Dinesh Chandimal inspired Sri Lanka’s fightback with an unbeaten 162, his highest score, as the hosts set India a target of 176 on the third day, Friday, to win the first Test in Galle.
In reply, India lost Lokesh Rahul (5) before ending the day on 23 for one wicket, still needing another 153 runs for victory.
First-innings centurion Shikhar Dhawan (13) and night-watchman Ishant Sharma (5) were unbeaten at the crease.
India seemed set for an inning victory after picking up three wickets in the morning session, but wicketkeeper-batsman Chandimal (162 not out) and Lahiru Thirimanne (44) stemmed the rot by adding 125 for the sixth wicket.
The duo’s knocks were among the many interesting numbers from the day’s play. Check them out.
8 - Number of catches taken by Ajinkya Rahane in the match (three in first innings and five in the second) – most by any fielder (non wicket-keeper) in a Test. The previous record was of seven catches, shared by Australia’s Greg Chappell and Matthew Hayden, India’s Yajurvindra Singh, Sri Lanka’s Hashan Tillkaratne and New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming.
100 - Number of balls taken by Dinesh Chandimal to race to his hundred -- fastest by a Sri Lankan against India.
1 - This Galle Test provided the first instance of Sri Lanka losing their first three wickets for less than 30 runs in both innings of a Test against India.
21 - Number of innings played by Jehan Mubarak without scoring a fifty (he registered his highest Test score, though) – longest sequence by a specialist batsman for Sri Lanka without scoring a fifty.
6 - Number of Indian spinners to take a 10-wicket match haul outside India. The last player to do so was Harbhajan Singh against same opponent at same ground (in 2008).
385 - Runs scored in the day - most in a single day in India vs Sri Lanka Tests. The previous record was 366 for 8 by India at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium in 2009-10.
99 - The highest successful fourth innings chase at Galle (by Sri Lanka vs Pakistan in 2014). India are chasing 176.
162 - Dinesh Chandimal’s score -- highest by a Sri Lankan wicket-keeper against India. Previous best was 154* by Prasanna Jayawardane at Ahmedabad in 2009-10.
13 - Number of Tests taken by Dinesh Chandimal to complete 1000 runs as wicket-keeper -- the least by any wicketkeeper. South Africa’s AB de Villiers had taken 14 Tests to do so.
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