We move into the final day – Righto, the rain has forced the game to go into Day 5, and at the moment, India will be pretty confident and look to sweep the series. However, there will be that small part at the backside of their minds that if they don’t manage to bowl the Lankans out early on Day 5, it could end in a draw, as there is a forecast for plenty of rain. Well, let’s hope that it isn’t the rain that has the final say, but rather the players from both sides. Day 5 will commence on Thursday, 27 August at 4.15 am GMT (9.45 am IST), but you can join us sooner for the build-up. Cheers!

India roared back post-Tea – After the wicket of Kamindu Mendis, Sooriyabandara slowed down considerably, but skipper Dhananjaya de Silva looked positive and scored at a decent pace. Soon after Tea, though, Manav Suthar caught a lucky break, and DDS had to walk back. This marked a shift in momentum and Sooriyabandara started to get scratchy, eventually falling on 92, and again, Suthar was the one who did the damage. Sri Lanka were soon reduced to 218/6 in 64.2 overs with plenty of time left in the final session, but Keshara Nuwantha and Sonal Dinusha have dug deep, and Sri Lanka have managed to muster up just 11 more runs in 8.2 overs after that. Still, there’s a lot of work to do for Sri Lanka as they are just 16 runs ahead. And if they fail with the bat, they would require at least a couple of sessions to be rained out on the final day to save them from the blushes.

Lanka looked good, but couldn’t capitalise – Sri Lanka fought well with the bat on Day 3, and they started Day 4 positively as Sonal Dinusha brought up his second century of the series. However, a false shot from Lahiru Kumara gave India the opening they needed, and the visitors managed to enforce the follow-on. In their second innings, Sri Lanka started with 213 runs behind India and even lost an early wicket. Kamil Mishara and Pasindu Sooriyabandara led the counter-punch with a 58-run stand, but the crucial stand came for the 3rd wicket when Pasindu got together with Kamindu Mendis, and they mustered up 115 runs. At that point, the Indian bowlers looked a bit untidy and Manav Suthar, in particular, was getting attacked with some big shots.

11.21 am GMT (4.51 pm IST) – STUMPS, DAY 4 – The intensity of the rain has increased, and no further play will be possible today. That is that for the day. For the second day running, play has been called off in the second half of the final session. India are in a commanding position, but Sri Lanka still have hope of at least drawing the Test match, although it is more of a sliver.

11.08 am GMT (4.38 pm IST) – It has started to drizzle. Off go the players, and on come the ground staff rushing in with the covers. Most of the Indian players are still in the dugout, while Dhruv Jurel and Devdutt Padikkal are taking some time out to sign autographs for the fans. The ground staff continue to bring on more covers as they work to cover the entire ground.

It does not look like it will be long before we go off.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Going by the visuals, it has started to rain in the distance.

Saransh Jain to Keshara Nuwantha : Good length, turning into the pads, Nuwantha rocks back and tucks it gently between leg slip and the backward short leg fielder.

Saransh Jain to Keshara Nuwantha : No ball! Suthar slides this one across the off stump, Nuwantha leans on and smothers it wide of the slip fielder. Saransh Jain oversteps, and a No Ball is called.

Saransh Jain to Keshara Nuwantha : Floated fuller and around off, pushed out to covers.

Saransh Jain to Keshara Nuwantha : Ooh, that’s a prodigious turn. Tossed up on a length and down leg, spin nearly towards the leg slip and Rishabh Pant gets a glove on it.

DRINKS BREAK! It has been quite a turnaround since the departure of Kamindu Mendis in the second session. When the partnership between Mendis and Pasindu Sooriyabandara was flourishing, India looked short of answers, but all they needed was one opening. They have since made inroads while keeping the scoring in check. As was the case in the first innings, Sonal Dinusha has once again been left to fight it out with the bowlers. There are 17 overs left in the day, but with dark clouds gathering, it does not look like we will get through all of them. The ground staff are on standby with the covers, but we will carry on for now.

Saransh Jain to Sonal Dinusha : Drifted in from outside off, turns away after pitching. Dinusha rocks back and edges it down with soft hands past slip for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Tossed up fuller on off, Nuwantha leans on to make the block.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Held back a bit by Jadeja, bowled on off stump. Nuwantha keeps it out.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Nagging length, slightly into the pitch and turning away. Nuwantha rocks back and dabs it between slip and gully.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Lands it outside off, does Jadeja, Nuwantha gets across and defends it to point.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Bowled flatter and fuller outside off, Nuwantha makes the block.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Good hustle from the fielder. Looped up, full on off and middle. Keshara Nuwantha strokes it past the mid off fielder, but Manav Suthar runs behind to his left, stopping it with a drive. Two taken.

The clouds are building up heavily. There’s some movement around the boundary ropes from the ground staff as well. Siraj is having a chat with the members of the ground staff, and both parties seem to be enjoying the conversation.

Saransh Jain to Sonal Dinusha : Turn and bounce again! Very full and outside off, Sonal Dinusha looks to drive it through the off side but is beaten in flight. The ball turns away past the outside edge. Good grab from Rishabh Pant behind the stumps, and it’s a maiden for Saransh Jain.

Saransh Jain to Sonal Dinusha : Pushed through a bit, around off and holds its line. Dinusha gets a stride across and leaves it alone.

Saransh Jain to Sonal Dinusha : Straighter in line this time, full and on middle, Sonal Dinusha strides out to defend.

Saransh Jain to Sonal Dinusha : Floated up again, outside off, defended again by Sonal.

Saransh Jain to Sonal Dinusha : Fuller and around off, blocked off the front foot by Dinusha.

Saransh Jain to Sonal Dinusha : A bit of excitement, but the bat has hit the ground. Tossed up outside off, turning away with some extra bounce. Sonal Dinusha looks to drive but is beaten and KL Rahul at slips takes a good catch as the ball deflected off the keeper’s gloves.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Full and attacking the front pad. Nuwantha gets his bat out in front and tucks it beside the strip on the leg side.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Fires it in, flat and on a good length. Nuwantha stabs it down watchfully.

Ravindra Jadeja to Keshara Nuwantha : Nearly sneaked through. Jadeja has overstepped. Pushed through, flat and short, targeting the off stump. Nuwantha hurriedly gets his bat down to pat it down the pitch. No Ball given.