Sehwag falls after Sri Lanka run spree

Enlarge Photo Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan celebrates after reaching his century against India during their first test... Slideshow: Day in pictures: 25th July 2008

Fri, Jul 25 06:12 PM

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka amassed 600 for six declared then took the valuable wicket of Virender Sehwag before tea on the third day of the first test on Friday.

India reached tea on 74 for one with Sehwag dismissed for 25 after Sri Lanka had declared shortly after the lunch break, keeping the touring side under pressure.

However, Gautam Gambhir settled the Indians' nerves with a fluent 35 not out and Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 14.

Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan became Sri Lanka's fourth centurion of the innings with an aggressive 125 from 170 balls with 12 fours and one six.

Sri Lanka, resuming the day on 422 for four, added 130 runs in the morning session and a further 48 before Mahela Jayawardene called in his batsmen.

Thilan Samaraweera, starting the day on 111, was dismissed for 127 after he guided a short ball from Zaheer Khan straight to VVS Laxman in the gully.

Khan's breakthrough ended a 94-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Dilshan added a further 91 with wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who hit 30 before being caught in the deep just before lunch off Harbhajan Singh.

Chaminda Vaas, 22 not out, then gave Dilshan some support with a quick 55-run stand.

Singh was India's most used bowler of the innings, finishing with two for 149 from 43 overs.

Khan claimed 2-156 from 37 overs and Ishant Sharma finished with 2-124 from 33 overs.

Sehwag started the Indian innings with a flurry of boundaries but then top edged a hook off Nuwan Kulasekera as Sri Lanka set a leg-side trap.

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