Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara missed out on a third century in the series as the hosts scored 194-3 by tea on the opening day of the final Test against India on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara missed out on a third century in the series as the hosts scored 194-3 by tea on the opening day of the final Test against India on Tuesday.
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Sangakkara, who made 103 in the first Test and 219 and 42 not out in the second, looked set for another big knock as he raced to a fluent 75 with five fours and two sixes.
But a lapse in concentration midway through the afternoon session caused his downfall when he lofted left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha to long-on, where Virender Sehwag held the skier.
India, seeking a series-levelling win after losing the first Test, were denied further breaks before tea by Mahela Jayawardene (39 not out) and Thilan Samaraweera (18 not out).
Sri Lanka, who won the toss for the third time in the series and elected to take first strike, lost both openers in the morning session to go to lunch on 102-2.
Tharanga Paranavitana, who, like his captain, hit centuries in each of the previous two Tests, fell for eight when he edged seamer Ishant Sharma to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (41) added 87 for the second wicket with Sangakkara, before he was run out off what turned out to be the last ball of the morning session.
Dilshan stepped out to defend a no-ball from Ojha, but failed to return to his crease as Murali Vijay fielded the ball at silly-point and passed it back to Dhoni.
Television replays showed Dilshan's back-foot was not grounded when Dhoni broke the stumps.
Sangakkara had escaped on 23 when third slip Suresh Raina lunged to his right and dropped the ball that was carrying comfortably to Venkatsai Laxman at second slip.
Abhimanyu Mithun was the unlucky bowler.
India went into the decisive Test without the injured duo of opener Gautam Gambhir and seasoned off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Vijay, who replaced Gambhir for the drawn second Test, retained his place in the side, while leg-spinner Amit Mishra came in for Harbhajan.
Raina, who hit a century on his debut in the last match, was preferred over Yuvraj Singh for the number six spot.
Indian star Sachin Tendulkar's 169th Test made him the most-capped player in history, surpassing former Australian captain Steve Waugh's tally of 168 appearances.
Fit-again fast bowler Lasith Malinga returned for Sri Lanka along with left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara. They replaced Dilhara Fernando and Dammika Prasad, who shared the new ball in the second Test.
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