The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Colombo

Kumar Sangakkara's unbeaten century gave Sri Lanka a first innings lead over India with four wickets in hand in the third and series-deciding cricket test Saturday.

In reply to India's 249, Sri Lanka batted throughout day two to finish at 251-6 when bad light stopped play in the final session at P.Saravanamuttu Stadium.

Sangakkara played a patient innings of nearly five hours, facing 212 balls for his unbeaten 107, which included 11 fours. He will resume Sunday with with wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene on 1.

Sangakkara's 95-run stand for the second wicket with night-watchman Chaminda Vaas (47) was crucial in providing the platform for the hosts, who have a good opportunity to push for a victory to win the series.

India's problems were not restricted to the scoreboard, as they lost three key players to injury.

Middle-order batsman V.V.S Laxman twisted an ankle while practicing in the morning and star batsman Sachin Tendulkar injured his left elbow when diving for a catch at short-leg in the middle session.

Soon after tea, strike bowler Ishant Sharma pulled a leg muscle while running in to bowl and returned to the rooms.

India team manager T.C Matthew told reporters that both Laxman and Tendulkar were expected to bat in India's second innings.

Details on Sharma's injury were not immediately available.

Resuming at 14-1 on day two, Sri Lanka lost the out-of-touch Michael Vandort (14) lbw to Zaheer Khan.

Sangakkara and Vaas' (47) valuable stand was ended in the second session by ace India spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Eager to reach his 14th half-century, Vaas drove straight to Virender Sehwag at cover with the total on 137. Vaas's innings ended just two runs short of reaching the rare career mark of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets.

In his next over, Harbhajan deceived Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene (2) in the flight and trapped him lbw while playing across the line.

Sri Lanka reached tea at 175-4 with Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera negotiating the latter part of the second session against the probing spin of Harbhajan and captain Anil Kumble. Sangakkara and Samaraweera (35) added 60 runs together before Khan induced an edge off Samaraweera to be caught behind by

wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (23) was out shortly before the close, trapped lbw by Kumble for his first wicket of the innings.

With the series level 1-1, both teams are chasing a series win. India has not won a series in Sri Lanka since 1993, while the hosts are aiming to repeat the series win in 2001 after being level in a three-match series.