By Rex Clementine, IANS,
Colombo : India were made to toil as Sri Lanka extended their lead by 103 runs with three wickets in hand on the third day of the third and deciding Test at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium here Sunday.
The Sri Lankans reached 352 for seven in reply to India’s 249 all out.
It was Kumar Sangakkara, who took the game away from the Indians as he made his highest score against them. Resuming from his overnight score of 107, the left-hander went onto make 144 and added a vital 80 runs for the seventh wicket in 152 balls with wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.
Sangakkara, known for his aggressive stroke play, played unlike his usual self as he assessed the conditions early and stonewalled the Indian attack to score his 17th Test hundred and the second against India.
Sangakkara found an ideal partner in Jayawardene, who kept the scoreboard ticking as India were made to work hard on a hot and humid day.
The Indians had to delay taking the new ball as Ishant Sharma was ruled out with a right gluteus muscle contusion. Eventually the Indians took the new ball 24 overs after it’s due, but had to depend on part timer Sourav Ganguly.
The new ball failed to produce any breakthroughs as Sri Lanka went pass 300 in the 106th over of their innings
Captain Anil Kumble reverted to spin bowling and managed to get rid of Sangakkara when he nicked one to Patel and walked immediately without waiting for the umpire to raise the finger.
India’s attempts to have another go at the Sri Lankan tail that had looked vulnerable in the series so far weren’t successful as debutant Prasad, who had pegged India on the back foot on day one by claiming three wickets, carried on till lunch adding an unbroken 28 run stand for the eighth wicket.
India are also without the services of batsmen V.V.S. Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar. While Laxman twisted his left ankle while warming up Friday. Tendulkar, hurt his left elbow attempting a catch off Chaminda Vaas.
The series is squared 1-1. While Sri Lanka won the first Test by an innings and 239 runs, India bounced back to win the second Test by 170 runs.