yesterday when Dinesh Chandimal, after batting all through day three in air pollution that reached hazardous levels to ensure his team avoided the follow-on, was finally dismissed for 164.

The Sri Lankan skipper faced 361 deliveries, stroking 21 boundaries and a six, in a defiant innings in draining conditions to cut India’s first-innings lead to 163 before hitting Ishant Sharma (3-98) to third man.

India’s second innings got off to a bad start when Murali Vijay (9) was caught behind off Suranga Lakmal (1-19) with the total at 10.

Lakmal then vomited on the field and went off to get some medical assistance, again highlighting the issues of Delhi’s on-going air pollution problems. He later came back on to the field to resume bowling.

Ajinkya Rahane (10) was promoted to bat at No. 3 but was caught at long on as tried to clear the ropes off Dilruwan Perera as India slipped to 51-2 at lunch.

Cheteshwar Pujara (49) and Shikhar Dhawan (67) accelerated after the break to extend their third-wicket partnership to 77 runs before Pujara was caught at slip off Dhananjay de Silva.

Dhawan then completed his fifth test half-century off 83 balls and combined with Kohli in a 38-run partnership before he was stumped off Lakshan Sandakan (1-30).

Kohli continued with Rohit Sharma (28 not out) in an unbroken 48-run partnership to keep piling on the runs in a bid to take the game right away from Sri Lanka.

India leads the three-match series 1-0 and has dominated the third test since posting 536-7 declared in the first innings, when Kohli scored 243 for his sixth test double hundred. AP