Sri Lanka fight back after blistering spell by India's Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma's five-wicket haul helped India skittle out Sri Lanka for 201 but the hosts fought back to take three quick wickets and leave the third Test evenly poised.

India were at 21-3 in their second innings when rain brought an early close to the third day's play with the tourists having an overall lead of 132 runs.

First-innings centurion Cheteshwar Pujara was out for a duck by the second ball of the innings from Dhammika Prasad while Lokesh Rahul was bowled by Nuwan Pradeep for two.

Pradeep also dismissed Ajinkya Rahane to leave India in trouble at 7-3 before skipper Virat Kohli (one) and Rohit Sharma (14) batted till the close.

Earlier, Ishant toppled the home side's top order with the new ball, dismissing Upul Tharanga for four with Lokesh Rahul taking the catch at second slip.

Tharanga may consider himself unlucky with replays showing the delivery was close to being a no ball but the television umpire ruled it was legal.

After opener Kaushal Silva fell to paceman Umesh Yadav for three, Dinesh Chandimal (23) launched a counter-attack with five boundaries before being given out lbw to seamer Stuart Binny although replays showed the ball could have gone over the stumps.

Ishant returned to get Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews (one) edging behind with his first ball to debutant Indian wicketkeeper Naman Ojha.

Wicketkeeper Kusal Perera, who was dropped on nine by Rahul, made use of his luck by making 55 which included nine fours.

But the debutant became Ishant's fourth victim and the paceman reached his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests by getting rid of Rangana Herath for 49.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra then wrapped up the innings by dismissing Tharindu Kaushal (16) and Dhammika Prasad (27).

India had added 20 runs in the morning to their overnight score of 292-8 to complete a solid first innings after Pujara finished unbeaten on 145.

The winner of this Test will clinch the series with the scores level at 1-1.