Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman put together an unbeaten 83-run partnership as India, chasing 257, inched towards a series-levelling win by reaching 145 for four at lunch on the fifth and final day of the third cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Saturday.

Veteran V.V.S. Laxman cracked a fighting unbeaten 103 as India relied on their experienced batsmen to pull off a five-wicket win in the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka to level the series 1-1 here on Saturday.

India’s middle and late order batsmen came up with gritty contributions as the visitors eked out a slender 11-run first innings lead and scalped two quick Sri Lankan wickets to gain a slight upper hand in the third and final cricket Test here on Thursday.

Sri Lanka gained the edge in the third and final cricket Test against India after the tourists lost two vital wickets in the morning session of the third day’s play on Thursday.

India were all out for 436 in their first innings after taking a narrow 11-run lead over Sri Lanka on day three of the third and final cricket Test at P Sara Oval here on Thursday.

Indian left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha scalped two quick wickets but Thilan Samaraweera’s patient hundred guided Sri Lanka to a comfortable 369 for six in their first innings at lunch on the second day of the third and final cricket Test here on Wednesday.