Sri Lanka poised for the kill in final India Test

COLOMBO  - Sri Lanka tightened the screw on injury-hit India with a superb all-round performance on the third day of the crucial third and final Test here on Sunday.

The hosts were indebted to debutant fast bowler Dammika Prasad and Kumar Sangakkara for boosting their hopes of clinching the series as India struggled to 161-5 in their second innings at stumps.

That meant India were just 14 runs ahead with five wickets in hand. Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 46 and Venkatsai Laxman on 17 not out.

The series is tied at 1-1, with Sri Lanka winning the opening Test by an innings and 239 runs and India posting a 170-run victory in the second match.

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 396 in the afternoon in reply to India's modest first-innings total of 249, with the left-handed Sangakkara making a solid 144 for his 17th Test century.

Unorthodox Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis (2-39) broke Englishman Alec Bedser's record of 24 wickets in a three-Test debut series. Mendis has bagged 25 wickets in the ongoing series.

"It is a phenomenal achievement. He (Mendis) came in when Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) needed support and he rose to the occasion well. He has gone beyond our expectations and the important thing for him is to keep learning," said Sangakkara.

"I am very happy to get a hundred. It was one of the most difficult hundreds to get. We now want to keep them (India) well below the 100-mark when we go out there tomorrow."

Prasad ended India's early flourish when he dismissed stroke-happy openers Virender Sehwag (34) and Gautam Gambhir (26) in successive overs.

Sehwag was caught by Thilan Samaraweera at gully, while Gambhir inside-edged a delivery onto his stumps while attempting to pull. The pair added 62 off just 10.4 overs.

India were without Ishant Sharma in the morning as the fast bowler was unfit to bowl after falling during his follow-through in Saturday's last session.Injuries to Sachin Tendulkar and Laxman forced under-pressure India to change their batting order.

Tendulkar batted down the order after suffering an elbow injury on Saturday and Laxman made his appearance with a runner (Gambhir) after twisting his ankle during practice before the second day's play.