1st Test, Day 3: Sri Lanka on top despite losing Mathews, Thirimanne in quick succession

Update: 4:05pm IST: Bad light halts play at Eden Gardens! Sri Lanka in driver's seat despite losing Angelo Mathews (52) and Lahiru Thirimanne (51) in quick succession. The two men stitched 99-run stand to frustrate the hosts on a hot and humid day in Kolkata before Umesh Yadav struck twice.

Captain Dinesh Chandimal (13) and Niroshan Dickwella (14) have added 27 runs for the fifth wicket.

SL 165/4, trail IND by 7 runs.

3:14pm IST: Wicket finally for India as Umesh Yadav gets Lahiru Thirmanne with a short ball. Good low catch from Virat Kohli at the second slip. A 99-run stand between the left-hander and Angelo Mathews was snapped as well.

SL 138 for 3 in 37 overs, trail IND by 34 runs.

1:52pm IST: Lahiru Thirimanne (35) and Angelo Mathews (23) have been brilliant in the second session after Bhuvneshwar Kumar got two early wickets for India.

SL 91/2 in 23 overs, trail IND by 81 runs.

As the sun has shone bright after Lunch, Indian pacers have not been able to get as much purchase as their Sri Lankan counterparts did.

12:28pm IST: Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets the first wicket for India. He snaps a brisk 29-run stand by trapping Dimuth Karunaratne in front. The left-hander did not offer a shot and thus was adjudjed out despite the impact being outside off-stump.

SL 30/1 in 5 overs.

Much-needed breakthrough for India. Young Sadeera Samarawickrama though is looking solid.

11:30am IST: Lunch has been taken early at Eden Gardens. Play to resume at 12:05pm IST.

11:25am IST: Lahiru Gamage gets the final wicket as India are bowled out for 172 at Eden Gardens. The Sri Lankan seamers, especially Suranga Lakmal (4 for 26) exploited the conditions to great effect.

Nonetheless, Cheteshwar Pujara (51) shone on both the rain-affected first two days before getting out on Saturday. The tail wagged for India as the last three batters, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13), Mohammed Shami (24) and Umesh Yadav (6*), added 43 runs together.

10:50am IST: Dilruwan Perera strikes twice in the same over, gets Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha.

The two batsmen had stitched a 48-run stand and were looking good to take India past 150, but the off-spinner had other ideas. He trapped Jadeja in front and got Saha when the latter tried a sweep shot only to get caught behind.

IND 134/8 in 52.3 overs.

9:50am IST: OUT! Cheteshwar Pujara was undone by a lovely inswinger from Lahiru Gamage. The solid top-order batsman could have done nothing much. However, Sri Lanka have got the wicket they wanted early int the morning. They will look to wrap up the innings quick now.

IND 91/6 in 40 overs.

9:20am IST: FIFTY for Cheteshwar Pujara! What a knock this has been from the Saurashtra batsman. He gets to the milestone with a sweep off Rangana Herath. The right-hander will be key to India's chances of doing well in the ongoing Test.

IND 79/5 after 35 overs.

9:15am IST: Mr. Dependable Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha have made their way into the middle. Rangana Herath operates for the first time in the match. 

9am IST: There has reportedly been no rain in Kolkata since yesterday evening. No covers on the pitch now as well. Everything is set for what can possibly be the first full session of the ongoing first Test between India and Sri Lanka.

Here's the pitch report for Saturday, November 18

Sunil Gavaskar and Simon Doull say there is still plenty of grass for the bowlers. The former also wants the bowlers to pitch it further up to make full use of the conditions.

What to expect on Day 3

Despite bowling only 11.5 overs on Day 1 and 21 more in the following day, Sri Lanka bowlers have been able to trouble the Indian batsmen. Pacers Suranga Lakmal and Dasun Shanaka have reduced the hosts to just 74 for 5 after sharing all five wickets between them.

While Lakmal made perfect use of the grass-rich pitch and overcast conditions on Day 1, dismissing Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and skipper Virat Kohli cheaply, Shanaka joined the party on Day 2, sending Ajinkya Rahane and R Ashwin back to the pavilion.

However, Cheteshwar Pujara has been solid as a rock despite the flurry of wickets at the other end. Even frequent breaks has not affected his concentration as the Saurashtra man has scored a patient 47.

The right-hander will be crucial to India's chances on Day 3 as they look to set a competitive total on board. He has local boy Wriddhiman Saha for company in the morning session.