Kumar Sangakkara celebrates reaching his century in Colombo

Kumar Sangakkara cracked an unbeaten 107 to help Sri Lanka gain a slender advantage over injury-hit India on day two of the vital third and final Test.

The left-hander's 17th Test hundred helped the hosts reach 251-6 in their first innings in reply to India's 249.

Sangakkara put on 95 with nightwatchman Chaminda Vaas (47) and 60 for the fifth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (35).

India, with paceman Ishant Sharma off the field with an injury, took two late wickets before bad light ended play.

Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan had Samaraweera caught behind and Anil Kumble trapped Tillakaratne Dilshan (23) lbw.

The series is tied at 1-1, with Sri Lanka winning the opening Test by an innings and 239 runs and India clinching a 170-run victory in the second match.

Sharma, who walked off the field after falling over on his follow-through, was just one of four injuries to hit the tourists.

The concentration he shows batting for long periods of time is what makes him world class Trevor Bayliss, Sri Lanka coach, on Kumar Sangakkara

VVS Laxman was off the field throughout the day after twisting his ankle during practice before the day's play and Sachin Tendulkar injured his left elbow while attempting a catch in the afternoon.

Laxman and Tendulkar are, however, expected to bat in the second innings.

India had another injury scare when wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel was hit on the face while collecting a delivery from leg-spinner Kumble, but he continued to keep wicket.

Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss, who must have had concerns about the failures of most of his specialist batsmen, said: "There's still a lot of hard work to be done in this match.

"Sanga held the innings together all day. We needed someone to anchor the innings and that's exactly what he did today.

"The concentration he shows batting for long periods of time is what makes him world class. He showed that out there today in difficult conditions.

Zaheer, who has figures of 2-57, said: "The game is evenly poised and the first session tomorrow will be crucial."