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Sri Lanka lose Sangakkara but big total looms

Sri Lanka lost the wicket of captain Kumar Sangakkara before tea but looked set to post a strong first innings score on the opening day of the third and final test against India.

After winning the toss, Sri Lanka were 194-3 at the tea interval with Mahela Jayawardene (39) and Thilan Samaraweera (18) the two unbeaten batsmen at the crease.

The hosts only need a draw to win the three-test series 1-0.

Sangakkara, who was dropped by Suresh Raina in the slips on 23, had looked set for his third hundred of the series before he struck a ball from left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha straight to Virender Sehwag at long-on whilst on 75.

It was the sole dismissal of the session and ended Sangakkara and Jayawardene’s 55-run partnership for the the third wicket.

Earlier India struck a key blow in the final over before lunch when Murali Vijay produced a sharp piece of fielding at silly point to claim the wicket of Dilshan.

The opener had scored 41 when he stepped out of his crease for a single after playing a no-ball from Ojha and Vijay flicked the ball back to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who broke the stumps with Dilshan’s bat in the air.

India picked up an early wicket in the fourth over of the morning after Sangakkara had won his third straight toss.

There was a lot of movement on the pitch for the bowlers and Ishant Sharma got one ball to move away from Tharanga Paranavitana (8), who went for a drive and edged a catch to Dhoni.

Sri Lanka’s hopes of winning the series were boosted earlier when they were able to name fast bowler Lasith Malinga in their side after he recovered from a knee injury.