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PHOTOS: Mathews hits ton but India power ahead on Day 3

Last updated on: August 22, 2015 19:37 IST

Sri Lanka's captain Angelo Mathews celebrates his century during Day 3 of their second Test match against India in Colombo. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews struck his sixth Test century but India took command on the third day of the second Test at P Sara Oval, in Colombo, on Saturday.

Mathews faced 167 balls in a patient knock, hitting 12 boundaries in a display of controlled aggression, before becoming Stuart Binny's first Test victim.

Scorecard

Colombo Test: India regain the initiative after Mathews ton

Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane

India's Ajinkya Rahane, right, and Murali Vijay run between wickets. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

After a wicketless first session, the touring side dismissed the last seven batsmen for 65 runs to bowl Sri Lanka out for 306 and take an 87-run first innings lead.

India then lost opener Lokesh Rahul to the fifth ball of their second innings before Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane guided them to 70 for one at the close of play, an advantage of 157 runs.

Vijay was unbeaten on 39 while Rahane was 28 not out after both survived loud lbw appeals.

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews, right, and Lahiru Thirimanne run between wickets during the Day 3 of their second Test match against India. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

Starting the day on 140 for three, Mathews (102) and Lahiru Thirimanne (62) enjoyed a productive morning session in Sri Lankan hero Kumar Sangakkara's farewell match.

The pair added 84 runs in the session without being separated, much to the frustration of India who trail 1-0 in the three-match series.

India's Ishant Sharma, left, celebrates after dismissing Sri Lanka's Lahiru Thirimanne. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

Ishant Sharma struck two big blows after lunch to expose Sri Lanka's late order before leg-spinner Amit Mishra polished off the tail with four for 43.

Paceman Ishant ended a 127-run stand by removing Thirimanne although the batsman looked unhappy with the caught-behind decision.

He also got rid of Dinesh Chandimal for 11 but Mathews brought up his century with a reverse-swept four off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Amit Mishra

India's Amit Mishra, left, collides with Sri Lanka's Tharindu Kaushal. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

Mishra then removed Dhammika Prasad for five in the next over and also got rid of Jehan Mubarak for 22 and Tharindu Kaushal for six.

Source: REUTERS
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