Sri Lankans take charge of Test

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP):

Sri Lanka seized the initiative in the first cricket Test by reducing India to 140-3 at stumps on day three, after declaring its first innings at 520-8 yesterday.

Opener Virender Sehwag remained unbeaten on 85 when bad light stopped play, but vaunted team-mates Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid were already out.

Tendulkar, Test cricket's greatest run-scorer, was out lbw for eight to Muttiah Muralitharan, the greatest wicket-taker. Muralitharan, playing his final Test, moved to 793 wickets in his career when he caught Tendulkar misjudging a sweep.

Muralitharan finished the day with 1-31 off seven overs.

India started poorly when Gautam Gambhir was dismissed off the second ball of the innings, trapped lbw for two by seamer Lasith Malinga.

Run out

Sehwag and Dravid combined for a 66-run partnership, until Dravid misjudged a second run and was run out for 18.

By stumps, Sehwag had faced 98 balls, hit 14 boundaries and a six, and looked set for his 20th Test century. VVS Laxman was with him on 18 not out.

Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath said his team was hoping for quick wickets on day four to consolidate its hold.

"If we can get him (Sehwag) early we are in the game," he said.

Earlier in the post-lunch session, Sri Lanka tail-enders Herath and Malinga heaped misery on a depleted India bowling line-up, by scoring their maiden half-centuries and sharing 115 for the eighth wicket.

Tharanga Paranavitana topscored with 111 and captain Kumar Sangakkara made 103, to set up the big total.

India looked to have regained some venom in its attack, when paceman Ishant Sharma took three wickets in the morning session, as Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 105 runs to go to lunch on 361-6.

But Herath and Malinga batted like seasoned batsmen as they flayed the bowlers with some delightful shots.

Herath was unbeaten at 80 when the innings closed, having faced 93 balls, hitting 10 boundaries and a six. Malinga was out for 64 off 75 balls, after hitting nine boundaries and two sixes.

Muralitharan walked in to bat to a guard of honour by the India fielders and umpires, as firecrackers were set off. Muralitharan, in probably his last Test innings, finished not out on five.

Seam bowler Abhimanyu Mithun had a dream debut for India, returning the best bowling figures of 4-105 off 28 overs. Sharma looked to have got back some lost rhythm to take 3-145 off 28.