Galle, Aug 14 (IANS) Two quick wickets of veteran Kumar Sangakkara (40) and skipper Angelo Mathews (39) ensured that Sri Lanka stare at an innings defeat as India restricted the hosts to 108 for five in their second innings at lunch on the third day of the first Test here on Friday.
Indian bowlers continued their good work as spinners — Ravichandran Ashwin bagged Sangakkara and Amit Mishra took the wicket of Mathews — and pacer Varun Aaron removed night watchman Dhammika Prasad (3). The hosts still trail India by 84 runs at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Starting the day at five for two, Sri Lanka lost Dhammika in the first ball of the day as he failed to fend off a well-directed bounder and edged to Ajinkya Rahane at gully.
Skipper Mathews joined former captain Sangakkara, who is playing in his penultimate international match. The left-right combination showed some resilience even though the Indian bowlers kept asking questions at them.
They forged a 87-run stand for the fourth wicket to bring the deficit down to 100 runs.
However, left-hander Sangakkara nudged an Ashwin delivery that took sharp turn away from him only to see a diving Rahane pouch a brilliant catch at slip in the 25th over.
Sangakkara, considered one of the greatest batsman, walked back to a standing ovation from the Galle crowd.
In the very next over, Mathews fell to a bouncing ball from leg-spinner Mishra. Mathews played the ball on to his pads and it went to Lokesh Rahul at silly point.
With the skipper’s wicket, Sri Lanka reeled at 95/5. Young batsmen Dinesh Chandimal (10 not out) and Lahiru Thirimanne (four not out) were at the crease.
