The sun came out after four days in hiding and brought cheer to the scant few who came looking for engaging Test cricket at the Eden Gardens. They weren't disappointed as the Indian lower order made most of easing conditions to come up with small but useful cameos to take India's first innings total to a fighting 172 in the rain-curtailed first Test match against Sri Lanka in Kolkata.
Medium pacer Suranga Lakmal, who has been the pick of the bowlers, ended his spell with his second best bowling performance in an innings, taking four wickets in 19 overs for 26 runs.
The third day's play started on the scheduled time, with conditions still overcast. Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha started watchfully. Pujara scored a four―his tenth of the innings―off a Rangana Herath delivery to reach his 16th Test half century. However, just as the sun decided to come out, Lahiru Gamage breached his defence with an incoming delivery to bowl him out at 52. Pujara , whose half century was key to India setting a competitive target would rue the missed opportunity of scoring in easier conditions that prevailed thereafter.
However, Pujara's dismissal did not deter the lower order with Saha (29), Ravindra Jadeja (22) and Mohammed Shami (24) ensured India reached 100 and then past the 150 mark slowly yet steadily. Jadeja even hit off-spinner Dilruwan Perera for a straight six over long when the spinners were brought into action by skipper Dinesh Chandimal in an effort to break the budding seventh wicket partnership, which yielded 48 runs and ended with Jadeja getting bowled leg before the wicket by Perera.
