Dilshan hits second century as India fight back

India fought back in splendid fashion with three quick wickets in the second session of play on the opening day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium on Wednesday.

From 117 for one at lunch, the visitors slid to 188 for four before recovering again to reach 213 for four wickets at tea.

Opener Tilekaratne Dilshan stood as the biggest stumbling block for India as he hit completed yet another century after minutes after. All rounder Angelo Mathews was unconquered on 8 at the end of the second session that produced 96 runs in 29 overs.

The duo steadied the Lankan innings that was floundering on a wicket affording slow turn after the quick dismissals of Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera in the space of four balls in the second hour of play during the post-lunch session.

India struck thrice on either side of the first hour of play to send back Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara (18), Jayawardene (29) and Samaraweera (1) to take firm control of the proceedings before Dilshan and Mathews steadied the Lankan boat.

The first to go was Sangakkara, unbeaten on 10 at lunch in a healthy total of 117 for one, who feathered a catch down the leg side against Pragyan Ojha to give the left arm spinner his first strike in the fourth over after lunch.

It was an irresponsible way to get out but the Lankan innings then got steadied by Dilshan, who curbed his early morning aggression to some extent, and former skipper Mahela, as the duo put on a half-century stand for the third wicket to take the score past 150.

The first hour in the post-lunch period produced 62 runs in 17 overs and things were looking good once again for the visitors when the home team struck twice in quick succession to wrest back the initiative.

Shantakumaran Sreesanth, who was very expensive in his first spell of five overs, was brought back into the attack from the Churchgate end and broke the stand by baiting Mahela with a short ball that the classy batsman hooked down the throat of long leg fielder Virender Sehwag.

The senior Jayawardene had looked quite good during his short stay of 67 minutes at the crease while making 29 with four fours. Lanka were dealt another big blow when Samaraweera was caught bat-pad at short leg by Murali Vijay, a dolly catch, off a sharply turning ball from Harbhajan Singh.

These two wickets put the visitors firmly on the back foot before Dilshan and Mathews prevented further damage before tea.

Harbhajan was the most successful bowler, who also looked the most likely to get a wicket, with 2 for 50 while Sreesanth and Ojha got a wicket apiece.