India in command against Sri Lanka despite Angelo Mathews ton
Saturday 22 August 2015 14:59, UK
Angelo Mathews' sixth Test century failed to prevent India from taking control of the second Test as Sri Lanka collapsed on the third day in Colombo.
Having secured a first-innings lead of 87, Sri Lanka extended their advantage to 157 for the loss of one wicket at stumps.
It came after skipper Matthews, alongside half-centurion Lahiru Thirimanne, had frustrated the tourists' attack during a fourth-wicket stand of 127.
Both Thirimanne and Mathews completed fifties during a morning session that produced 84 runs.
But Thirimanne's departure to Ishant Sharma for 62 sparked a collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose their last seven wickets, including Mathews for 102, for just 65 runs.
Sharma took his second wicket when he forced Dinesh Chandimal (11) to push outside off stump to Rahul in the slips after a brief rain delay.
After Mathews reached his century, the right-hander edged to slip to give Stuart Binny his first Test scalp.
The wickets continued to tumble with Amit Mishra dismissing Dhammika Prasad (five) and Jehan Mubarak (22) to finish with bowling figures of 4-43.
Ravichandran Ashwin then had Rangana Herath trapped lbw for one before wrapping up the innings by having Tharindu Kaushal (six) stumped as the hosts were dismissed for 306, which left them trailing by 87 runs.
In India's second innings, Lokesh Rahul was bowled by Prasad in the first over for two.
But Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane, with 39 and 28 respectively, moved the Indians to 70 for one at the close.
The tourists are bidding to level the three match series after a dramatic collapse last Saturday which saw them lose the first Test by 63 runs in Galle.
