COLOMBO // Sri Lanka extended its first innings lead over India into three figures today, as Kumar Sangakkara's dogged 144 put the hosts in a strong position on day three of the third and series-deciding Test. Resuming the third day with a thin two-run lead and four tail-end wickets in hand, Sri Lanka lost only one wicket in the opening session to reach lunch at 352-7 - a lead of 103 runs over India's 249. The overnight pair of Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene shared a valuable 80-run stand for the seventh wicket and frustrated India's bowlers in a prudent 152-ball partnership. The India captain Anil Kumble searched for an elusive breakthrough from his attack for most of the opening session before breaking through himself, finally ending Sangakkara's knock, caught by the wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel with the score at 324. Sangakkara tried to steer the ball on the offside but found a thin edge that was smartly collected by Patel close to the bat. He faced 288 balls in his seven-hour innings and hit 14 boundaries. Jayawardene took a shaky start but soon found the touch to reach 44 at lunch. He would have been run out early but for a wayward throw from substitute fielder Rohit Sharma that allowed him to dive back to his crease. Dammika Prasad was the other unbeaten batsman at lunch, on 16. The second new ball was taken after 104 overs, but was of little use, as the strike bowler Ishant Sharma was nursing a leg injury - sustained Saturday - in the dressing room. The star batsman Sachin Tendulkar also sat out the session with an elbow injury, as did VVS Laxman with a strained ankle, although they were expected to bat in India's second innings. India is chasing its first series victory in Sri Lanka since 1993. The series is level at 1-1.
*AP
