IND vs SL 3rd Test: Sri Lanka loses 3 for 31 after India's 410-run target

New Delhi: India is on the victory path in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, as after giving a gigantic 410-run target, the hosts have dismissed three batsmen of the visitors for a meagre total of 31 runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground here on Tuesday.

At Stumps on Day 4, Sri Lanka was reeling under immense pressure of going 0-2 down in the three match series. Dhananjaya de Silva (13 off 30) and Angelo Mathews (0 off 2), who slammed a brilliant hundred in the first inning, are batting at the crease.

Sadeera Samarawickrama (5 off 15) was the first to depart as Mohammed Shami stunned him with a brilliant bouncer taking a sharp edge of his glove which ended in the hands of Ajinkya Rahane at gully region.

Dimuth Karunaratne (13 off 46) was the next to go back to the pavilion as he got a faint nick to a top-spinner from Ravindra Jadeja and wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha completed the wicket with a sharp catch.

Suranga Lakmal, who was sent in as night-watchman, could not survive for more than three deliveries and was cleaned up in the same over by Jadeja. Mathews, who scored 111 runs in the first inning, came to the crease and is yet to open his account.

Earlier, India declared the second inning at 246/5, giving a humongous 410-run target to the visitors.

Sri Lanka resumed the fourth day of play at 356/9 with captain Dinesh Chandimal (147) and Sandakan batting at the crease. They, however, could only add 17 runs today as Chandimal departed at the individual score of 164 runs off 21 fours and a six.

India embarked on the second inning with 163-run lead and despite some early jolts, extended the lead above 400-run mark at a healthy run rate of 4.70 runs per over.

IND vs SL 3rd Test: India sets 410-run target for Sri Lanka on Day 4

Murali Vijay (9 0ff 12) and Ajinkya Rahane (10 off 37), however, failed to contribute much, but Shikhar Dhawan (67 off 91), Cheteshwar Pujara (49 off 66) Virat Kohli (50 off 58) and Rohit Sharma (50 off 49 not out) played solid innings to bring India into a commanding position in the match. Ravindra Jadeja also remained unbeaten at 4 runs off 4 balls at the time of declaration.

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All the Lankan bowlers, Lahiru Gamage, Suranga Lakmal, Dilruwan Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva and Lakshan Sandakan, picked one wicket each in the second inning of India.

Meanwhile, the Islanders continued their 'mask episode' with complaints of smoggy air in the national capital.

The visitors, who showed some resistance in the first inning for the very first time in the entire series, have an uphill task to accomplish if they want to level the series 1-1 or at least end 0-1 by drawing the bout.