Dilshan leads Sri Lanka fightback

Tillakaratne Dilshan, left, repaid captain Kumar Sangakkara's faith with a hugely valuable century at the top of the order

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Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan scored a superb century as Sri Lanka forced their way back into the first Test against India on the second day in Ahmedabad.

Dilshan smashed 112 at the top of the innings and featured in solid partnerships with fellow opener Tharanga Paranavitana (35) and captain Kumar Sangakkara (31) as Sri Lanka enjoyed a day of dominance.

Zaheer Khan opened a window of opportunity for the hosts by snaring Dilshan and Sangakkara in successive overs in the final session, but Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera, five away from a half-century, denied the home team further inroads.

Sri Lanka ended the day on 275 for three, 151 in deficit.

Zaheer looked menacing with the new ball but, with little assistance from the pitch, Sri Lanka were off to a good start and Dilshan looked comfortable.

With left-handed Paranavitana, Dilshan added 74 for the opening wicket at a brisk pace.

Ishant Sharma eventually severed that stand, forcing Paranavitana to fend at a delivery that moved away a touch, and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni held an excellent catch in front of first slip.

Save for that initial burst from Zaheer with the new ball, India’s attack looked ordinary and it allowed Sangakkara to quickly hit his stride.

With the Sri Lanka skipper holding up one end, Dilshan continued to play freely and reached his 10th Test hundred – the fifth this year and the second since being elevated to open – by cutting Ishant for four.

The pair had added 115 for the second wicket when Zaheer produced another fine burst to snare both, Dilshan mistiming a pull to Rahul Dravid and Sangakkara top-edging to Sachin Tendulkar at fine-leg.

Their dismissals left Sri Lanka 194 for three, but Jayawardene and Samaraweera put the visitors’ pursuit back on track.

Rahul Dravid could not add to his overnight 177, bowled off an inside edge by Chanaka Welegedara in only the third over of the day

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Both batsmen began cautiously until Samaraweera, who had scored 1,083 runs in eight Tests this year, broke the shackles by driving Amit Mishra – the most profligate of India’s bowlers - for consecutive boundaries.

Earlier, Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan finished with three wickets as the hosts were bowled out inside the first session.

Seamer Chanaka Welegedara bowled Dravid, attempting to drive, via an inside edge without addition to his overnight 177, and Sri Lanka's spinners made short work of the tail.

Slow left-armer Rangana Herath trapped Zaheer in front, while Muttiah Muralitharan accounted for Harbhajan Singh - bowled reverse-sweeping - and Ishant, who was stumped, to finish with 3-97.