Colombo, Aug 30 : Fast bowler Ishant Sharma claimed a five-wicket haul as he wreaked havoc on the inexperienced Sri Lankan batting order to bundle the hosts out for 201 and secured a 111-run first innings lead on day three of the decisive third and final Test at Colombo on Sunday.
Earlier, India were bowled out for 312, with Cheteshwar Pujara (145 not out) becoming the fourth Indian batsman in Test history to carry his bat through the innings.
In reply, Sri Lanka stuttered from start of their innings and were reeling at 48-6 before Kusal Perera (55) and Rangana Herath (49) steadied the ship and helped the hosts avoid the follow-on.
The duo engineered a robust 79-run partnership for the seventh wicket to reduce the deficit significantly. In addition, Dhammika Prasad and Tharindu Kaushal chipped in with vital 27 and 16 runs respectively.
Meanwhile, all-round seamer Stuart Binny and Amit Mishra shared four wickets between themselves.
The three-match Test series is levelled at 1-1 after India claimed a 278-run win in the second match at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo.
Sri Lanka won the opening Test match in Galle by 63 runs. (ANI)