Harbhajan took two wickets in successfive balls

Harbhajan Singh took four wickets in five overs as Sri Lanka struggled to match India's 398 on day two of the third Test in Ahmedabad.

Harbhajan's haul included the wickets of Marvan Atapattu (40) and Mahela Jayawardene in successive balls as the tourists limped to stumps on 131-5.

VVS Laxman (104) had earlier claimed his ninth Test century to steer India from a shaky overnight 247-6.

He and Irfan Pathan (82) put on an 125 for the seventh wicket.

Laxman, 71 overnight, reached the three-figure mark with a flick off paceman Farveez Maharoof after the visitors took the second new ball in the 93rd over.

Maharoof dismissed the veteran batsman just before lunch, bowled through the gap between bat and pad.

But Ajit Agarkar (21) and Anil Kumble (21) then helped add 53 for the last two wickets.

Sri Lanka did not find batting so easy, with debutant Upul Tharanga caught behind off Pathan just before tea.

Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara put on 60 together before Harbhajan's double strike.

And Sangakkara was later bowled by the off-spinner for 40, attempting a sweep.