Opener Virender Sehwag remained unbeaten on 85 when bad
light stopped play but vaunted teammates Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were
already out.
Tendulkar, test cricket's greatest run-scorer, was out lbw
for 8 to Muttiah Muralitharan, the greatest wicket-taker.
Muralitharan, playing his final Test, moved to 793 wickets
in his career when he caught Tendulkar misjudging a sweep.
Muralitharan finished the day with 1-31 off seven overs.
India started poorly when Gautam Gambhir was dismissed off
the second ball of the innings, trapped lbw for 2 by seamer Lasith Malinga.
Sehwag and Dravid combined for a 66-run partnership until
Dravid misjudged a second run and was run out for 18.
By stumps, Sehwag had faced 98 balls, hit 14 boundaries and
a six, and looked set for his 20th Test century. VVS Laxman was with him on 18
not out.
Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath said his team was hoping for
quick wickets on day four to consolidate its hold.
“If we can get him (Sehwag) early we are in the game,” he
said.
Earlier in the post-lunch session, Sri Lanka tailenders
Herath and Malinga heaped misery on a depleted India bowling lineup by scoring
their maiden half-centuries and sharing 115 for the eighth wicket.
Tharanga Paranavitana topscored with 111 and captain Kumar
Sangakkara made 103 to set up the big total.
India looked to have regained some venom in its attack when
paceman Ishant Sharma took three wickets in the morning session as Sri Lanka
lost four wickets for 105 runs to go to lunch on 361-6.
But Herath and Malinga batted like seasoned batsmen as they
flayed the bowlers with some delightful shots.
Herath was unbeaten at 80 when the innings closed, having
faced 93 balls, hitting 10 boundaries and a six. Malinga was out for 64 off 75
balls after hitting nine boundaries and two sixes.
Muralitharan walked in to bat to a guard of honor by the
India fielders and umpires as firecrackers were set off.
Muralitharan, in probably his last Test innings, finished
not out on 5.
Seam bowler Abhimanyu Mithun had a dream debut for India,
returning the best bowling figures of 4-105 off 28 overs.
Sharma looked to have got back some lost rhythm to take
3-145 off 28.
Almost four sessions have been lost because of rain,
reducing the likelihood of a result in the series opener.
