India only need seven wickets to win the match and series

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Sri Lanka lost three quick wickets after India set them a target of 386 to win on the fourth day of the third Test in Colombo.

Starting out the day on 21/3, India were buoyed by spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and batsman Rohit Sharma.

With India in dire straits at the beginning of the day, Sharma steadied the innings with his knock of 50 off 72 balls, which included four boundaries and a six.

All-rounder Stuart Binny then took over with his innings of 49 before Ashwin came in towards the end and scored 58 off 87 deliveries, which included seven boundaries.

Ashwin scored his fifth Test fifty

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Thanks to their crucial contributions, India were bowled out for 274, which set Sri Lanka a target of 386 to win.

Dhammika Prasad and Nuwan Pradeep took four wickets apiece, while Rangana Herath chipped in with one.

However, Sri Lanka stumbled right from the get-go as they lost Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal in quick succession.

With the hosts struggling at 21/3, opener Kaushal Silva and captain Angelo Mathews amassed an unbeaten 46-run partnership before bad light brought play to an end.

Silva finished on 24 off 42 balls, which included four boundaries, while Mathews remained undefeated on 22 off 37 deliveries, which included four boundaries as well.

Ishant Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Umesh Yadav claimed one.

Sri Lanka ended day four on 67/3 and will continue batting tomorrow at 09:45 local time, 04:15 GMT.