With Sri Lanka’s backs pinned against the wall, it was their captain Dinesh Chandimal who turned their fortunes around on Day 3 of the 3rd Test at Delhi. Enjoying an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series, Virat Kohli opted to declare India’s first innings at 536 for 7. The smog was thick on Day 2 at Feroz Shah Kotla and that prompted the visitors to wear masks to protect themselves. A lot of time was wasted when the play was halted as the visiting team complained of eye irritation. The Lankans ended Day 2 at 71 for 3 with one of the most experienced Lankan batsmen, Angelo Matthews and Dinesh Chandimal, at the wicket.
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Day 3 started and the two most experienced Lankan batsmen looked at ease while countering the Indian bowlers. Matthews was finally dismissed for a well-made 111. But Chandimal remained unbeaten on 147 at stumps on Day 3, as wickets kept falling at the other end. The Lankans ended the day at 356 for 9. More importantly, they have wiped out any possibility of a follow-on. Sri Lanka trail by 180 runs with 1 wicket remaining in the 1st innings.
Chandimal scored 147 and in the process set a few records and equalled others. Here is the list of records he added his name to:
RECORDS:
1. Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal is the first batsman to play 3 innings of 300 or more balls in Tests this year.
Chandimal is the first batsman to play 3 inns of 300 or more balls in Tests this year.
138 (300) v Ban, Colombo (PSS)
155* (372) v Pak, Abu Dhabi
110* (300*) v Ind, Delhi#IndvSL— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 4, 2017
2. Fewest innings to 10 Test 100s by SL batsmen. Not a bad league to be a part of. He went past Samaraweera to create this unique Lankan record.
Fewest inns to 10 Test 100s by SL batsmen:
80 CHANDIMAL
84 Samaraweera
86 Jayawardene
91 Dilshan
97 Atapattu#IndvSL— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 4, 2017
3. Most Test innings of 250+ balls in 2017. He now equalled India’s number 3, Cheteshwar Pujara.
Most Test inns of 250+ balls in 2017:
3 Pujara, CHANDIMAL
2 Azhar Ali, Elgar, Karunaratne, Kohli, Mushfiqur, Smith#IndvSL— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 4, 2017
4. Mathews-Chandimal is the first visiting pair in India in last 5 years to share a partnership of 400+ balls. The previous record was 470 balls by Bell-Trott at Nagpur in 2013.
Mathews-Chandimal is the first visiting pair in India in last 5 years to share a partnership of 400+ balls. Last: 470 balls by Bell-Trott, Nagpur, 2013. #IndvSL
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 4, 2017
The Lankans will be hoping Chandimal and Matthews would continue on a good footing in the second innings as well and save this Test.
