Sri Lanka's spinners brought the match alive by removing India's top three just when it seemed the bat would dominate for the third successive day. Virender Sehwag appeared to be on course for a fourth century in successive Tests before a mindless swipe triggered a clutter of wickets in the dying stages of the morning session, with India still miles away from the follow-on target.

Sehwag began in typically aggressive style, cashing in on the spate of short deliveries from Sri Lanka's seamers. Those pitched wide were punished through point while the ones targeting middle and leg were whipped through square leg and midwicket. Sehwag went after Dammika Prasad as early as the third over with three boundaries, following up with a couple more in his next before the seamer walked off the field with fitness troubles.

On the second evening as well as in the morning session today, Sangakkara used a leg gully and a forward short leg for Sehwag. The Sri Lankan seamers, especially Dilhara Fernando and Prasad, were significantly quicker than their Indian counterparts and often forced the openers onto the back foot, prompting them to close the face or fend away. There were occasions where Sehwag, not in complete control, played just wide or short of the close-in fielders.

And then there was Angelo Mathews, who, like Chanaka Welegedera in Galle, consistently bowled short and angled the ball away from Sehwag, hoping he would be tempted into playing one, but there was no success there either.

However, there was far more encouragement for the spinners. Though they didn't turn the ball much, both Ajantha Mendis and Suraj Randiv did generate a good amount of bounce that created opportunities. Sehwag slashed Mendis for a boundary through point and aiming to repeat the shot the next ball, played one uppishly towards Thilan Samaraweera who fluffed a low catch. Sehwag has made teams pay for such lapses in the past but Sri Lanka were fortunate this time. He inexplicably charged out to Randiv's first ball of the day, targeting cow corner when on 99. The ball didn't turn as much as he expected, beat the swing, Prasanna Jayawardene knocked off the bails and handed the debutant his first Test wicket.

Vijay had calmly progressed to a half-century with some wristy strokeplay, driving elegantly through the on side and carving the short deliveries behind square. But he erred when opting to play a length delivery from Mendis off the back foot to be caught plumb in front of middle as it turned in. Rahul Dravid looked edgy, cutting Randiv uppishly off his first ball and met a fate similar to Vijay's, trapped in front as he tried to whip off the back foot.

Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman survived a tense few overs before lunch, playing for spin when there wasn't much on offer, and are yet again charged with reviving India amid pressure.