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, chasing Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 425, moved from their overnight score of 180-2 to 282-4 by lunch at the P. Sara Oval.
V.V.S. Laxman was unbeaten on 42 and Suresh Raina was on 39 after helping the Indians crawl out of trouble with a 83-run stand for the fifth wicket.
The top-ranked Indians, seeking a series-levelling victory following the 10-wicket defeat in the first Test, will resume after lunch 143 runs behind Sri Lanka with six wickets in hand.
India suffered early blows when veteran Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed in the day’s first over and century-maker Virender Sehwag in the sixth, both falling to reckless shots.
Tendulkar slashed at Lasith Malinga and only managed to edge an easy catch to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene. The world’s leading run-getter, making a record 169th Test appearance, scored 41 in a third-wicket stand of 91 with Sehwag.
Sehwag, who was on 97 overnight, reached his 21st hundred in the second over by pulling off-spinner Suraj Randiv for his 18th boundary. But Randiv had the last laugh as Sehwag hit out against a flighted ball and top-edged the skier to Chanaka Welegedara in the covers.
Sehwag’s 109 would have given him a hundred in each of his last five Tests, had he not been dismissed for 99 in the previous match at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
The robust opener made 109 in the first Test in Galle, and 165 and 109 in the two home Tests against South Africa in February.