9.22 am GMT (2.52 pm IST) - Visuals from the ground suggest that a few of the covers are actually coming off. This means that the rain has stopped, but it will still take some time to clear the water as the rain was pretty heavy when it came down.
9.10 am GMT (2.40 pm IST) - Righto, the overhead conditions have just cleared up a bit, but the rain is still around. It does give us hope that whenever conditions dry up, we could be in for a rather quick resumption, as the groundstaff in Sri Lanka are probably the most efficient ones when it comes to tackling rain. For now, the wait continues, so stick around for more updates.
8.50 am GMT (2.20 pm IST) - The rain has arrived, and it is pretty heavy as well, so it was a good decision to bring on the covers beforehand. With early Tea being taken, had the heavens not opened up, we would have had a restart in about 15 or so minutes, but it will certainly be a longer delay. Also, unlike Galle, when the rain falls in Colombo, it tends to stick around for a much longer while. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it boils over quickly. Stay tuned for further updates.
Ominous signs for the hosts - Sri Lanka might have been saved by the weather for now, but whenever they get the chance to bat, they will have a tough job at hand. Asitha Fernando has been the pick of the bowlers and the spinners have continued to toil. Keshara Nuwantha and Prabath Jayasuriya each got a wicket in the session gone by, but overall, the hosts haven't been able to put on consistent pressure on the batters.
India continue to dominate - The post-Lunch session started with India on 419/6, but they lost Rishabh Pant on the very first ball after the restart. Dhruv Jurel stayed resolute, and Manav Suthar gave him good company as the duo put on a 39-run stand. Since that wicket, Mohammed Siraj has come out and shown that he can dig in deep and keep fending away. Meanwhile, Jurel has moved into the 90s and is just 5 runs away from what would be a well-deserved ton.
8.43 am GMT (2.13 pm IST) - There it is! The covers are called upon, and the groundstaff are coming on quickly to cover the whole ground. The rain hasn't started but it seems imminent. Visuals show that is the near distance it seems to be pelting down right now. Also, Tea has been officially taken.
Overs 131.2, Score 475 - 8. Asitha Fernando to Dhruv Jurel, FOUR! Finds the gap to perfection this time around! Pitched fuller and on middle and leg, Dhruv Jurel gets the front foot across and flicks it neatly off the pads. Plays it all along the ground and bisects long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
Overs 130.4, Score 468 - 8. Prabath Jayasuriya to Dhruv Jurel, Half an appeal for LBW, but nothing doing says the umpire. Not all that full and on middle, just angles in with the arm. Jurel lunges to block but misses and wears it on the pads.
Overs 129.6, Score 468 - 8. Asitha Fernando to Mohammed Siraj, The fuller one now, looking to slide it past the gate. Siraj flicks it off the inside edge and to the right of deep square leg, but no run is taken.
Overs 129.5, Score 468 - 8. Asitha Fernando to Mohammed Siraj, That's well played, but Siraj still won't get off the mark, given there's just one more ball left in the over. Short ball at the batter, Siraj gets inside the line and helps the pull down to fine leg.
Overs 129.5, Score 468 - 8. Asitha Fernando to Mohammed Siraj, WIDE! Back to over the wicket, banged in well short again, over middle and off. Siraj ducks and the ball sails well over. It's actually been called a wide for being too high.
Overs 129.3, Score 467 - 8. Asitha Fernando to Dhruv Jurel, Looking for two, but it isn't there. Full of a good length on middle, Jurel leans on and drives it uppishly down to the left of long on, picking up a single.
It has grown very overcast in Colombo. Ground staff are standing by with the covers as the heavens look ready to open. A dark band of clouds is gathering, threatening to burst at any moment. It doesn't look very promising at the moment as there's no wind to blow those clouds away.
Overs 126.2, Score 459 - 8. Prabath Jayasuriya to Dhruv Jurel, Oh, an outside edge, but it doesn't carry! Nicely tossed up around off, turning away. Dhruv Jurel leans on to block and does so with soft hands but gets an edge down to the right of the slip fielder, who dives and pouches it with the right hand, but on the bounce.
