Colombo: Thilan Samaraweera and tailender Ajantha Mendis have come to Sri Lanka's rescue with a record 118-run partnership for the ninth wicket, setting India a target of 257 runs to win the third test.
The hosts were precariously placed on 125-8 before lunch on day four Friday but the pair batted sensibly before Sri Lanka was bowled out for 267 after tea.
Samaraweera anchored the innings with a classic 83 off 139 balls including six boundaries before edging seamer Abhimanyu Mithun to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Mendis brought up his maiden test and first class half-century and was last out for 78. The partnership is a ninth-wicket record for Sri Lanka.
Indian spinners skittled Sri Lanka's lineup in the first session taking six wickets for 98 runs.
Sri Lanka vs. India Scoreboard
Eds: Updates at innings break
Sri Lanka, 1st Innings 425 all out
India 1st Innings 436 all out
Sri Lanka 2nd Innings
(Overnight 45 for two)=
Tharanga Paranavitana c Dhoni b Sehwag 16
Tillakaratne Dilshan c Vijay b Sehwag 13
Kumar Sangakkara c Raina b Ojha 28
Suraj Randiv lbw b Ojha 6
Mahela Jayawardene c Dravid b Ojha 5
Thilan Samaraweera c Dhoni b Mithun 83
Angelo Mathews c Tendulkar b Mishra 5
Prasanna Jayawardene lbw b Mishra 0
Lasith Malinga lbw b Sehwag 15
Ajantha Mendis c Raina b Mishra 78
Chanaka Welegedara not out 4
Extras: (4lb, 6nb, 4w) 14
TOTAL: (all out) 267.
Overs: 85.2.
Batting time: 358 minutes.
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-39, 3-63, 4-77, 5-78, 6-87, 7-87, 8-125, 9-243, 10-267.
Bowling: Abhimanyu Mithun 8-1-22-1, Ishant Sharma 17-3-54-0 (4nb, 4w), Pragyan Ojha 28-5-89-3, Virender Sehwag 15-0-51-3, Amit Mishra 17.2-1-47-3 (2nb).
Toss: Won by Sri Lanka.
Umpires: Simon Taufel and Rod Tucker, Australia.
TV Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena, Sri Lanka. Match Referee: Andy Pycroft, Zimbabwe.
Series: Sri Lanka leads 1-0.
