Sri Lanka vs India Day 3 Stats: Ravichandran Ashwin's 10-wicket haul and India's historic challenge

With two days left to play in the 1st Test match and India only requiring 151 runs to win with 9 wickets in hand, many might think an Indian victory is a foregone conclusion. Statistics often tell a story, and the story it tells in this instance however, is that India are attempting a feat that has never been accomplished before – chasing a 100+ 4th innings total at Galle International Stadium.Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane were among Indians who reached important landmarks in their career in the course of Day 3.Here are some interesting numbers which have emerged through the day:

#1 Ashwin\'s 10-wicket haul

The Indian team appeal for Lahiru Thirimanne’s wicket

Ravichandran Ashwin took the last wicket of the Sri Lankan innings, his fourth wicket of the innings. He had taken 6 wickets in the 1^st innings, giving him match figures of 10/160. This is the first 10-wkt haul by an Indian spinner in an away Test after 7 years.

The last 10-wicket haul was taken by Harbhajan Singh at the same ground in 2008 against the same opponents.

This was Ashwin’s 3^rd career 10-wicket haul in only 26 matches, and his first on foreign soil.

Only two Indians have taken 10-wicket hauls more than Ashwin – Anil Kumble (8) and Harbhajan Singh (5).

#2 Chandimal breaks AB and Sanga\'s record

Dinesh Chandimal reacts on reaching his century

Dinesh Chandimal’s inspired knock (162* off 169 balls) was the bulk of the Sri Lankan 2^nd innings, as he raced to the fastest century scored ever by a Sri Lankan against India in Test cricket. He reached his century in 100 balls – the previously standing record was Sanath Jayasuriya’s 105-ball hundred in 2001, also at Galle.

In the process, Chandimal also became the fastest wicketkeeper to reach 1000 Test runs (22 innings) – beating South African great AB De Villiers and his own countryman Kumar Sangakkara (both 23 innings).

Chandimal’s batting average at the moment is 58.44, the highest for any wicketkeeper in Test history(minimum of 1000 runs).

#3 Rahane\'s world record

Ajinkya Rahane celebrates after claiming a catch to dismiss Lahiru Thirimanne

Ajinkya Rahane claimed 8 catches in the Test match, claiming a new world record for most catches by a fielder in a match. As Rahane claimed his eighth catch to dismiss Rangana Herath, he overtook the previously standing record of 7 – shared for many years by Greg Chappell, Stephen Fleming, Matthew Hayden, Hashan Tillakaratne and India’s Yajurvindra Singh.

Nayan Mongia (twice) and MS Dhoni have also claimed 8 wickets in a Test twice, but as wicketkeepers.

#4 A historic 4th innings chase

Will the Sri Lankan spinners Rangana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal devastate India on Day 4?

For the most daunting statistic to have come out over the days’s play – a 100+ 4^th innings target has never been chased down at Galle International Stadium before.

The highest total made in the 4th innings to win at Galle is Sri Lanka's 99/3 vs Pakistan in August 2014. 100+ targets have been set a total of 12 times – with the team batting second having lost 9 times and the match having been drawn thrics.

What can give hope to the Indian fan is that the last time India won an away Test by chasing in the 4th innings was in 2010 in Sri Lanka at Colombo, when India scored 258/5, propelled by VVS Laxman’s 103*.