Highlights, India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 5: Draw Helps India Equal Record For Most Consecutive Series Wins

With the final Test between India and Sri Lanka ending in a draw at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla, Virat Kohli's side equaled the record for most consecutive series wins. The Indian team now has nine straight series wins, at par with England and Australia. On the final day of the third Test, the Lankan batsmen batted with intent and did not lose wickets easily, enabling them to draw the match. Dhananjaya de Silva (119) hit a fine century as he notched up his third Test century. However, the centurion could not bat through the match due to an injury and retired hurt just before tea. Following which, Niroshan Dickwella and Roshen Silva held the Lankan innings and batted throughout the rest of the day. For India, Ravindra Jadeja finished with the figures of three for 81. Kohli was adjudged as both the man of the match and series.

Not for a single moment was the Lankan team under pressure as they tackled the Indian bowlers carefully on the final day. De Silva's innings was the highlight of the first two sessions as he was hardly troubled by the Indian bowlers en route his third Test hundred. His innings was studded with 15 boundaries and a six off Ravichandran Ashwin. During the first session, Jadeja endured mixed luck with a couple of no-balls. The first one accounted for Angelo Mathews (1), with the umpires missing it altogether, while the second was a brilliant delivery to clean up Chandimal but the umpires were more cautious and promptly called him for overstepping.(Scorecard)

Highlights of India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 5, straight from Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

16:15 IST: Thank you for joining us for the Test series against Sri Lanka. Do tune back in when the hosts take on the visitors for a three-match ODI series starting December 10.

16:00 IST: Dickwella looks at the balcony, and gets the signal to shake hands. So it's a draw here in Delhi. A tremendous effort from Sri Lanka to save the game. They lost just 2 wickets in 87 overs, which is just incredible for an under-fire batting unit.

15:58 IST: Just one run from the Ashwin over, Dickwella moves on to 44*.

15:55 IST: Roshen Silva and Niroshan Dickwella are taking the visitors forward carefully.

15:40 IST: Sri Lanka are being cautious and it seems that the match is going for a draw.

15:30 IST: Drinks are on the field now. Last hour remaining in this Test. Can Virat and men shake things up? Sri Lanka need 124 runs to win.

15:25 IST: Four! Back of a length delivery from Ashwin, Roshen rocks back and slaps the ball through covers for a boundary.

15:22 IST: Close! Dickwella comes down the pitch but the ball spins and Saha, behind the wicket, gets beaten by the bounce as he fails to gather it. Jadeja is not happy.

15:20 IST: Four! Short and width from Jadeja, Roshen slaps the ball handsomely through point for a boundary.

15:18 IST: Four! Dickwella sweeps Ashwin, the ball was in the air for sometime but was well out of reach of Pujara at backward square leg.

15:15 IST: 16 overs of play left in the day. While Sri Lanka need 149 runs to level the series, India need five wickets to wrap up the series.

15:10 IST: 50-run partnership comes up between Roshen and Dickwella.

15:05 IST: Fifty and a four! Roshen, yet again, comes down the track, this time through the off-side to score his maiden Test half-century.

15:04 IST: Four! Roshen comes down the track and slams Jadeja for a boundary past the fielders at mid-on.

15:01 IST: 250 comes up for the visitors in the 87th over, need 160 runs.

14:59 IST: Full and wide of off from Ishant, Silva plays with an open face and guides it to the right of backward point, moves to 43.

14:53 IST: Cheeky four! Shami banged in short and it kept coming back at the left-hander, Dickwella kept his eyes on the ball, opens the face of the bat at the last moment and ramped it over the slip cordon, one bounce and over the ropes.

14:46 IST: Sri Lankan batsmen are playing with intent and aggression. It seems as if Chandimal-led side is aiming for a victory.

14:43 IST: Four! Shami bowls a bit outside off, Dickwella edges the ball between the first and third slip.

14:40 IST: Four! That's a poor ball from Ishant, loses his radar completely and hurls this one way down the leg-side.

14:37 IST: Four! Full and wide of off, Dickwella went with hard hands as he drove, gets a toe-end that flies over the slip cordon, rolls away to the fence quickly.

14:35 IST: Shami starts with a maiden over.

14:33 IST: Dhananjaya injury update: Dhananjaya de Silva has glute muscle tightness but will definitely bat.

14:32 IST: Mohammed Shami starts for the hosts.

14:30 IST: Welcome back after the short break. The Indian pacers will look to pick up wickets early and on the other hand the Lankans will try and hold off the India.

14:13 IST: Tea time! Sri Lanka 226/5 with Dickwell and Roshen Silva on strike, need 184 runs to win in the last session of the third Test.

At Tea on Day 5, Sri Lanka are 373 & 226/5. India need 5 wickets to win the match #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/4hI3RleYco

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2017

14:10 IST: Close! Ishant Sharma and the fielders appeal for LBW but the on-field umpire turned down the appeal as height was the issue.

14:06 IST: Four! Full delivery outside off, Dickwella drives Ishant for a boundary.

14:05 IST: Second new ball has been taken and Ishant Sharma has been brought back in the attack as captain Kohli is looking for wickets.

14:03 IST: Four! Full delivery from Jadeja and Roshen puts it past Ashwin at mid-on.

14:02 IST: Second new ball due in one over. Sri Lanka need 192 runs to win. However, minimum overs left in the day is 27.

13:55 IST: Four! Roshen comes down the track and drives Ashwin for a boundary towards deep extra-cover.

13:52 IST: Niroshan Dickwella comes out in the middle.

13:50 IST: Alright, this is not good news for the Lankan side. Dhananjaya de Silva is walking off the field along with the team physio due to his injury. This could be the opening India were looking for.

13:49 IST: Brilliant first over from Kohli, concedes just a single.

13:47 IST: India captain Virat Kohli comes in the attack and starts off with a yorker.

13:45 IST: Good over Vijay, concedes just three runs.

13:42 IST: Murali Vijay introduced in the attack.

13:40 IST: Four! Dhananjaya comes down the track and lifts Jadeja straight down the ground for a one-bounce boundary. 200 comes up for the visitors.

13:38 IST: Dhananjaya de Silva is looking in pain and is struggling to run between the wickets. This is not good news for the visitors. Meanwhile, 50-run partnership comes up between Roshen and Dhananjaya in the 73rd over.

13:36 IST: 72 overs gone, Sri Lanka 196/5, need 214 runs to win.

13:33 IST: Four! Width from Ashwin, Roshen rocks back and slams the ball with authority for successive boundary.

13:32 IST: Four! Roshen Silva gets on top of the bounce of Ashwin delivery and guides the ball through the legs of short backward sqaure leg.

13:29 IST: Four! Roshen Silva paddles Jadeja to fine leg for a boundary. Good execution from the batsman.

13:26 IST: Dropped! Dhananjaya steps down the ground and slams the ball straight back at Ashwin, who fails to hold on the ball. The centurion survives.

13:24 IST: 38 overs left in the day. Sri Lanka need 232 runs and India need five more wickets.

13:20 IST: Four! Dhananjaya, down on one-knee, sweeps Ashwin for a boundary on the leg side. He is looking confident and is definitely not in a spot of bother.

13:17 IST: Hundred!! Dhananjaya scores his third Test century against India. Confident play from the young Lankan batsman.

13:15 IST: Dhananjaya runs the ball down to backward square leg, takes two runs and moves on to 99*.

13:10 IST: Drinks! Sri Lanka 163/5 (Dhananjaya 97*, Roshen Silva 9*) in 65 overs, need 247 runs to win. India have been good with the ball and haven't offered many loose balls.

13:06 IST: A brilliant maiden over from Shami. Sri Lanka 163/5.

13:00 IST: Four! Dhananjaya welcomes Ashwin with a boundary on the off-side, moves to 96*.

12:59 IST: Four! Full delivery on the pads from Shami, Roshen Silva drives it staright down the ground.

12:55 IST: Mohammed Shami, replaces Ravindra Jadeja, comes in the attack.

12:50 IST: A maiden over from Jadeja. Sri Lanka 152/5 in 60 overs, need 258 runs to win.

12:46 IST: This is the second time the Sri Lankan physio has come down to the ground to attend Dhananjaya, who seems to be in pain. If Lanka lose his services then It might be a tough task for them to pile up the runs.

12:42 IST: Four! Ashwin drifts on the leg-side, Roshen Silva, the new man in, gets a tickle on his glance.

12:35 IST: Cleaned up! Flighted delivery from Ashwin, Chandimal (36) comes down the track, looking to play it across to the leg-side, gets an inside edge and the ball strikes the top of the off-stump.

12:30 IST: Both Dhananjaya and Chandimal are looking in sublime form. While the former will try and score a century, the latter is looking for a half-century at the moment.

12:22 IST: Four! Dhananjaya is batting with intent post-lunch, Sweeps Ashwin for a boundary and moves onto 86*.

12:21 IST: 100-run partnership comes up between Dhananjaya and Chandimal in the 51st over. Sri Lanka need 275 runs to win.

12:19 IST: Four! Jadeja bowls on the leg side, Dhananjaya shimmies down the wicket and clubs it over square for a boundary.

12:17 IST: Length ball from Jadeja, Chandimal notices it quickly and forces it through cover-point. Dhawan sprints back, puts in the slide and saves a boundary for the team.

12:12 IST: Four! Dhananjaya, it seems, is aiming to notch up his third Test ton. First ball after lunch, he steps out and slams Jadeja straight down the ground.

12:10 IST: Welcome back after lunch. Ravindra Jadeja to start the post-lunch proceedings for India.

11:30 IST: Sri Lanka 119/4 (Dhananjaya 72*, Chandimal 27*) at lunch vs India, need 291 runs to win.

Only the one wicket falls in the first session of Day 5 in Delhi, Dhananjaya frustrating India on 72*, Sri Lanka 119/4 who trail India by 290 runs.#INDvSL LIVE: https://t.co/cr1dLzVHCM pic.twitter.com/QgzVPTx4Gk

— ICC (@ICC) December 6, 2017

11:26 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have created a couple of chances but the batsmen have left them frustrated.

11:20 IST: Lucky Chandimal! Jadeja bowled a gem of a delivery to castle the Lankan captain however, Jadeja stepped over the line and Chandimal survives. Good call from the TV umpire.

11:15 IST: Indian bowlers have been so far able to keep the Lankan batsmen at bay but have failed to pick up wickets.

11:12 IST: Sri Lanka 104/4 in 41 overs (Chandimal 23*, Dhananjaya 62*)

11:08 IST: Kohli brings Jadeja back in the attack. It looks like the Indian captain in search of a wicket.

11:07 IST: 100 comes up for Sri Lanka in the 39th over, need 310 runs to win.

11:03 IST: Four! Full-toss on the leg side, Chandimal flicks it for a boundary through square leg and bisects two fielders in the deep.

10:58 IST: 50-run partnership comes up between Dhananjaya and Chandimal off 89 balls in the 37th over.

10:55 IST: Beaten! Shami bowls a full delivery outside off, tempting the batsman to drive, and the ball shapes away beating the flashing blade of the batsman.

10:50 IST: FIFTY! Dhananjaya de Silva shimmies down the wicket and clubs Ashwin over mid-on for a boundary to bring up his third Test half-century.

10:48 IST: Another maiden from Shami. Sri Lanka need 333 runs to win.

10:45 IST! Close! Nice line from Shami, the ball swings away past Chandimal's bat as he looked to defend the ball.

10:42 IST: Four! Quicker delivery from Ashwin, Dhananjaya, down on one knee, sweeps him for a boundary. One run away from his third Test half-century.

10:41 IST: Safe! Ashwin bowls a quicker delivery, outside off, Chandimal tries to cut and under-edges the ball only to fall short of the keeper.

10:37 IST: Four! Short delivery outside off, Chandimal slaps it past point to collect his first boundary of the day.

10:35 IST: Ashwin concedes three runs in his first over of the final day. Sri Lanka 67/4 in 31 overs.

10:34 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin introduced in the attack.

10:30 IST: Drinks are on the field now. Just one wicket in the first hour for India, but it was the big wicket of Mathews. However, Dhananjaya on the other hand played some beautiful shots to take his team forward.

10:28 IST: Four! Dhananjaya dances down the wicket, gets close to the ball, and guides it for a boundary on the leg-side. A long chase for Pujara from mid-wicket but is beaten.

10:24 IST: Four! Lucky! Short of a length delivery just outside off from Shami, Dhananjaya played with soft hands and edged it past Rahane at gully for a boundary at third man.

10:20 IST: Four! Short delivery from Jadeja, Dhananjaya rocks back and pulls with intent for a boundary.

10:19 IST: 50 comes up for Sri Lanka in the 28th over.

10:18 IST: Good start from Shami, bowls a maiden over.

10:14 IST: Mohammed Shami introduced in the attack, replaces Ishant.

10:13 IST: Sri Lanka 49/4 in 26 overs, need need 361 runs to win.

10:11 IST: Four! Dhananjaya steps down the wicket and slams Jadeja straight down the ground for a boundary.

10:05 IST: Jadeja has been impeccable in the first session of the game till now. In total, he has bowled nine overs with six maidens and three wickets.

10:02 IST: 23 overs gone, Sri Lanka 43/4.

10:00 IST: Unlucky Mathews. Jadeja had overstepped and umpire Joel Wilson failed to spot it. On the other hand, the ball will be replaced as it failed the hoop test.

09:56 IST: Four! Short delivery from Ishant, Dhananjaya pulls with authority. Back-to-back boundaries for the Lankan.

09:54 IST: Out! Brilliant piece of bowling from Jadeja. Tossed up delivery, Mathews lunged forward for the defensive push but edges it to Ajinkya Rahane at first slip. Mathews departs for one.

09:48 IST: Brilliant from Ishant. Short of a length delivery, the ball keeps straight with some extra bounce, Mathews plays and misses as he could've easily got a tiny nick.

09:42 IST: Ishant Sharma bowls a maiden over. Back-to-back maidens for India. Sri Lanka 34/3 in 19 overs.

09:38 IST: Jadeja starts off with a maiden over.

09:36 IST: Ravindra Jadeja introduced into the attack. Kohli aiming to keep the pressure on the batsmen.

09:35 IST: First over of the day gone, Ishant concedes three runs. Sri Lanka 34/3.

09:33 IST: Full length delivery from Ishant, Dhananjaya flicks it to deep square leg for three runs, first runs of the day for the visitors.

09:31 IST: First ball, short of a length from Ishant, Dhananjaya covers for the movement and lets it go.

09:30 IST: Ishant Sharma starts for India and Dhananjaya to face him for the first ball of Day 5.

09:27 IST: Alright, game time! Both teams are walking out in the middle for an exciting final day of Test.

09:22 IST: While Sri Lanka need 379 runs to win, India need seven wickets to register a commanding win.

09:18 IST: If Virat Kohli (31*) wins the Test series against Sri Lanka then he will surpass former Australia captain Ricky Ponting (31) for the most number of wins in a calender year

09:12 IST: Birthday boy Ravindra Jadeja will like to make his day special by picking up wickets and help India register a historic win.

Here's wishing one of #TeamIndia's rockstars @imjadeja a very happy birthday #HappyBirthdayJaddu pic.twitter.com/gdgHwYZfMj

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2017

09:05 IST: Team India prepping up for the final day of the final Test.

#TeamIndia prepping up for the final day of the final Test #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/mYXPVxWa1P

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2017

09:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the final day of the third Test between India and Sri Lanka straight from Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Skipper Virat Kohli (50 off 58 balls), Rohit Sharma (50 off 49 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (67 off 91 balls) made useful contributions as India declared at 246 for five, with an overall lead of 409 runs. With a cushion of 163-run first innings lead, the Indian batsmen showed intent to score quick runs, scoring at a rate of 4.70 in the 52.2 overs they batted in the second innings. It was a 77-run stand in 17.2 overs for the third wicket between Cheteshwar Pujara (49 off 66 balls) and Dhawan in the post lunch session that set the platform for Kohli and Rohit to accelerate in the final session. The Indian skipper and his limited overs deputy added 90 runs in only 15.2 overs.