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Colombo: Sachin Tendulkar (108*) and Suresh Raina (66*) remained unbeaten as India were 382 for four at the end of third day's play in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar hit his 48th Test hundred to lead the Indian fightback on third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Wednesday.
The batting maestro hit his ton in 167 balls which was studded with 13 boundaries and a six.
Tendulkar, who holds the record of scoring highest number of centuries, played brilliant cricket with Suresh Raina to dominate the day.
Sachin also equalled the former Australian captain Steve Waugh's Test record to have played the most number of matches (168).
Earlier, debutant Raina slammed his maiden half-century to lead the Indian fightback with Sachin Tendulkar.
VVS Laxman departed after a slow partnership with Sachin Tendulkar to leave India tottering at 243 for four at tea.
Tendulkar and Laxman almost batted through the second session but Ajantha Mendis broke the slow 68-run stand by trapping the stylish Hyderabadi 10 minutes before tea break.
Tendulkar, who was dropped on 29 by Prasanna Jayawardene off Dilhara Fernando, was batting on 39 and debutant Suresh Raina was yet to open his account at tea.
Laxman (29) and Tendulkar dug in went about their business slowly and raised a stand of 68-run to deny the Lankan bowlers any success for almost two hours.
The mid-session produced 70 runs after the troubled opening session, which saw India being jolted by three quick blows including that of explosive Virender Sehwag.
Tendukar's runs came off 95 balls while Laxman consumed 98 balls for his 29-run knock.
The duo slowed down the proceedings by playing a lot of dot balls and relied on ones and twos to keep the scoreboard moving.
Laxman was lucky as his edges, off spinner Suraj Randiv and paceman Dammika Prasad, fell short of fielders.
Laxman finally got out as he failed to read a Mendis googly and was caught in front of the wicket.
Earlier, Debutant spinner Suraj Randiv picked up two wickets, including the prized scalp of Virender Sehwag, to reduce India to 173 for three in the first innings, in reply to Sri Lanka's 642 for four declared at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test match here Wednesday.
Sehwag missed a deserving century by a run and his dismissal triggered a collapse as India lost three wickets in quick succession in a span of eight runs in the first session after resuming their overnight score of 95 for no loss. Sachin Tendulkar was batting on two and VVS Laxman was yet to open his account as India went for lunch with a deficit of 469 runs.
Sehwag opened the day aggressively by hitting fast bowler Dilhara Fernando for two successive boundaries in the second over of the day that saw India go past the 100-run mark.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was quick to introduce spin in the eighth over with Ajantha Mendis. The mystery spinner almost gave the hosts a breakthrough in his third over, when Thilan Samaraweera dropped Sehwag on 84.
Indiscretion cost Sehwag his wicket and also a century. Sehwag wanted to complete his century in style with a six. He rushed down the track but completely missed the line, giving wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene an easy stumping. Sehwag hit 15 fours in his 101-ball innings.
Mendis trapped Murali Vijay (58) leg before in the very next over and just 17 balls later Randiv got Rahul Dravid (3) leg before as India slumped from 165 for no loss to 173 for three.
Brief score
Sri Lanka 642 for 4 decl
India 382 for 4 (Tendulkar 108*, Sehwag 99, Raina 66*)
Status India trail by 260 runs
