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Harbhajan Singh spins India into commanding position against Sri Lanka

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh ripped through the Sri Lankan top order to put India in control of the third and final cricket test match Monday after V. V. S. Laxman's ninth century bolstered the home side.

Singh claimed four for 24 to leave Sri Lanka tottering at 131 for five in reply to India's first innings total of 398, which featured Laxman's composed 104 and his 125-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Irfan Pathan (82).
Tormenting the Sri Lankan batsmen with his sharp tweakers, Singh dismissed skipper Marvan Atapattu (40), Mahela Jayawardene (0) and Thilan Samaraweera (1) in a penetrative 16-ball burst during which he did not concede a single run.

Sri Lanka will go into the third day needing another 68 runs to avert a follow-on. The uneven bounce in the pitch has already caused the batsmen some discomfort.

Pathan's pace accounted for rookie opener Upul Tharanga (2), inducing an edge to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni, before Singh came into the frame by breaking a 60-run second-wicket partnership between Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara.

Atapattu top-edged a sweep against Singh and sent an easy catch to Virender Sehwag at backward short-leg.

Atapattu's 106-minute knock contained six boundaries off 69 balls, but his departure triggered a Sri Lankan slump.

Jayawardene was dismissed first ball as he gloved a catch to Mohammad Kaif at forward short-leg.

Samaraweera averted Singh's hat-trick, but lasted just 16 deliveries before presenting Kaif with another simple catch that reduced Sri Lanka to 82 for four.

Singh went on to dismiss top-scorer Sangakkara, who was bowled around his legs as he tried a sweep shot. Sangakkara's 131-minute 41 contained four hits to the fence.

Tillekaratne Dilshan (37 not out) and Jehan Mubarak (11 not out) batted watchfully to ensure Sri Lanka did not suffer any more jolts before the draw of stumps.

India's innings revolved around Laxman and Pathan's partnership that was the country's highest for the seventh wicket against Sri Lanka, surpassing the 104-run stand between Yuvraj Singh and Dhoni in the last test at New Delhi.

India won the second test in New Delhi by 188 runs to take a 1-0 lead after the rain-marred series opener.

Laxman struck 14 boundaries from 237 deliveries during his 6-1/2 hour knock that pulled India back into the test after Sunday's top-order crash, but Pathan fell short of a century for the second consecutive innings after scoring his fourth test half-century.

Laxman, whose place in the Indian lineup appeared to be under threat before this test, silenced his critics with an authoritative knock.

Resuming at the overnight total of 247 for six, India added 151 runs before the innings folded 40 minutes before tea.

Laxman turned paceman Lasith Malinga to the square-leg fence and then flicked Farveez Maharoof for four to final-leg to complete his century.

Maharoof shattered Laxman's stumps when he placed a sharp in-cutter between his bat and pad 13 minutes before lunch.

Pathan, who was 39 overnight, lofted spinner Muttiah Muralitharan to the sight-screen and then glanced paceman Lasith Malinga for four.

Pathan also fell to Maharoof, trapped lbw after hitting 12 boundaries off 162 balls during his 3-1/2 hour knock.

Ajit Agarkar scored 26 before being bowled by Malinga (3-113), while Anil Kumble also made a useful contribution of 21.