Galle (Sri Lanka), July 20 (IANS) India were struggling at 140 for three in reply to Sri Lanka first innings total of 520 for eight declared at the end of third day’s play in the first cricket Test here Tuesday.
Virender Sehwag was leading the Indian fightback with his unbeaten 85 while V.V.S.Laxman was on 18 at stumps with visitors facing a huge task of saving the Test at the Galle International Stadium.
Gautam Gambhir (2) fell in the second ball of the innings and a well-set Rahul Dravid (18) was run out before Sachin Tendulkar (8) departed after a poor shot selection to leave India reeling at 101 for three.
But Sehwag kept India afloat with his powerful hitting and in his unbeaten 98-run innings smashed 14 fours and a six. With Dravid, Sehwag stitched a 66-run stand for the second wicket and then added 33 runs with Tendulkar.
Sehwag and Laxman will now have to play a crucial role in steering India out of trouble in the next two days.
Earlier, Sri Lanka declared their first innings at 520 for eight after tea.
Resuming at 256 for two, after the second day’s play was washed out and the third day got off to a delayed start, Sri Lanka scored briskly in the first two sessions scoring 264 runs and losing six wickets in the process.
Fast bowler Ishant Sharma found his form claiming three wickets for 145 while debutant pacer Abhimanyu Mithun picked up four for 105.
Ishant struck with his second ball of the day dismissing opener Tharanga Paranavitana (111) and then picked up crucial wickets of Mahela Jayawardene (48) and Angelo Matthews (41).
Rangana Herath made an unbeaten 80 off 93 balls while Lasith Malinga made a quick-fire 64. Herath and Malinga shared a 115-run stand for the eighth wicket that took Sri Lanka to a position of strength.
Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, who was unbeaten on five, got a warm welcome from the Indian team when he came out to bat. Muralitharan will retire after this match.
Ishant, who has been rusty for a long time, tasted success early in the day when his away going delivery forced Paranavitana to nick and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made no mistake.
Debutant pacer Abhimanyu Mithun then removed Thilan Samaraweera, trapped leg before, for a duck.
Samaraweera failed to make the most of the life he got when Dravid dropped a sitter off Mithun at first slip.
Mithun, however, found himself at the receiving end of Jayawardene’s blade, who cut the young fast bowler over the slip cordon for a boundary.
Jayawardene and Mathews then accelerated the score with their 62-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Sri Lanka’s 300 runs came in 348 minutes in 81.4 overs and went into lunch at 361 for six.
Mathews and Jayawardene played the Indian spinners with ease, forcing skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to recall his fast bowlers.
Jayawardene missed an attempted flick off Ishant and was given lbw out. Jayawardene hit six boundaries in his 48-run knock.
Ishant then dismissed Mathews as he edged an away going delivery and V.V.S. Laxman took a good catch at second slip.
