8.46pm Sri Lanka give Suranga Lakmal pats on the back as he walks back to the dressing room. He acknowledges the gesture by leading the team off the field. Doffs his cap off to the dressing room and his mates, has a big smile on his face. Never say never, but in all likelihood this is the last time he's bowled for Sri Lanka in international cricket.
As he walked up the stairs, Rahul Dravid was there to congratulate him. Kohli too had a few words to say as he shook hands. Wonderful to see the gesture and the camaraderie. The series has been one-sided so far, but has been played in great spirits between both sides. Here he is spelling out the reasons for his retirement in a chat with Fidel Fernando.
Amol: "Nice to see Kohli congratulate Lakmal. Incidentally, 13 years ago, when Kohli scored his first international century against Sri Lanka, he walked in after a much younger Lakmal bowled a great first spell getting Sehwag and Sachin out to have India in early trouble."
AR Patel b Embuldeniya 9 (15m 10b 1x4 0x6) SR: 90.00
END OF OVER:68 | 16 Runs | IND: 299/8
- Mohammed Shami16 (8b)
- Axar Patel5 (5b)
- Praveen Jayawickrama19-2-78-4
- Lasith Embuldeniya20-1-83-2
END OF OVER:67 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 283/8
- Axar Patel0 (3b)
- Mohammed Shami5 (4b)
- Lasith Embuldeniya20-1-83-2
- Praveen Jayawickrama18-2-62-4
Rohan: "I don't understand declaration strategy by Dravid. They declared late in Kanpur against NZ and lost a chance of victory. Declared when Jadeja was 175 when they could have given him a chance to go to 200. Again here, not declaring when they could have put SL in under lights again." -- Just to clarify, no extra points are on offer for teams finishing games inside three days.