NEW DELHI: Ajinkya Rahane's woeful form continued as India batted sedately in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 214 runs at lunch on the fourth day of the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka.
India were 51/2 in their second innings with Murali Vijay and Rahane back in the pavilion.
Courtesy skipper Dinesh Chandimal's career-best 164, Sri Lanka scored 373 in their first essay, conceding a handy 163run lead to the hosts.
Skipper Virat Kohli promoted Rahane (10) to give him enough time to settle down and bat his way out of form.
However, desperation to hit his way out of trouble brought about his downfall. He stepped out to Dilruwan Perera and the lofted shot found Lakshan Sandakan at long-on boundary.
It was after Vijay (9) had played a lazy shot away from the body of Suranga Lakmal to give a catch to Niroshan Dickwella behind the stumps.
the other opener Shikhar Dhawan (15 batting) batted cautiously as Lakmal, despite being under the weather due to pollution bowled his heart out.
Dhawan had so far played 38 balls and Cheteshwar Pujara (17 batting) was giving him company. Today they have added 23 runs so far. Pujara hit a couple of boundaries and looked in good touch during the 15 balls that he faced before the break.
The Sri Lankan players today, once again wore antipollution masks from the start of the Indian second innings due to prevailing pollution in the national capital.
Lakmal, in fact, threw up a couple of times while fielding at the third man area and the groundsmen had to put sand an sawdust on that particular spot.
For a change, the Sri Lankan players were wearing N95 anti-pollution masks, which is required to protect the lungs from the "very poor" air quality in Delhi.