Kolkata: Late strikes from fast bowler Umesh Yadav kept India in the hunt after the end of Day 3 of the third test match at Eden Gardens. After getting the hosts dismissed for a paltry 172 runs, the Lankans were cruising at 133/2. But two brilliant deliveries from Umesh Yadav saw the back of Angelo Mathews (52 0ff 94) and Lahiru Thirimanne (51 off 94) brought the Indians right back in the match. At stumps on Day 3, the visitors scored 165/4, still trailing by 7 runs.
Mathews and Thirimanne added 99 runs for the third wicket and looked to score big, but Umesh had other ideas. At the close of play, Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal (12) and wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella (14) were at the crease.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/49) gave India the first two breakthroughs before tea while Mohammed Shami (0/53) went wicketless. R Ashwin bowled just four overs without a wicket while skipper Virat Kohli also rolled his arms to bowl just one ball before bad light stopped play.
Play had to be called off 41 minutes before scheduled time due to bad light.
Angelo Mathews, who missed the series against Pakistan, made the most of his return in the test format, scoring runs at ease. The all-rounder hit 8 fours in his 52 run knock. Thirimanne too gave Mathews good company at the crease as also brought up his half century but fell prey to Umesh who bowled brilliantly in his second spell which read 7-1-25-2.
Thirimanne, who brought up his fifth fifty, edged to skipper Virat Kohli at second slip while Mathews, playing after missing out the Pakistan series due to calf injury, was caught at short cover by KL Rahul.
Thrimanne was dropped on 27 by Shikhar Dhawan at first slip off Umesh’s bowling with the visitor’s scoreboard showing 70/2 at that time.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan off-spinner Dilruwan Perera and pacer Lahiru Gamage shared two wickets each as India were skittled out for 172 in their first innings at the stroke of lunch.
For the hosts, in-form top order batsman Chesteshwar Pujara top-scored with 52 while Wriddhiman Saha contributed 29 as fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, who created havoc with the new ball returned best figures of 4-26 for the tourists.
Resuming at 74/5, Saha (6) and Pujara (47) could manage only a 29-run stand for the sixth wicket before the latter was castled by Gamage (2-59).
Pujara completed his 16th half century while Saha then stitched together a 48-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja before the all-rounder was fell lbw off Dilruwan Perera (2-19).
Dasun Shanaka (2-36) also took two wickets while veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath bowled only two overs.