Angelo Mathews’ hundred failed to prevent India from taking control of the second Test as Sri Lanka collapsed on the third day at Colombo.
Captain Mathews, alongside half-centurion Lahiru Thirimanne, initially frustrated the tourists’ attack during a fourth-wicket stand of 127.
Angelo Mathews scored his sixth Test century before dismissed for Binny (102). Sri Lanka 289/7 (100.0 Ovs) #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/uDpGiq20Mh
— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) August 22, 2015
But Thirimanne’s departure to Ishant Sharma triggered a collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose their last seven wickets, including Mathews for 102, for just 65 runs to be dismissed for 306, therefore conceding a first-innings deficit of 87.
Amit Mishra swept up the tail to return figures of four for 43 while Ishant and Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets apiece.
Despite Lokesh Rahul departing early, Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane guided India to 70 for one at the close, extending their advantage to 157 heading into the penultimate day as they attempt to level the three-match series.
Both Thirimanne and Mathews completed fifties, the former’s taking 61 balls more than his skipper’s, during a morning session that produced 84 runs.
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The afternoon was a different story, though, Ishant having Thirimanne caught behind for 62 and then forcing Dinesh Chandimal to push outside off stump to Rahul in the slips after a brief rain delay.
After Mathews reached his century with a reverse-sweep, the right-hander edged to slip to provide Stuart Binny with his maiden Test scalp.
Sri Lanka’s troubles continued as Mishra dismissed Dhammika Prasad and Jehan Mubarak and, after Ashwin had Rangana Herath trapped lbw, the leg-spinner wrapped up the innings by having Tharindu Kaushal stumped.
Rahul was bowled by Prasad in the first over of India’s second knock but Vijay and Rahane, with 39 and 28 respectively, moved their side into a strong position in an unbroken partnership of 67.
