3rd Test, Day 2: Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav shine as India dominate spiritless Sri Lanka

Pallekele, Aug 13: Young and inexperienced Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya shined on the second day of the third Test as India added to the miseries of the Sri Lankan side on Sunday (August 13).

After restricting the hosts to a paltry 135 in the first innings, India skipper Virat Kohli, after a lot of discussions decided to enforce a follow-on by virtue of their 352-run lead.

Match scorecard; Day 1 report

Coming out to bat in the second innings, the Sri Lankans lost their experienced opener Upul Tharanga for 7 and ended the day's play 19/1, trailing the visitors by 333 runs.

Umesh Yadav got the better of Tharanga, who has had a forgettable series, in the second innings. Dimuth Karunaratne (12*) and night-watchman Malinda Pushpakumara (0*) will resume hosts' innings on Monday to put up some resistance.

Earlier in the first innings, Kuldeep, who was brought into the side as a replacement to suspended Ravindra Jadeja, returned with figures of 4/40 and troubled almost every Sri Lanka batsman. Mohammed Shami (2/17) and R Ashwin (2/22) grabbed two wickets apiece to maintain the pressure from the other end as well.

Job well done and captain @imVkohli asks young @imkuldeep18 to lead and walk out. #TeamIndia enforce the follow-on #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/AkwQkdAW0i

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 13, 2017

The hosts were restricted to a paltry total in just 37.4 overs which compelled the Indian skipper Virat Kohli to enforce a follow-on in the second consecutive Test.

As many as 15 wickets perished on the second day with 11 of them being Sri Lanka's. This clearly showed the difference between the brand of cricket both the teams played.

Earlier in the day, Hardik Pandya raced to his maiden international century off 86 balls as India reached 487.

Pandya scored 108 (96 balls, 8 fours and 7 sixes) while Umesh Yadav was unbeaten on 3 as they added 66 runs for the last wicket as visitors posted another massive total on a tricky Kandy pitch.

With India resuming at 329 for 6, Pandya and Wriddhiman Saha (16) looked to bat for the time in a bid to resurrect India's floundering first innings. But they could only add 10 more runs to their overnight partnership as Saha was caught at gully off Vishwa Fernando (2-87) off the 9th ball of the morning.

Kuldeep Yadav (26) batted resolutely though and put on 62 runs with Pandya for the 8th wicket. In doing so they took India past 400 in the 110th over, something that seemed unlikely at stumps on day one.

The former then fell immediately afterward caught behind off Lakshan Sandakan (4-132). India became the first team to score 400-plus in three successive Tests of a series on Lankan soil.

Pandya then went into overdrive and put on 20 runs with Mohammed Shami (8), whilst reaching his half-century off 61 balls. He then put Malinda Pushpakumara (3-82) to the sword in the 116th over, taking 26 runs off him with 3 sixes and 2 fours.

Power packed century
Power packed celebrations
Power packed reception back in the dressing room
Power Pandya!@hardikpandya7 💪🏻 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/j8VzpMv9rC

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 13, 2017

It was the most runs scored by an Indian batsman in an over in Test cricket, beating the previous joint-record of 24 runs held by Sandip Patil and Kapil Dev. The attack helped put an aggressive 10th wicket stand for India as Umesh Yadav and Pandya put on 50 runs off only 26 balls in the extended morning session.

Pandya then reached the three figure mark, his second half-century coming off only 25 balls. It was also his highest First-Class score.

It was also the second fastest Test hundred overseas by an Indian batsman, second to Virender Sehwag's 78-ball effort against West Indies at Gros Islet in 2006.

On day one, Shikhar Dhawan (119) and KL Rahul (85) put on the highest opening stand of 188 runs on Lankan soil before losing their way towards the end.

India lead the three-match series 2-0 after winning the first Test in Galle by 304 runs and the second Test in Colombo by an innings and 54 runs.

myKhel.com News/PTI