India hold slight edge in third Test

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP):

India kept the pressure on Sri Lanka by taking first-innings lead and grabbing two wickets to restrict the home side to a 34-run lead in their second innings after three days of the third Test yesterday.

Part-time spinner Virender Sehwag snared both wickets after topscoring with 109 in India's total of 436.

"I am very lucky to score a 100 and take two wickets," Sehwag said. "So hopefully we'll do the job tomorrow also and try to win this test match."

He said India hope to keep Sri Lanka's second innings under 200.

Sri Lanka quickly overcame the 11-run first-innings deficit but, by stumps, openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillakaratne Dilshan were out and the team was again relying on another big innings from captain Kumar Sangakkara to secure a series victory.

8,000 runs

Sangakkara was 12 not out, becoming the fastest to reach 8,000 runs in his 91st Test, and nightwatchman Suraj Randiv was yet to score on a P. Sara Oval pitch helping the spinners with sharp turn and bounce.

Paranavitana failed early again when he made 16 before edging Sehwag to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, then Murali Vijay snapped up a bat-pad catch from Dilshan for 13 off Sehwag to leave Sri Lanka 39-2.

India started the day on 180-2, and overhauled Sri Lanka's first innings of 425 in impressive fashion.

Sachin Tendulkar, playing a world record 169th Test, only added one to his overnight score and was out for 41, giving seamer Lasith Malinga his 100th Test wicket.

Malinga became only the third Sri Lankan to reach the milestone, joining illustrious former teammates Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Chaminda Vaas (355).

Malinga said he was happy to have achieved his dream in his comeback series after a more than two-year layoff through injury.

Cricket