Second Test, Colombo (SSC) (day three):
Sri Lanka 642-4 dec v India 382-4
Match scorecard

Tendulkar reached his 48th Test century in Colombo

Sachin Tendulkar hit his 48th Test century and Virender Sehwag made 99 to boost India's hopes of avoiding defeat in the second Test against Sri Lanka.

India, chasing 642-4 declared, began well until Sehwag fell to Suraj Randiv, just one run shy of a 21st Test ton.

Murali Vijay (58) and Rahul Dravid (3) were both out in quick succession.

But Tendulkar's classy 108 not out in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 141 with debutant Suresh Raina (66no) helped India to 382-4 by close of play.

India resumed on 95-0 needing a further 338 runs to avoid the follow-on after the Sri Lankans dominant batting on the first two days in Colombo.

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They were looking steady with Sehwag beginning in aggressive fashion, ably supported by Vijay.

But he attempted to bring up his century with a blazing shot and was beaten by the flight and stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene as Randiv claimed his first Test wicket with his first ball of the day.

Randiv said: "I expected him [Sehwag] to do something different because he was stuck at 99. Then I bowled a 'doosra' and got the wicket."

Ajantha Mendis then stepped up to the plate to deal India a further blow, trapping Vijay plumb lbw for 58.

And Randiv continued a dream debut with another big scalp as Dravid failed to negotiate a quicker delivery and was trapped leg before.

Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were relatively fresh at the crease at the start of the afternoon session and they steered India past 200, although Tendulkar was fortunate to survive when Prasanna Jayawardene dropped a relatively simple chance.

Sri Lanka piled on the pressure and were rewarded when Mendis trapped Laxman leg before for 29 just 10 minutes before tea, but Tendulkar and Raina negotiated the entirety of the evening session to leave the tourists 61 short of the follow-on target.

Sehwag said of Tendulkar's century: "The wicket was so good to bat on I knew somebody would make a big one."

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