Colombo: The decisive third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka hung on a knife edge after 15 wickets fell during a dramatic third day's play in Colombo on Sunday.
Play ended with India on 21-3 in their second innings, an overall lead of 132 with seven wickets in hand on a seaming pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
With the series locked at 1-1 and bowlers from both sides trying to press home the advantage, a fine rearguard action by Sri Lanka's lower order stood out.
India's makeshift opener Cheteshwar Pujara carried his bat through his side's innings to anchor his team to a competitive 312 before their first innings ended 25 minutes after the start of the day's play.
The hosts slipped to 47-6 in reply and were in danger of being asked to follow on before the last four wickets added 154 runs in a remarkable revival that helped them to 201 soon after tea.
Indian seamer Ishant Sharma picked up five wickets, but Sri Lanka were saved by a defiant 79-run partnership between debutant wicket-keeper Kusal Perera and tailender Rangana Herath.
The pair joined hands with the hosts still 66 away from avoiding the follow-on and with Dhammika Prasad having retired hurt after being hit on the hand by a rising ball from Sharma.
Left-handed Perera, making his Test debut after playing 48 one-day internationals and 20 Twenty20 games, smashed the Indian bowlers for 55 off 56 balls with the help of nine boundaries.
Kushal Perera cuts through the off-side. (Photo: AFP)
Perera was dismissed by Sharma, top-edging a pull to mid-off, but 37-year-old veteran Herath made 49 and Prasad, who returned to bat after being treated in the dressing room, chipped in with 27.
Pujara, who marked his recall to the Indian Test side with an unbeaten 145 in the first innings, was bowled by Dhammika Prasad for a second-ball duck in the second knock.
Seamer Nuwan Pradeep then bowled Lokesh Rahul and trapped Ajinkya Rahane leg before to leave India on 7-3. Skipper Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma played out time before heavy rain ended play 35 minutes early.
Pujara, who had been dropped for India's last four Tests across Australia, Bangladesh and the ongoing series, might not have played this match if both regular openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan had been fit.
The 27-year-old, who usually bats at number three, notched up his seventh Test century and become only the fourth Indian after Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag to bat through the innings.
Sri Lanka won the opening Test in Galle by 63 runs but India drew level with a 278 run win in the second match at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Monday.
WICKET! After getting a life when Lokesh Rahul dropped Upul Tharanga on four, Ishant Sharma, who had a disappointing start got the first breakthrough of the day, and Rahul did have his redemption. Thick outside edge did the trick for the lanky bowler.
WICKET! Herath has sent Umesh Yadav (4), the last Indian wicket and has wrapped up the visitor's first innings. Cheteshwar Pujara remained at the crease (145*) as India were bowled out for 312. Puajara now becomes the fourth Indian after Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag to carry his bat through the entire innings.
WICKET! Introduced into the attack early, looking to run through the tail order, Rangana Herath did exactly what he was called for. Ishant Sharma was sent back after scoring just six runs, hence becoming Herath's 900th first-class victim.
Scoreboard:
India (first innings): K.L. Rahul b Prasad 2, C. Pujara (not out) 145, A. Rahane lbw b Pradeep 8, V. Kohli c Perera b Mathews 18, R. Sharma c Tharanga b Prasad 26, S. Binny lbw b Prasad 0, N. Ojha c Tharanga b Kaushal 21, R. Ashwin c Perera b Prasad 5, A. Mishra st Perera b Herath 59, I. Sharma b Herath 6, U. Yadav b Herath 4. Extras (lb-2, w-4, nb-7, penalty-5) 18. Total (in 100.1 overs) 312.
