Colombo: The third day of the second test in Colombo produced a different story for the hosts Sri Lankans.
Although their batting before lunch was absolutely dismal as wrecker-in-chief Ravichandran Ashwin ran through the batting order. His spinning deliveries and variations were too hot to handle for the hosts who were shot out for just 183 runs, still trailing by 439 runs.
Skipper Virat Kohli however decided to enforce the follow-on for a change unlike the last test and this opportunity was perfectly seized by Sri Lanka, who put on a much improved batting display and for the first time in the series has looked to put up a fight against the top quality Indian bowling attack.
The day began well for the Indians as they continuosly chipped away at the wickets as only wicketkeeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella (51) fought a lone battle for the hosts as both the spinners and the pacers wreaked havoc with the ball. Ashwin the star performer for the Indians with the ball as he got to his 26th five-wicket haul.
But after lunch, the Sri Lankan batsmen looked an entirely different side. Although Umesh Yadav got rid of opener Upul Tharanga (2), Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis got together to stage a grand fightback that would indeed inspire and impress all the other batsmen in the dressing room. The duo stitched a 191 partnership with Kusal Mendis (110) got to his third Test hundred before Wriddhiman Saha took a stunning catch of the bowling of Hardik Pandya to send back the batsman.
With Karunaratne remaining unbeaten on 92 from 200 balls and at 209/2, they would look to continue their fightback in the match, although they still trail by 230 runs.