Sri Lanka in charge after first day(04-Aug-2010)
Bat dominated ball once again in Colombo on Tuesday as Sri Lanka finished day one of the third and final Test well set on 293-4 against India.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara (75), Mahela Jayawardene (56) and Thilan Samaraweera (65 not out) all crafted opening day half-centuries as the hosts look to close out another series victory on home soil.
India, needing to win at the P.S Oval to the level the three-Test series at 1-1, fought back after losing their third successive toss, left-arm off-spinner Pragyan Ojha (2-78) striking twice to keep the tourists in the hunt.
The day marked another milestone for Sachin Tendulkar, the India stalwart adding to his plethora of records by becoming the most-capped player in the history of Test cricket.
Following a comprehensive victory for the hosts in Galle and a tame draw at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Sri Lanka made the perfect start in their quest to close out the series when Sangakkara won his third successive toss and opted to bat first.
Openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillakaratne Dilshan were primed with making first use of another flat sub-continent surface, however the former failed to cash-in.
India seamer Ishant Sharma removed Paranavitana with the last ball of his second over, the left-hander edging to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for just eight.
Sangakkara, who was handed a reprieve on 23 when Suresh Raina made a mess of an easy chance at third slip, then joined Dilshan in the middle in an otherwise untroubled 87-run partnership for the second wicket.
The Sri Lanka skipper grew in confidence as conditions eased and drove Abhimanyu Mithun for back-to-back boundaries before bringing up his 33rd Test 50.
Dilshan's innings came to an abrupt end though when he was run out for 41 following a smart piece of work from Murali Vijay.
The opener pushed the ball to silly point where Vijay stretched out his left
hand, stopped the ball and flicked to Dhoni before Dilshan could get back to his crease.
Jayawardene and his predecessor then took charge, taking the score past 150 as India's spinners failed to put the experienced duo under significant pressure.
Sangakkara was eventually dismissed for 75 when promising left-arm slow bowler Ojha lured his man into a false shot and Virender Sehwag claimed the catch at long-on.
Any hopes India had of making further inroads before tea were however quashed by a measured partnership between Jayawardene and Samawareera, the pair adding 84 for the fourth wicket.
Jayawardene's stay was ended by a questionable lbw decision from Rod Tucker off the bowling of Ojha. However, Samawareera raced past 50 and edged the hosts towards 300.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews (26 not out) offered him solid support at the other end, and the pair will return to the middle on day two looking to bat India out of the game.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara (75), Mahela Jayawardene (56) and Thilan Samaraweera (65 not out) all crafted opening day half-centuries as the hosts look to close out another series victory on home soil.
India, needing to win at the P.S Oval to the level the three-Test series at 1-1, fought back after losing their third successive toss, left-arm off-spinner Pragyan Ojha (2-78) striking twice to keep the tourists in the hunt.
The day marked another milestone for Sachin Tendulkar, the India stalwart adding to his plethora of records by becoming the most-capped player in the history of Test cricket.
Following a comprehensive victory for the hosts in Galle and a tame draw at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Sri Lanka made the perfect start in their quest to close out the series when Sangakkara won his third successive toss and opted to bat first.
Openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillakaratne Dilshan were primed with making first use of another flat sub-continent surface, however the former failed to cash-in.
India seamer Ishant Sharma removed Paranavitana with the last ball of his second over, the left-hander edging to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for just eight.
Sangakkara, who was handed a reprieve on 23 when Suresh Raina made a mess of an easy chance at third slip, then joined Dilshan in the middle in an otherwise untroubled 87-run partnership for the second wicket.
The Sri Lanka skipper grew in confidence as conditions eased and drove Abhimanyu Mithun for back-to-back boundaries before bringing up his 33rd Test 50.
Dilshan's innings came to an abrupt end though when he was run out for 41 following a smart piece of work from Murali Vijay.
The opener pushed the ball to silly point where Vijay stretched out his left
hand, stopped the ball and flicked to Dhoni before Dilshan could get back to his crease.
Jayawardene and his predecessor then took charge, taking the score past 150 as India's spinners failed to put the experienced duo under significant pressure.
Sangakkara was eventually dismissed for 75 when promising left-arm slow bowler Ojha lured his man into a false shot and Virender Sehwag claimed the catch at long-on.
Any hopes India had of making further inroads before tea were however quashed by a measured partnership between Jayawardene and Samawareera, the pair adding 84 for the fourth wicket.
Jayawardene's stay was ended by a questionable lbw decision from Rod Tucker off the bowling of Ojha. However, Samawareera raced past 50 and edged the hosts towards 300.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews (26 not out) offered him solid support at the other end, and the pair will return to the middle on day two looking to bat India out of the game.