India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 3rd Test Day 3: 5 things we learnt from the day

Despite Sri Lanka enjoying their best day of the series, they remained 180 runs behind India's first innings total.

On a compelling day's play, least marred by the smog-controversy, Sri Lanka's most experienced batsmen, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal smashed hundreds and their 181-run stand gave Sri Lanka a shot at getting close to India's total.

But once the pair were separated, the lower middle-order fell apart quickly. Chandimal, as has often been the case, stood firm at one end and remained unbeaten on 147 with Lakshan Sandakan, the last man, for company. Here are the main takeaways from the game:

#5 Angelo Mathews sheds poor form to crack first ton in two years

Mathews came to Lanka's rescue with a defiant yet positive knock

Much of day two's smog issue was tucked into the background as Angelo Mathews, finding some of his old mojo back, strung together a crucial partnership with Dinesh Chandimal to take Sri Lanka to safety. The visitors sorely needed their senior men to step up and Mathews rightly showed the way.

A striking aspect of Mathews' innings was how composed and stable he appeared in strife. That kind of attitude, reminiscent of the old Mathews, had been absent in his gameplay in the past few years. In fact, the hundred is the Sri Lankan middle-order batsman's first in two years in Test cricket.

#4 Dinesh Chandimal finds much-needed support

Chandimal found able support from Mathews

Dinesh Chandimal has been the lone warrior in Sri Lanka's miserable time in Test cricket. The skipper has fought through thick and thin, harnessing the willpower and resolve of former great Mahela Jayawardene, but has found little support.

However, Angelo Mathews' welcome return to form saw Chandimal finally batting with a bit of freedom and the captain no longer looked weighed down by the occasion. A 181-run partnership between the two ensured that Sri Lanka at least found a foothold back in the game. Chandimal fought through the day, smashing an unbeaten 147 and carrying Sri Lanka's batting on his shoulders.

#3 Ashwin breaks Lankan resistance

Ashwin grabbed three crucial wickets to peg back Sri Lanka

If the flat pitch on offer looked like it would negate the Ashwin effect, it didn't quite work out that way. The tall off-spinner, silent for a large portion of the day, roared back to form by breaking the Mathews-Chandimal stand, dismissing the latter to give India an avenue to channelize their attack.

Ashwin returned to dismiss Roshen Silva for a three-ball duck, inducing an inside edge off his bat, the catch taken by the fielder at forward short leg. Niroshan Dickwella departed two overs later, missing a forward prod and getting cleaned up comprehensively by Ashwin's off-break.

#2 Sri Lanka's middle-order fizzles away

Dickwella had no smile on his face today as Ashwin sent him back for nought

Aided by Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka fought their way back into the Test with a 181-run association but their resistance vanished soon courtesy a few cheap dismissals. Ravichandran Ashwin was on top of his game, mesmerising the batsmen with his flight, turn and dip, forcing them into mistakes.

Sadeera Samarawickrama was sent back courtesy a stunning catch by Wriddhiman Saha off Ishant Sharma, and Roshen Silva and Niroshan Dickwella departed for ducks to ensure Lanka's resurrection had quickly fizzled away. From 317/5, the team succumbed to 331/8 and although they managed to avoid the follow-on, they failed to make use of the platform set by two sturdy batsmen.

#1 Can Chandimal do a Tom Blundell for Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka need Chandimal and Sandakan to string together a big last wicket stand

Just a few days back, Tom Blundell, on his Test debut for New Zealand, stood with Trent Boult for a 78-run partnership for the final wicket, completing his hundred in the process. Blundell's outstanding knock gave the Kiwis a smashing total and helped in wiping out the Windies by an innings and 67 runs.

Chandimal and Sandakan are in a similar position, although, unlike New Zealand, they are tasked with steadying a sinking ship. If the skipper can once again hold himself together and rally Sandakan along in the process, Sri Lanka would have something to write home about. The series has thus far been diabolic for them and a turnaround looks rather unlikely.