India swelled their first innings lead to 236 runs over Sri Lanka on the third day of the third Test at the Brabourne Stadium today.
India swelled their first innings lead to 236 runs over Sri Lanka after stylish opener Virender Sehwag missed his third triple hundred on the third day of the third Test at the Brabourne Stadium today.
Sehwag, needing 16 runs to create history, fell for 293 in the first session, before Lanka chipped away the Indian first innings and captured five more wickets before tea.
At the end of the second session, the host were an imposing 629 for seven in 135 overs on a wicket which is showing signs of wear and tear.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (21) and Zaheer Khan (3) were the unbeaten batsmen at the tea break.
Apart from Sehwag and Rahul Dravid (62), who both were dismissed in the pre-lunch period, the home team lost the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar (53), VVS Laxman (62), Yuvraj Singh (23) and Harbhajan Singh (1) in the afternoon.
Lanka should have got rid off Dhoni when he edged one off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath but Mahela Jayawardene reacted late at the first slip and the ball raced to the fence. Dhoni was on six at that time.
The hosts added 93 runs in 27 overs, a far cry from yesterday when they went at more than five an over with Sehwag leading the assault on the hapless Lankan attack.
Post-lunch, Tendulkar reached his 54th half-century in 88 balls and helped himself with six fours before dragging one from Nuwan Kulasekara on to his stumps.
The dismissal also ended the 71-run fifth wicket stand between Tendulkar and Laxman.
Laxman then square cut Welegedera for two boundaries to reach his 42nd half-century in 129 balls with six fours in it.
Yuvraj was not looking comfortable against the spinners and even survived a stumping chance, when on 8, off Rangana Herath.
Laxman lost his patience and threw his wicket, bringing cheers from the Lankans. The well-tossed up ball invited Laxman to have a go and the leading edge was taken behind the bowler by Kulasekara to give Murali his second wicket.
Herath got rid off an uncomfortable-looking Yuvraj by luring him out to be caught at mid off when he miscued an aggressive shot and soon Harbhajan Singh was bowled trying to reverse-sweep Murali.
Losing these three wickets in quick succession India plunged from 591 for four to 615 for seven in less than six overs.
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