Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed his sixth century this year to give Sri Lanka a solid start in the crucial third and final Test against India here on Wednesday. Dilshan made 109 as Sri Lanka, seeking a win to draw the series 1-1, battled a wicket with turn and bounce to pile up 366-8 by close of the opening day's play at the Brabourne stadium.
All-rounder Angelo Mathews returned unbeaten on a career-best 86 as the tourists grabbed the chance to have first strike for the only time in the series after skipper Kumar Sangakkara called correctly. India, who won the second Test in Kanpur by an innings and 144 runs after the first match in Ahmedabad ended in a high-scoring draw, will dislodge South Africa as the top-ranked Test side if they win the series 2-0.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh picked up four wickets and left-arm slow bowler Pragyan Ojha two as the vintage stadium, hosting a Test after 36 years, laid out a sporting wicket to provide an absorbing day's cricket. Dilshan, 33, dominated the day with 10 boundaries and two sixes in his 11th career Test century and the second in the series after making 112 at Ahmedabad.
"This is a very good Test wicket," said Dilshan. "There is something there for both batsmen and bowlers. It is not easy to bat on because of the bounce and turn. Dilshan anchored the innings superbly after a first-wicket stand of 93 in 20 overs with left-handed Tharanga Paranavitana, who made his highest score in the series of 53. Harbhajan broke through 25 minutes before lunch when he forced Paranavitana to edge a catch to Rahul Dravid at first slip.
India hit back in the afternoon session with three quick wickets as Sri Lanka slumped from the lunch score of 117-1 to 213-4 by tea. Sangakkara had scored 18 when he was caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Ojha. Mathews and Dilshan put Sri Lanka on top again by adding 74 for the fifth wicket when the century-maker fell to a poor decision by umpire Nigel Llong.
The Englishman gave Dilshan caught at short-leg off Harbhajan even as television replays showed the ball go off the batsman's pad to Murali Vijay at forward short-leg. Prasanna Jayawardene overcame Dilshan's setback by making a fluent 43 with six fours and a six during a sixth-wicket stand of 67 with Mathews. Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath fell in quick succession, but Muralitharan kept Mathews company at close.
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Scoreboard
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Sri Lanka 1st innings:
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T. Paranavitana c Dravid b Harbhajan 53
T. Dilshan c Vijay b Harbhajan 109
K. Sangakkara c Dhoni b Ojha 18
M. Jayawardene c Sehwag b Sreesanth 29
T. Samaraweera c Vijay b Harbhajan 1
A. Mathews not out 86
P. Jayawardene c Harbhajan b Ojha 43
N. Kulasekara c Dhoni b Zaheer 12
R. Herath c Dravid b Harbhajan 1
M. Muralitharan not out 0
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Extras: (b4, lb4, nb4, w2) 14
Total: (for 8 wkts, 89 overs) 366
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To bat: Chanaka Welegedara.
Fall of wickets: 1-93 (Paranavitana), 2-128 (Sangakkara), 3-187 (M. Jayawardene), 4-188 (Samaraweera), 5-262 (Dilshan), 6-329 (P. Jayawardene), 7-359 (Kulasekara), 8-362 (Herath).
Bowling: Zaheer 19-2-70-1 (nb4, w1), Sreesanth 14-1-66-1 (w1), Harbhajan 29-2-107-4, Ojha 23-1-97-2, Yuvraj 4-0-18-0.
Toss: Sri Lanka
Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG) and Daryl Harper (AUS)
TV umpire: Shavir Tarapore (IND)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL).
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