Young batsman Dinesh Chandimal's aggressive 98 not out helped Sri Lanka reach 263 for six and take a 71-run lead in their second innings against India at tea on the third day of the first cricket Test here on Friday.
Starting the second session at 108 for five and his team still trailing by 84 runs, unbeaten Chandimal felt that attack was the best mode of defence and showed his intentions early. The right-hander took the attack to the opposition, hitting 11 fours and two sixes from 98 deliveries.
He forged a 125-run stand with Lahiru Thirimanne, who scored 44 as the hosts added 155 runs in the second session of the day at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. Alongwith Chandimal, Jehan Mubarak was unbeaten on a run-a-ball 23.
Indian off-spinner picked his third wicket of the innings as left-hander Thirimanne edged one to Ajinkya Rahane at slip. It was Tamil Nadu's Ashwin's ninth wicket of the five-day match.
Earlier, veteran Kumar Sangakkara (40) and skipper Angelo Mathews (39) failed to resist the Indian bowlers for long. Ashwin bagged Sangakkara and Amit Mishra took the wicket of Mathews while and pacer Varun Aaron removed night watchman Dhammika Prasad (3).
Starting the day at five for two, Sri Lanka lost Dhammika in the first ball of the day as he failed to fend off a well-directed bounder and edged to Ajinkya Rahane at gully.
Skipper Mathews joined former captain Sangakkara, who is playing in his penultimate international match. The left-right combination showed some resilience even though the Indian bowlers kept asking questions at them.
They forged a 87-run stand for the fourth wicket to bring the deficit down to 100 runs.
However, left-hander Sangakkara nudged an Ashwin delivery that took sharp turn away from him only to see a diving Rahane pouch a brilliant catch at slip in the 25th over.
Sangakkara, considered one of the greatest batsman, walked back to a standing ovation from the Galle crowd.
In the very next over, Mathews fell to a bouncing ball from leg-spinner Mishra. Mathews played the ball on to his pads and it went to Lokesh Rahul at silly point.
With the skipper's wicket, Sri Lanka reeled at 95/5 when young batsmen Chandimal and Thirimanne joined hands.
